A TYNWALD select committee is to investigate the future of public service broadcasting.
Speaker Steve Rodan had tabled a Tynwald motion asking the court to reaffirm its commitment to Manx Radio as the national broadcaster with the government subvention continuing at a level to deliver public service broadcasting for the next three years.
But Tynwald instead supported an amendment by Community, Culture and Leisure Minister Graham Cregeen (Malew and Santon) that a select committee be set up to examine the cost, scope, policy and delivery of services.
An earlier debate was postponed in October after it emerged an alternative proposal was being considered by the Department of Economic Development.
Isle of Man Newspapers revealed the proposal, drawn up by 3FM managing director Ron Berry, envisaged Manx Radio, Energy FM and 3FM all operating under one roof at Broadcasting House. Instead of being used to fund programming, the government subvention – cut this year to £850,000 – would be used to provide the infrastructure for all three stations.
The committee will be made up of Mr Rodan, Richard Ronan (Castletown) and Zac Hall (Onchan).