New Broadcasting Complaints Process Introduced
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (“BAI”) has today (4 th May) introduced changes to the manner in which the public can make complaints about Irish radio and television programmes. From today, all complaints about programming and commercial communications (including advertising, sponsorship and product placement) should be directed in the first instance to the relevant broadcaster. These changes have been introduced in the context of the requirements of Section 47 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 and following consultation with broadcasters. Section 47 of the Act requires every broadcaster to give due and adequate consideration to complaints once such complaints are made in good faith and are not of a frivolous or vexatious nature. The BAI has published a revised Guide for Listeners and Viewers to the Complaints Process and a copy of the Guide can be downloaded from the BAI’s website or obtained from the BAI’s offices at 2-5 Warrington Place, Dublin 2. To this end, broadcasters must develop and publish a Code of Practice for Complaints Handling that includes:
– an initial point of contact for complainants, including an electronic-mail address;
– a time period within which the broadcaster shall respond to complaints, and;
– the procedures to be followed by the broadcaster in the resolution of complaints.
To access a copy of the Guide in English please visit: http://www.bai.ie/publications.html To access a copy of the Guide in Irish visit http://www.bai.ie/gaeilge/publications.html http://www.bai.ie/en/broadcasting/regulation/ http://www.bai.ie/en/codes-standards/
Making a Complaint to DCTV:
DCTV is committed to responding to all reasonable complaints concerning programme content which is not considered to be of a frivolous or vexatious nature. All complaints received in writing or by-email shall be replied to within 20 working days. Complainants should include contact information including your name and your contact details, address, email, phone contact details. Your contact details will not be shared with any third party. Initial point of contact:
DCTV Committee of Management,
C/O Near TV,
Northside Civic Centre,
Bunratty Road ,
Dublin 17
or by e-mail to dctvbulletinboard@gmail.com
Internal Review of Complaints
If members of the public who complain are not satisfied with the response they have received there is a review process available to them within DCTV. The review will be carried out by DCTV’s Committee of Management. The request for an internal review should be sent to: dctvbulletinboard@gmail.com
Complaints to the Compliance Committee of the BAI
Members of the public may complain to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) if they are not satisfied with the response DCTV has made to their complaint. The BAI will consider the complaint and may carry out an independent review of the complaint and the response the complainant has received. Information on how to refer a complaint to the BAI is available on the BAI website www.bai.ie or from the following address. Broadcasting Authority of Ireland 2-5 Warrington Place Dublin 2 Telephone: (01) 644 1200
Complaints about Access Services
This document will be used to capture information about subtitling issues on television programmes. It has been designed to try and capture as much information as possible about the problem which should give the broadcaster and platform provider a better chance of resolving the issue.
This is a pilot programme which has been developed by the BAI, broadcasters and platform providers. The programme will be developed over time based on feedback from all stakeholders.
We will require some personal information to allow the broadcaster contact the viewer for further information. In line with GDPR requirements, this information will only be used for this complaint and will be deleted afterwards.
This document asks you to provide information about yourself, the programme you watched and how you watched it. You can only complain about a programme broadcast on a channel listed in the Access Rules. These channels are: RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, RTÉ One + One, RTÉjr, RTÉ News Now Virgin Media One ,Virgin Media Two, Virgin Media Three, TG4, Eir Sport, Oireachtas TV, Cork Community Television, Dublin Community Television.
You cannot complain about programmes on BBC, ITV etc.