The latest round of the BAI Sound and Vision Scheme has awarded €4.489 million to Broadcasters and Independent Producers, €557k going to radio.
A package of funding recommendations was ratified by the Authority at their most recent meeting and will support the production of 88 Radio and 21 TV projects.
When completed, the funded projects will be broadcast by a range of community, commercial and public service broadcasters across the country. All of the projects being offered funding will explore the themes of Irish culture, heritage and experience.
287 applications were assessed by the BAI in this round with a requested funding total of €14.9m across 16 different genre/format categories. A mix of Documentary, Drama, Entertainment and Education programmes are being funded with all qualifying drama and education projects are being supported in this round.
Programmes in receipt of funding will be broadcast across 50 different channels; 10 television and 40 radio.
Speaking about the announcement, Michael O’Keeffe, Chief Executive of the BAI said “Round 19 of Sound & Vision marked a record in the number of applications received in any round of the Scheme to date. Today’s announcement brings the total funding awarded in 2013 to in excess of €13.35m and the total number of projects supported to 342.
“As with previous rounds, the number of applications received was far in excess of funding available, and while the BAI was, fortunately, able to allocate funding above that indicatively set for this round, we are also conscious that there were a significant number of quality projects that did not receive funding support.
“Our approach to the funding rounds in 2014, which was announced in recent weeks, recognises the finite resources available next year and the need for the BAI to adopt its approach accordingly through the provision of two open rounds and one targeted round of the Scheme, focussing on animation and education.”
The BAI will now commence contract negotiations with all successful applicants. A full list of the projects being offered funding is available here .
The BAI recently announced the closing dates for applications to Sound & Vision II in 2014.
Are you in receipt of funding? Let us know via news@radiotoday.ie.
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