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

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420250#Comment_122420250

Well said. Harris in full election mode now -i.e. do-nothing mode.

Brendan Bendar

The Brenner was sitting on a bar stool listening to Emma O'Kelly being interviewed by Rachel English on the News at One.

Rachel asked her quite timidly, I thought ,a rhetorical question like 'Why should the Taxpayer put money into RTE given the profligacy and wastage just experienced'

O'Kelly ignored the question almost totally and straight away I concluded that nothing is going to change out there.

They haven't learned their lesson, the Govt bottled it, they will continue to corn hole John Q Taxpayer and laugh in his face.

kazamo

RTE must be delighted with the declared third revenue stream established now.

Licence, Advertising and now a backstop of state funding.

People need to boycott the licence as they are on the hook to fund them through direct taxation anyway.

Rip off Ireland is thriving

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122419784#Comment_122419784

It also shows again how detached this government is from the public mood. They seem to live in a bubble of their own up there. It's well known and evidenced that there is simmering discontent with the licence fee, those who pay, those who don't and the abuse of this money in RTE. Combined with the useless collection system of An Post.

They have an opportunity to grasp the nettle, to lance the boil, an open goal and … they fouk it up. Bottlers.

Maybe RTE is useful to them as an arm of government publicity, a spin machine - if so, let it be funded by the Dept Taoiseach and we'll all be clear then. Did I hear Paschal reported as saying they wouldn't forego the licence as it was a ready means to get money in? For that alone, he or whoever said, should be booted into the Irish Sea. And there should be a mass boycott to tell him to shove his patronising up his whole.

jj880

Anyone got a good link that sums up Tubsgate and what followed?

After this sweetheart deal for RTE I wouldn't mind a refresher just to depress myself with the state of regulation / accountability in this country.

Beta Ray Bill

The whole thing has gone so far beyond a joke now

€750,000,000…. Like that is an incredible sum on money for a company that runs a few radios stations, 3.5 TV channels and two orchestras.

How is that number justified? How are the likes of TV3 able to survive on their own two feet and RTE are not despite there being a license fee.

And all this on the back drop over a heap of scandal's, missed targets, unfulfilled promises and political hype that never amounts to anything.

Like imagine for example you're a person affected by Mica with the government unwilling to chase the builders or material providers responsible for your house falling apart. Nor will they fully reimburse you. Yet they're prepared to have over 3/4 of a Billion to management in Montrose after they've mismanaged the hell out of it.

It's unbelievable, I do not get why people voted in FF/FG in the last local election. I'm not saying vote for SF but literally anyone would be better.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420673#Comment_122420673

I am 1 of those people. House falling down round me with defective concrete. A house Ive been paying a mortgage on for 16 years. You are 100% correct. It sticks in the craw seeing this shyite going on. Only a few weeks ago Tubs up here in Donegal lumping his cash from RTÉ's slush fund into Muff Liquor that he "wasnt legally compelled" to return.

Im not looking to start a concrete debate but I feel like why the feck did I bother investing in this country by buying a home? There was no regulation. Quarries were allowed operate by councils here based on the CE mark as product insurance. The CE mark allows a 3 year statute of limitations on concrete. Just think about that for a second. 3 years for concrete. Its systemic. RTE is just a very public example at the moment.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420604#Comment_122420604

She should be asking management that question not the local head of the NUJ.

Brendan Bendar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420904#Comment_122420904

Indeed, however O'Kelly is an employee of RTE as far as I know, she is not paid by the NUJ.

She shouldn't have not addressed the obvious question.

I accept your point that management need to come out from under their rock and now that JQtaxpayer is funding them directly, this business of siloing everything has to be brought to an end.

SO FAR VERY LITTLE SIGN OF ANY CHANGE.

SonicSuper

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420604#Comment_122420604

The government didn't "bottle it". They achieved their goal and just brass necked it out until the scandal died down. Mission accomplished tbh. If the Irish electorate are thick enough to put up with government failing for as long as i am alive then that's their problem.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122418843#Comment_122418843

In the TV building, what happened on Friday?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420214#Comment_122420214

Sadly I wouldn't have been surprised, perhaps that's why its not funny.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420250#Comment_122420250

Do we think that change the licence fee would have changed the outcome for RTÉ and Dee Frobes?

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420671#Comment_122420671

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT%C3%89_secret_payment_scandal

and a short version on the executive board page

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT%C3%89_Executive_Board

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420673#Comment_122420673

One Orchestra, RTÉ lobbied make the NCH take control of the NSO, Cor Na Nog and the Choir. A saving on 7million, which the would have saved in 2021 … vast majority of that saving when to RTÉ ONE … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT%C3%89#Breakdown_of_the_licence_fee

TV3 don't produce as much programming (but I won't start defending RTÉ).

An average hour of TV costs 100,000 (That is a mix of Drama at the high end and Studio programming at the low end). About 3 hours per day. Now RTÉ would need to mix with some cheap programming and some cheap imported programming.

However I highly doubt that RTÉ 1 produce anywhere near 3 hours of TV per day. RTÉ certainly does not.

Beta Ray Bill

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420946#Comment_122420946

100%

Paddy is very forgetful and does not like to be the person forcing/pushing change.

General election in the next 12 months anyway, more than likely all will be forgotten about and we'll get FF/FG again.

RoTelly

Just to get the funding model down : -

2025 : Year 1

€225m Licence Fee and Exchqure funding

Increased in the Broadcasting and Media Funds going to €10m, plus Sound and Vision, bring it to 22.2m in 2025, I assume the extra 12.2m comes from the €255m

2026 and 2027 RTÉ funding increases to 240m and then to 260m

You think they'd have announced 2023 and 2024 funding.

Oxo Moran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420968#Comment_122420968

I think a massive need to make cut backs at top level would have helped the everyday staff and public know there was accountability and consequences.

Scrap the licence, give them the budget to run one station and one radio station.

Shan Doras

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122421284#Comment_122421284

What exactly are the "Broadcasting and Media Funds" ?

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420620#Comment_122420620

I bought my TV off my mate who moved here from Scotland. It is a smart TV but doesnt have saorview and therefore I can not access RTE television and so I do not have a TV license.

With its inability to pick up TV signals, if I was (somehow) legally directed to get a TV license, I would throw it into the black bin, and go out and buy a 42" monitor. The more people who similar, eventually RTE will have to change.

There was some spoofer on with Pat Kenny earlier who was saying that license purchases are down 20% since Tubsgate, but that this decision should bring license uptake back to normal levels. I burst out laughing wondering "Based on what?". The trust remains gone. Why would anyone pay 160 a year while that trust is absent.

Brendan Bendar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420946#Comment_122420946

What goal did they achieve as a matter of interest??

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122421335#Comment_122421335

Sound and Vision which was originally funded via the licence fee, this was increased during covid using exchequer funding.

Also there is a small fund for News media, across broadcast, online, local, national and print, again started during covid.

The Dept of Foreign Affairs also have a small fund, if you see VMTV in the US you know they are using DFA money to fund the trip, RTÉ have 3 correspondents from this fund.

On corresponedents and Emma Kelly, how did their Washington correspondent do during all the happenings in the US?

Viscount Aggro

Fair City … hopefully the private company takes a hatchet to the production costs.

Theres old geezers still getting that gig. eg. Eamon Morrissey.

Lets see new talent and storylines that are relevant to modern Ireland.

Floppybits

Jaysus Catherine Martin must have been awful if even government spokesperson and Mr Angry Fionnan Sheehan is saying it was an "abject performance".

https://twitter.com/fionnansheahan/status/1816111113781575845

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122421394#Comment_122421394

They could have a storyline where the old paint factory in Carrickstown burns down and the Gardai get attacked.

hotmail.com

Emma O'Kelly should be the first to be made redundant. She does nothing.

jippo nolan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122421584#Comment_122421584

and don’t forget “missing in action” George Lee!

rob316

You can guarantee 750m is only the start of it too, we have seen with every expenditure this government makes they run way over. RTE will be back with the paw out and the exchequer will oblige.

It's a sickening amount of money for something most of us couldn't care less about.

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122421364#Comment_122421364

Why would anyone pay it when the government is going to top it up anyway.

It is in effect double taxation.

Tow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122420968#Comment_122420968

They may be in new building, I know they are a 'walk' from the old studios. They had Crowdstrike on installed the studio PCs, so they were out of of action.

PokeHerKing

And in response to the massive financial scandal at RTE , the Irish government have decided to give the broadcaster three quarters of a billion 🤣🤣

If it wasn't obvious to everyone before that RTE is the government's propaganda wing I hope it's crystal clear now.

hotmail.com

No changes whatsoever. Massive failures and falling ratings and Catherine Martin gives even more money to RTE.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122421738#Comment_122421738

presumably fines, imprisonment etc. will still be incurred by nonpayment?

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122421795#Comment_122421795

Do you notice how they decided on 3 years and not 4, wonder why they didn't give RTÉ some more security in the knowledge of what they'd be getting over 4 years.

What's a billion between friends!

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122421884#Comment_122421884

I wonder how set in stone all this is given we don't know the makeup of the next government. If Sinn Fein get in could it all be scrapped and RTE be written an (almost literal) blank cheque?

Headshot

This decision sums up the Government to tee. I'm not surprised by this because this same government continuously rewards failure after failure, just look at McEntee as a prime example.

This government continues to reward incompetence and failure. There is no repercussions here for RTE what so ever. It's depressing.

hotmail.com

Catherine Martin getting very upset with Fionan Sheehan at the press conference today.

Maybe if Catherine Martin answered some questions. Massively incompetent and over promoted.

Shan Doras

There's also a 3rd method of tax payers money going to RTE that hasn't been mentioned yet, buckets of government advertising on Radio and TV, even RTE Raidio Na Gaeltachta, which never had any advertising whatsoever until this year, now has buckets of government messages as gaeilge telling us not to blackmail our ex gfs with nudie pics

Viscount Aggro

I know a guy who works in RTE… his father worked there before him.

I dont know how he got the job… it wasnt advertised.

He works in some BS job fixing stuff.

Jinglejangle69

If only everyone could just stop paying the license from today there is nothing they could do.

Unfortunately we just roll over as a nation ince again.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122422298#Comment_122422298

They could move to direct exchequer funding of RTE, which seems to be what the medium term plan is anyway

https://extra.ie/2024/07/21/news/rte-state-funding-plan

after five years RTÉ will be fully funded directly by the taxpayer.

Cluedo Monopoly

Catherine Martin said she was blocked at cabinet around reform of funding model.

So after many reports and the fact it was in the programme for govt and the shenanigans of last year's revelations the decision was made to Do Nothing except throw money at the problem.

New Politics.

JP Liz V1

BS

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/media-minister-says-three-year-funding-plan-for-rte-will-serve-all-of-society-1653772.html

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122421832#Comment_122421832

You'd be released within a few hours of entering the prison.

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122422372#Comment_122422372

I can't stand the current communications minister but the Exchequer isn't ready to start making all of the contribution of public money to RTÉ straight away. As is stated in the article that Loafing Oaf linked on this thread, the taxpayer will directly fund RTÉ after 5 years.

hoodie6029

I see that they are also looking into the possibility of making the households where they don’t have details of the occupants to sign a statutory declaration that they don’t have a television.

Massive overreach and breach of our Constitutional right to privacy. The State has no right to ask me about the contents of my home unless they suspect criminal activity and they need a warrant to enter it. They may go back to the drawing board on this idea.
GDPR means that the records have to be up to date too so you’d have to submit that thing every year. Will you have to tell them when you move? Do you have to tell them where you’ve moved to and if there is a television there too? Not a runner in my book.

We need public service broadcasting, even more so in this day and age. We don’t want the only news feed we see to be determined by some tech bros in California and China. But the licence fee system is badly out of date.

Atlantic Dawn

Imagine how good the RTÉ Player will be with that ball of money behind it 🤔

Widdensushi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122422869#Comment_122422869

Surely gaa games will be broadcast,doubt it.

CollyFlower

With this bail out I'd have more concerns about potential bias, therr has to be "strings attached". Like, promoting certain viewpoints and avoiding others, what topics to cover and how to cover them..... No change there though. 😒

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122423002#Comment_122423002

There's no evidence to indicate that those "strings attached" exist or ever will exist. Fianna Fáil is not the party that it was when Ray Burke was communications minister and is thus not hostile to being held to account by the media.

z80CPU

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122422869#Comment_122422869

The app developer can give some jobs to his inner circle friends 😄

skimpydoo

Why has Martin and the rest of the government ignored the big elephant in the room? RTE being insolvent because it owes around €200M to cover it's bogus self employment tax bill.

Also why don't RTE change flip flop supplier? I have found a nice pair at €1.30 that will suit all RTE's needs.

https://www.primark.com/en-ie/p/essential-flat-flip-flops-black-991060599804