A new public service broadcaster should be considered if Ireland were to reunify, according to a report by researchers from Ulster University and Dublin City University. The study suggests a fresh approach that draws on the resources of RTÉ and BBC Northern Ireland while creating a unified, all-island media model.
The report outlines two possible approaches: establishing a new body, provisionally called Public Media Ireland, or creating an all-island digital platform, such as an “iPlayer Ireland.” The researchers concluded that simply merging RTÉ and BBC Northern Ireland would face significant challenges.
“Achieving buy-in and support from the two main communities within Northern Ireland is more likely if institutions are created afresh, rather than grafting northern parts onto southern counterparts,” the report said. It also highlighted governance challenges faced by RTÉ in recent years, noting that a “new start is preferable.”
The proposed model would include ten regional journalism hubs across the island in Belfast, Derry, Enniskillen, Newry, Athlone, Galway, Limerick, Dublin, Waterford, and Cork. These hubs would focus on both news and cultural coverage, providing localised reporting while serving a national audience. The researchers emphasised that the new organisation should be decentralised, diverse, and sustainably funded.
Funding was flagged as a critical issue. The report warned of TV licence fee evasion at RTÉ and the BBC, as well as potential political interference if direct funding were introduced. It recommended a model similar to Finland’s public media system, where citizens pay 2.5% of total earned and capital income above €14,000, capped at €163 annually.
The researchers acknowledged that Irish reunification is not imminent and that media would likely follow healthcare, taxation, policing, and identity issues in priority. However, they argued that public service broadcasting plays a vital role in democratic societies and should be part of the conversation.
“This research kickstarts a debate on what the future of media might look like across Ireland,” said Dr. Phil Ramsey of Ulster University. “This is the beginning of a conversation, and we want interested parties to have their say on the recommendations.”
Dr. Dawn Wheatley of Dublin City University added that public broadcasters should not be overlooked in wider debates, even if reunification remains uncertain. Dr. Roddy Flynn, associate professor at DCU’s School of Communications, suggested a “blank slate approach” would be best, as existing RTÉ and BBC structures would not suit a joint model.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Dr. Flynn said any new organisation would need to be operational quickly in the event of reunification. “You would want that new broadcaster in place within weeks because it is the space in which two new communities will have to work together,” he said.
The report offers a blueprint for an all-island public media system that balances regional representation, community engagement, and sustainable funding, aiming to support journalism and cultural coverage across a united Ireland.
