Communicorp’s Newstalk has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission, saying the payment of TV licence fees to RTÉ is not compatible with European Union rules on state aid.
A report in the Irish Examiner, says the commercial station argues that the payment of the fees to RTÉ is illegal.
Newstalk alleges that RTÉ consistently uses licence fee income in a manner contrary to the terms approved by the European Commission under EU state aid rules, and wants an investigation. “RTÉ’s commercial activities are not being carried out on market terms and RTÉ “is failing to operate in an efficient manner so as to maximise revenues”, the station claims.
The complaint comes after the state broadcaster refused to broadcasting television commercials for Newstalk which encouraged people to switch the dial to Newstalk, which breached RTÉ’s advertising code.