An OFCOM report identifies that IP-based geoblocking is restricting access to RTÉ and TG4 content for viewers in Northern Ireland. The report recommends that the UK and Irish governments review the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding on digital television services to address these licensing and technical barriers.
The OFCOM findings highlight a growing friction between legacy territorial licensing and the borderless nature of IP-based streaming. For broadcasters like RTÉ and TG4, the inability to resolve geoblocking issues risks alienating core audiences who increasingly favor the accessibility of global English-language platforms over localized content. This regulatory push signals a shift toward prioritizing cultural mandates and cross-border agreements over rigid digital rights management. As governments revisit the 2010 Memorandum, the industry should watch for new technical standards or licensing frameworks that could serve as a template for other regions facing similar linguistic or territorial distribution hurdles.
A recent OFCOM report identifies that IP-based geoblocking prevents viewers in Northern Ireland from accessing RTÉ and TG4 content, including children's shows and live sports. The regulator recommends that the UK and Irish governments review their 2010 agreement to address these technical barriers and better support cross-border cultural access.
Viewers in Northern Ireland face access issues due to IP-based geoblocking and licensing limitations that restrict content, even when broadcasters hold 32-county licenses.
Technical barriers currently block access to children's programming, such as Bluey on RTÉ and Spongebob on TG4's Cúla4, as well as live sporting broadcasts like GAA Beo.
OFCOM advises that the UK and Irish governments conduct a formal review of the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding to update digital television agreements for modern streaming habits.
According to Conradh na Gaeilge, these technical barriers are driving Irish speakers away from local content and toward English-language services like BBC iPlayer.
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