THE Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport in the Republic has said that he will work to end geo-blocking on television for northern audiences.
The issue was raised during a meeting of the Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport in the Oireactas. The Committee was discussing proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Bill 2026.
Minister Patrick O'Donovan confirmed he had requested a meeting with the British Media Minister in an effort to resolve the matter, and that he had met the British Ambassador to Ireland recently specifically to discuss the issue. Minister O'Donovan also specified the issue as being "covered under the Good Friday Agreement".
Geo-blocking has been a source of frustration for northern audiences over the years, particularly during global sporting events when viewers often find themselves greeted with a message informing the viewer that 'This programme is not available' when they tune into RTÉ to watch live broadcasts.
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, said that the party has been, "arguing for action to end the geo-blocking of audiences in the North, which particularly comes to the fore during major events such as the Olympic Games".
Mr Ó Snodaigh called for an "end to the partitioning of Ireland's airwaves" and said that he was encouraged to hear an acknowledgment from the Minister that geo-blocking was a "huge cause of frustration, particularly for families who can’t see their loved ones represent Team Ireland as athletes in major sporting events on our national public service broadcasters".
Teachta Ó Snodaigh continued: “This cross-party consensus was heartening after years of campaigning by Sinn Féin and by communities across and along Britain’s border in Ireland.
“I will personally raise this matter at the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly in the hope that we can work together to resolve this well in advance of the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028."
