Manx Radio has lost its moral compass.
That was the claim made by broadcaster Paul Moulton to a Tynwald select committee assessing the future of public service broadcasting in the island.
Mr Moulton repeated his call that the BBC should be funding public service broadcasting. And he said the committee should put in a request under the Freedom of Information Act to find out how much it was spending in Guernsey and Jersey, which both have BBC radio stations.
The case should then be put to the corporation that they should spend the same, per head, in the island.
Ron Berry, 3FM managing director, was questioned on his proposal to merge the island’s three radio stations, Manx Radio, 3FM and Energy FM as a Manx Broadcasting Corporation.
Its submission led to a Tynwald debate on the issue being adjourned last October.
Mr Berry said it was intended as a ‘discussion document’ to stimulate debate.
‘I’m not saying this is the way it should be,’ he said. In fact, his main priority is to secure 3FM’s licence, which is up for renewal next year.
When asked by committee member Zac Hall (Onchan MHK) whether he believed Manx Radio – which receives an annual subvention from government – had an unfair advantage, Mr Berry said: ‘I think there’s times when it can be, yes.’
The committee, chaired by Castletown MHK Richard Ronan, was set up to examine the policy, delivery, cost and scope of public service broadcasting.
