Media

Interim examiner appointed to Irish TV

Mayo-based channel has funding shortfall of €8.7m after withdrawal of main backer

Irish TV’s main backer, John Griffin, has resigned as a director and withdrawn financial support. Photograph: Dave Meehan
Irish TV’s main backer, John Griffin, has resigned as a director and withdrawn financial support. Photograph: Dave Meehan
Thu Nov 10 2016 - 17:22

A television company in Co Mayo employing 30 people has obtained High Court protection after an unexpected funding shortfall and liabilities over assets of €8.7 million.

Telifis Mhaigh Eo Teoranta, trading as Irish TV, operates from Westport Industrial Park in Co Mayo and broadcasts a 24-hour channel on Sky, Eir and free-to-air services as well as an online video-on-demand service.

It was established in March 2011 with objectives including to promote Mayo as a centre of Irish and Celtic culture and to promote the Irish language.

It is a subsidiary of Eochair Media Holdings Ltd (EMHL) which, it was stated in court documents, has “encountered an unexpected and significant funding shortfall”.

READ MORE

Co-founder and chief executive, Piaras O'Reilly, and managing director, Mairead O'Reilly, together own 51 per cent of EMHL while former London minicab mogul John Griffin has the other major shareholding of 41 per cent.

Mr Griffin resigned as a director of both EMHL and Telifis Maigh Eo on October 27th.

Main funder

In its petition seeking court protection, Irish TV said it has been left with an immediate operational cashflow shortfall after the main funder withdrew support in late October. That followed four years of losses and it now has net liabilities of €8.7 million, it said.

Other reasons for its difficulties included the fact it was not in a position to fund RTÉ’s security requirements for accessing the Saorview platform. The Brexit decision has affected advertising revenue, it added.

An independent expert’s report found the deficiency between assets and liabilities has been satisfactorily accounted for and is due to the accumulated losses of the last four years, it said.

That report also expresses the view, if a number of steps are taken, it has a reasonable prospect of survival. These include thre closure of offices in New York, London, Dublin, Tyrone and Kerry, implementation of a redundancy programme for certain employees, and reduced travel costs and expenses across all departments.

Ms Justice Marie Baker said she was satisfied to appoint Michael McAteer as interim examiner.