Dee Forbes banging the RTE TV licence drum again 60m uncollected fee *poll not working - pl ignore*

irishproduce

Eoghan Harris gives a good account of a new book about covid, about to hit our shelves this month, in today's Sindo. 100 days that changed the world: The Corona virus wars.
It would be great to have the author on the late late this month.
Maybe if RTE are reading they could consider it. It would be another perspective on the virus

fritzelly

irishproduce wrote: »

Eoghan Harris gives a good account of a new book about covid, about to hit our shelves this month, in today's Sindo. 100 days that changed the world: The Corona virus wars.
It would be great to have the author on the late late this month.
Maybe if RTE are reading they could consider it. It would be another perspective on the virus

Dunno - the LLS tends to not even mention covid

RabbleRouser2k

irishproduce wrote: »

Eoghan Harris gives a good account of a new book about covid, about to hit our shelves this month, in today's Sindo. 100 days that changed the world: The Corona virus wars.
It would be great to have the author on the late late this month.
Maybe if RTE are reading they could consider it. It would be another perspective on the virus

Even if the LLS wasn't creaming it's jeans at the thoughts of another Covid story, I don't think Eoghan can do interviews at the moment. I believe he's getting treatment for cancer.

irishproduce

RabbleRouser2k wrote: »

Even if the LLS wasn't creaming it's jeans at the thoughts of another Covid story, I don't think Eoghan can do interviews at the moment. I believe he's getting treatment for cancer.

No I was suggesting the books author be interviewed. Harris was just giving an account of the book in the paper.

RabbleRouser2k

irishproduce wrote: »

No I was suggesting the books author be interviewed. Harris was just giving an account of the book in the paper.

Ah,my apologies. Totally misread your post.

carq

So the orchestra get funded by the licence payer ?
Where does the money go from the concerts they put on with the likes of Jenny Greene and 'songs from the movies' etc?
Is this a side earner for them or does it go back to RTE ?

Public getting hit twice in the pocket

Elmo

carq wrote: »

So the orchestra get funded by the licence payer ?
Where does the money go from the concerts they put on with the likes of Jenny Greene and 'songs from the movies' etc?
Is this a side earner for them or does it go back to RTE ?

Public getting hit twice in the pocket

The Orchestra's earn around ~2m in ticket sales (including the Jenny Greene or John Willams or Star Wars products) each year, ~13m of their funding comes from the license fee and the other ~2m comes from ticket sales.

In 2021 this should become ~7m with ~1m from ticket sales. Though I suspect the move to the NCH will cost RTÉ millions, even thought the NCH got 8m for the move!

I would argue that RTÉ should produce full accounts for the Orchestra's rather than a basic overview of their income and expenditure. In reality the Orchestra's have little to do with the rest of the organization. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's reply to me about the "independent" report in to the Orchestras was "it has nothing to do with us" .... the authority of RTÉ takes no interest in the Orchestras or around 7% of their total costs!

Elmo

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2021/0203/1194886-rte-proposes-pay-cuts-and-redundancies-to-reduce-costs/

Really not going to change anything. To me that reads, "we will except these cuts but only in the hope that the reform of the license fee will put the company on a secure footing."

Rather than working towards reforms with in RTÉ and showing the importance of RTÉ, the unions and RTÉ have at the last minute had to cut wages and offer redundancy packages. Much of this could have been avoided if the organization had reformed.

I sympathies with people getting pay cuts and losing their jobs, but the mis-management of the broadcaster over the last 10 years has lead to these cuts.

IMO.

fritzelly

They've been saying that for over a year (from the last time they had to be bailed out)
Also note it's only for 2 years then back to business as usual - totally pointless, what is going to change in 2 years that they suddenly won't be begging for more money from the government/us

Last round of redundancies was so inconsequential as to may have not bothered - why leave a cushy job, so cannot see it being any different this time.

And let's be realistic - these pay cuts amount to around 20 euro a week less on an already substantial wage - they won't be going hungry any time soon

Ash.J.Williams

Staff earning over 40k is the ordinary joes

The big fish are contractors

Brendan Bendar

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

Staff earning over 40k is the ordinary joes

The big fish are contractors

Pure window dressing..... nobody should be taken in by this.

Brendan Bendar

Hehheh heh..... heard the union guy coming out with the usual guff on Drivetime.

I paraphrase.. ‘ Of course these cuts will not solve RTEs financial difficulties, it will need Government intervention to solve that’

Great..... nice one...... get John Q Taxpayer to ensure the likes of Tubridy,D’Arcy, Duffy and many many more are paid way above any salary it would seem sensible to offer them.

Take a hike Mr Union Dude with your “privilege days”.

Try to sell that crud to some poor health care assistant ......... what a shower.

retalivity

Elmo wrote: »

I sympathies with people getting pay cuts and losing their jobs

Within RTE? I don't!

Maysa07

retalivity wrote: »

Within RTE? I don't!

Why? not all of us have cushy numbers and earn 80 - 90K just so you know.

Brendan Bendar

Elmo wrote: »

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2021/0203/1194886-rte-proposes-pay-cuts-and-redundancies-to-reduce-costs/

Really not going to change anything. To me that reads, "we will except these cuts but only in the hope that the reform of the license fee will put the company on a secure footing."

Rather than working towards reforms with in RTÉ and showing the importance of RTÉ, the unions and RTÉ have at the last minute had to cut wages and offer redundancy packages. Much of this could have been avoided if the organization had reformed.

I sympathies with people getting pay cuts and losing their jobs, but the mis-management of the broadcaster over the last 10 years has lead to these cuts.

IMO.

As I heard it it’s voluntary redundancy... nobody “losing their jobs”.

So do you blame the intrangency of Unions

Or the feeble management for the situation.

Like who in broadcasting circles is threatening say Claire Byrne at her base salary in other broadcasting outfits.

Who could rock up and demand a similar package?

Nevin Parsnipp

Just Take Duffy and D'arcy in the arternoon slotat RTE versus Moncreiffe over in Noostalk.

The Dufficer and the D'Arce on wedges just South of a million eurons combined .....Moncreiffe ?


Kinda says it all wha ?

retalivity

Maysa07 wrote: »

Why? not all of us have cushy numbers and earn 80 - 90K just so you know.

So you work for RTE?
Do you think it delivers value for money and is not a bloated mess that could be trimmed massively?

Elmo

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

As I heard it it’s voluntary redundancy... nobody “losing their jobs”.

So do you blame the intrangency of Unions

Or the feeble management for the situation.

Like who in broadcasting circles is threatening say Claire Byrne at her base salary in other broadcasting outfits.

Who could rock up and demand a similar package?

Look I feel sorry for anyone who is put out of work, even in a voluntary redundancy situation. If not taken up it will lead to involuntary redundancies.

I blame both management and unions for not being able to agree anything of significance over the last 10 years, this is not a recent problem, but it seems to me as if both RTÉ and the unions are treating it like they just realized what's going on.

Claire Byrne has possibly burnt her bridges at Newstalk and its unlike Virgin Media would take her on, it unlikely that she'd add an audience to The Tonight Show. She's not the best paid in fairness to her. She's possibly the only one on the right wage of the top stars.

Brendan Bendar

Elmo wrote: »

Look I feel sorry for anyone who is put out of work, even in a voluntary redundancy situation. If not taken up it will lead to involuntary redundancies.

I blame both management and unions for not being able to agree anything of significance over the last 10 years, this is not a recent problem, but it seems to me as if both RTÉ and the unions are treating it like they just realized what's going on.

Claire Byrne has possibly burnt her bridges at Newstalk and its unlike Virgin Media would take her on, it unlikely that she'd add an audience to The Tonight Show. She's not the best paid in fairness to her. She's possibly the only one on the right wage of the top stars.

Well then if that’s the case why doesn’t RTE announce cuts/ re working of the top stars contracts, work practice changes, cost cuts.

The unions and management are like two crocodiles locked in combat, both will take each other out.

Then they expect the taxpayer to rescue them without any damage to themselves.

There is No Need to pay the plethora of ‘stars’ such exorbitant fees.

Where is the ‘competition ‘ coming from?

And I’m well aware the ‘stars’ wages are NOT vital in the overall picture.

But they ARE vital and unnecessary in the public’s perception of the profligacy of RTE.

sligojoek

I didn't hear that part of the show Brendan.

What are “privilege days”?

NIMAN

Are these cuts to staff only?

Wondering if contractors will have their wages cut?


And talking of contractors, when did their whole idea come into being? I'm sure 20 and 30 years ago, everyone on an RTE programme was an RTE employee?
I know the benefit that the likes of Tubs and Duffy get from being contractors, mainly reducing their tax liability, but whats in it for RTE? Does it save them much money employing contractors rather than hiring these people as staff? I would guess they have no pension commitment on them, but does it make financial sense?

beachhead

sligojoek wrote: »

I didn't hear that part of the show Brendan.

What are “privilege days”?

Privilege days are quite common in large companies and among government employees.They can be awarded to employees for various reasons.Usually limited to 5 per year but if really really lucky they could be one a month.They relate variously-length of service,position held, etc

beachhead

Nobody has mentioned the expenses that a lot of rte staff can claim which are not included in the salary packages being quoted and can be "juicy".Most office based staff would not claim them but go on assignment and ding ding

Elmo

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

Well then if that’s the case why doesn’t RTE announce cuts/ re working of the top stars contracts, work practice changes, cost cuts.

The unions and management are like two crocodiles locked in combat, both will take each other out./QUOTE]

I think your misinterpreting my posts.

The 15% cut on the stars is main due to the retirement of one and the death of another. A similar situation to when Pat Kenny left and the death of Jerry Ryan. Tubs organized a pay cut that brought him under 500,000 to save face and he's held on to 495,000 ever since. (But I won't revisit this argument).

I agree RTÉ and the Unions held of till the last minute, the agreement is all about cutting wages and not reform of work practices at the company, but then if they'd been in continual discussion for the last 10 years this might not have been the case.

RTÉ (management and staff) I think believe that they are truly providing a good service and they may even think it is an excellent service, they seem unwilling to listen to anything that differs from that view.

The J Stands for Jay

elperello wrote: »

The State has made a political decision to keep the orchestras for cultural reasons.

I don't know why non-indigenous music, with limited appeal, is funded.

Brendan Bendar

Elmo wrote: »

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

Well then if that’s the case why doesn’t RTE announce cuts/ re working of the top stars contracts, work practice changes, cost cuts.

The unions and management are like two crocodiles locked in combat, both will take each other out./QUOTE]

I think your misinterpreting my posts.

The 15% cut on the stars is main due to the retirement of one and the death of another. A similar situation to when Pat Kenny left and the death of Jerry Ryan. Tubs organized a pay cut that brought him under 500,000 to save face and he's held on to 495,000 ever since. (But I won't revisit this argument).

I agree RTÉ and the Unions held of till the last minute, the agreement is all about cutting wages and not reform of work practices at the company, but then if they'd been in continual discussion for the last 10 years this might not have been the case.

RTÉ (management and staff) I think believe that they are truly providing a good service and they may even think it is an excellent service, they seem unwilling to listen to anything that differs from that view.

Apologies if I misinterpreted your points.

Now a lad could spend a week ‘discussing’ these issues

My main point is, while I have no major issue with the service, it costs way too much to produce.

It reminds me of the airline industry 35 years ago, before they woke up, or were woken up.

The whole cost base needs to be reduced and the work practices and deliniations streamlined.

Elmo

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

My main point is, while I have no major issue with the service, it costs way too much to produce.

I have a huge issue with the service they provide. They are not providing content, they've cut back massively. It seems people haven't noticed that the last 10 years of RTÉ is repeats.

RabbleRouser2k

Elmo wrote: »

I have a huge issue with the service they provide. They are not providing content, they've cut back massively. It seems people haven't noticed that the last 10 years of RTÉ is repeats.

I'd say much of the reason people aren't noticing the repeats is because less and less people are watching RTE.

The thing about the lockdown is more people are stuck at home watching Tv... so they're noticing 'another repeat? Seriously?'.

The LLS was doing misery porn for years. When lockdown happened, lots of people were stuck at home watching TV. And suddenly 'what the hell is this crap?' was obvious.

Hotblack Desiato

beachhead wrote: »

Privilege days are quite common in large companies and among government employees.They can be awarded to employees for various reasons.Usually limited to 5 per year but if really really lucky they could be one a month.They relate variously-length of service,position held, etc

Love to know which companies you're talking about!

Public servants used to get two a year - one at Christmas and one at Easter until they were abolished, so now public sector offices are closed for all of two days at Christmas - Christmas Day and Stephen's Day

Of course most private sector businesses close for much longer than that over Christmas but you never heard Pat Kenny whinging on the radio about that...

The sick leave entitlement they're talking about cutting in RTE is double that of the public sector

elperello

McGaggs wrote: »

I don't know why non-indigenous music, with limited appeal, is funded.

I guess it's non-indigenous because people from other countries created it.

We created some fine music here too.

It's a cultural thing that the government likes to support the arts.

I'm ok with it but I don't go to concerts.

Like I said before anyone who has a problem could take it up with the relevant dept.