Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The Audience Council for Northern Ireland Annual Review 2014/15: 90 years of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ broadcast services in Northern Ireland

Date: 14.07.2015     Last updated: 14.07.2015 at 11.06

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ programmes and services continued to deliver for local audiences this year as the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ celebrated 90 years of broadcasting in Northern Ireland.

Highlights across the year included award-winning Spotlight investigative programming; news coverage of the local Government and European elections, a range of factual documentaries and live coverage of the Giro d’Italia in Northern Ireland. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Northern Ireland broadcast a number of programmes as part of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s WW1 at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ strand and, in a week of programming, remembered the late broadcaster Gerry Anderson.

It has been a good year for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Drama in Northern Ireland with returning series of the highly popular crime series The Fall and Line of Duty which have continued to generate support for the local creative sector. The Audience Council particularly welcomes the partnership agreement between the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and Northern Ireland Screen this year, which will continue to underpin this important and developing relationship.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Ulster/Foyle has maintained its position as one of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s best performing local radio stations, with more than half a million listeners each week. A number of changes to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Ulster/Foyle schedule were introduced and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Foyle became available on a permanent basis region wide on DAB.

Northern Ireland remains the most news-hungry of all the regions of the UK, with high levels of consumption and approval of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ news. We believe there is an appetite for content that reflects a modern Northern Ireland and in-depth analysis of topical issues of interest, and the focus on business coverage has been a welcome development.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trustee for Northern Ireland and Chair of the Audience Council, Aideen McGinley, said: 

"In its 90th year Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ services in Northern Ireland have again served audiences well across all platforms and genres. The Audience Council has touched the pulse of audiences of all ages, and been inspired by their appreciation and enthusiasm for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ services, as well as their recognition of the challenges facing the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, especially in its Charter renewal year".

Notes to editors:

  1. The Audience Council Northern Ireland’s Annual Review for 2014/15.
  2. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Annual Report and Accounts for 2014/15 .
  3. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Northern Ireland Management Review of local programmes and services for 2014/15 .