Madam, - We are writing in connection with the Saturday profile of October 19th, 2002, concerning TV3. We believe that there are specific comments made by The Irish Times which need appropriate factual redress.
1. In relation to the statement that TV3 was now in a position to "host its first venture in documentary broadcasting", we would like to state that your statement is incorrect. TV3 has been commissioning and producing documentaries since its foundation and has recently won a prestigious Houston Festival Award for a documentary on Chernobyl.
2. The CanWest results used by Joe Humphreys included results for CanWest companies other than TV3. The company operating as TV3 in fact posted a net loss in the region of €2.7 million, not the profit figure used in the article.
3. The article used repeated statistics about TV3's Irish-produced content that are incorrect. We would state that TV3 is required under the terms of its licence to broadcast 15 per cent Irish-produced material for the first four years of its operation and 25 per cent for the year commencing September 20th last. TV3 has routinely exceeded its licensing obligations, having in excess of 23 per cent Irish-produced content in its fourth year, 50 per cent greater than required.
To conclude, we would state that in his interview with TV3's Chief Executive, Rick Hetherington, at no time did your journalist Joe Humphreys raise the issue of alleged bullying and harassment. We consider the article to have been biased and offensive in tone and substance to TV3, its staff and management. - Yours, etc.,
Director of Government,
Regulatory and Legal Affairs,
TV3,
Dublin 24.
Readers are referred to the apology on page 4 of today's edition.