An Irish broadcast company to be established but financial risks too great for government
Dublin, 25 September - 1923 An Irish broadcast company is to be established in the near future and will be based in or near Dublin.
The Evening Mail, which cites as its source a high-ranking official, added that as soon as an Irish company is established, all restrictions will be removed on the use of wireless sets. However, sets coming from England will be subject to a slight tax.
Despite the speculation as to what is being proposed, the Minister with responsibility, Postmaster general JJ Walsh, has said that information that has emerged into the public domain comes from an unofficial source as there has yet to be a formal statement issued on the matter.
What is known, nevertheless, is that broadcasting is to be used to disseminate daily news, domestic and foreign, as well as to relay weather reports and wireless concerts. Yet the financial risk involved in the erecting and equipping of a broadcast station or stations is such that the Free State Government is unwilling to assume any role.
As many as six companies are reported to be interested in operating the Irish broadcasting service, with two of these, the Freeman’s Journal notes, based in Cork. All had responded to an advertisement for applicants to provide the service and the winning bid will have monopoly on the import and distribution of wireless sets.
However, rather than award the license to any single bidder and create a monopoly situation, the Irish Independent is reporting that a joint company comprising all the applicants - with each represented on the Board of Directors - might be established.
Meanwhile, negotiations are also believed to be underway with the Marconi Company with a view to equipping the Clifden wireless station in such a way that it can communicate with the United State and Canada.
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
