Virgin Media has confirmed that the station will not host a leaders debate during the election, due to “challenging market conditions”.
“Due to challenging market conditions and the government’s failure to financially recognise and support our public service content, Virgin Media Television (VMTV) will not hold a Leaders Debate during the upcoming general election campaign,” they said in a statement.
It comes as Virgin Media announced last week that it its flagship current-affairs programme The Tonight Show would be reduced to two nights a week, instead of four.
The new schedule came into effect this week.
In a statement at the time, managing director Áine Ní Chaoindealbháin said the decision was also the result of market conditions and not receiving government funding for its public service content.
Now Sinn Féin’s director of elections Matt Carthy has said a decision not to host a leader’s debate was “a retrograde step”.
“Fine Gael wants to avoid scrutiny and proper debate in this election. The decision by Virgin Media not to host a party leaders’ debate is playing into Fine Gael’s hands,” Deputy Carthy said.
“Our broadcasters have a duty to the public to facilitate debate and discussion in the election period. This includes putting both government and opposition through their paces, and holding them to account.,” he added.
The Cavan-Monaghan TD said the station has previously hosted debates during general elections and that the decision “appears to have no sound rationale” and urged Virgin Media to reconsider.
“Fine Gael have been in government for 14 years. They have failed in housing, health, cost of living and many other key policy areas.
“They have wasted taxpayers’ money. Their leader should be subject to the same scrutiny and debate as all previous office holders. Certainly, Sinn Féin are eager to bring our plans and solutions to every possible audience. “Virgin Media viewers deserve to be able to see this debate. I would urge them to reconsider this decision in the public interest.”
The station was highly critical of the governments decision to bail out RTÉ and put in place a €725m funding plan for the state broadcaster.
“RTÉ will now be in a more dominant position than ever before, where it will receive a guaranteed €725 million from the taxpayer over the next three years while continuing to benefit from the largest share of commercial revenue,” Ms Ní Chaoindealbháin said previously.
Virgin Media said the station would feature an hour long interview with the main opposition party leaders.
“We remain fully committed to public service broadcasting, and have invited the leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin to take part in ‘The Big Interview’ with Colette Fitzpatrick,” the statement said.
“VMTV will also hold interviews with other party leaders and independents, in line with Coimisiún na Meán guidelines,” they added.
