Share
14th January 2026
11:43am GMT
A new broadcaster will be needed in the event of a united Ireland, a report from Ulster University and Dublin City University has said.
According to researchers, the new model would introduce ten hubs nationwide, pulling from the assets, infrastructure and people of both RTÉ and BBC Northern Ireland.
The report also set out that an alternative media provision, with an all-island platform, would have merit.
Researchers further examined if there were to be a united Ireland, should BBC Northern Ireland continue, would RTÉ take over, or whether a new body should be set up.
However, it was concluded that replicating the funding structure of RTÉ/BBC would result in difficulties.
They stated: "We argue that achieving buy-in and support from the two main communities within NI will be more easily won if institutions are created afresh, rather than simply grafting on northern parts to their southern counterparts.
"Moreover, the persistent governance issues that RTÉ has faced in recent years means that a new start is preferable."
The report argued that the current system would not work in a reunified Ireland, although BBC access would likely continue.
A new public broadcaster, provisionally titled Public Media Ireland, would hone strong regional coverage through hubs across the island in places like Belfast, Cork and Galway.
An income-based funding model similar to Finland’s is recommended, while warning of licence fee evasion and political interference.
The report acknowledged that Irish reunification is neither immediate nor inevitable, but that media would rank low among planning priorities.
Dr Phil Ramsey from Ulster University said the research 'kickstarts a debate' on what the future of Irish media might look like.
Additionally, Dr Dawn Wheatley from Dublin City University commented: "It is impossible to say with certainty what might happen to public media should the reunification of Ireland ever occur.
"But in this report, we suggest that public broadcasters play a vital role within democracies, and so they should not be overlooked in wider debates."
