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

csirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122474379#Comment_122474379

+1 on too many RTE people in Paris.

Bare in mind that when Eurosport cover live cycling incl. Tour de France, one of their commentators - Robbie McEwan - commentates from his home in Australia! And Sean Kelly from wherever he now lives! Modern technology doesnt require them to be even at the event.

AlmightyCushion

I remember when McGregor was fighting someone in Las Vegas (think it was Mayweather) RTE had someone outside the building the fight was on doing a short 2 minute segment on it. That was it. All that expense for a 2 minute segment. They could have had them in Dublin and put a picture of it on a green screen behind them. No need to send someone over for it.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122480099#Comment_122480099

George Lee is on circa €180k, for what?

While other correspondents aren't on as much money, you have to question what they do on a day to day basis.

I understand that a news report can take time to gather, and most likely they are on their own for most of that "research gathering" but some of them are only just filing reports.

If there are so few reports why so many correspondents?

perhaps I am not looking at this correctly, but if anyone wants to make even a wild guess.

skimpydoo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122482727#Comment_122482727

I't worth noting the Missing in Action George Lee, is so important to RTE, that when he had his midlife crisis and failed at been a politician, RTE indulged him.

If George was working elsewhere he would not have been allowed scurry back with his tail between his knees.

RoTelly

A Year of "Special Events"

When Noel Curran was DG RTÉ began coining the phrase "Special Events". Since 2016 (The year of his departure and the arrival of Dee Forbes) RTÉ has listed the cost of such special events. It's interesting that according to them there were none in 2017 (which would be largely unusual in any one year). They also coined the financial phrase EBITDA** (before Special Events) in their annual report, I'd wonder why EBITDA is even listed in a public bodies annual reports, this surely is just window dressing for investors of a private business (perhaps accountants out there would explain its requirement in an RTÉ annual report), and if it were a private business how having "EBITDABSE" might be a thing!

Now Those are the things listed as special event, "including", there are more event in each year. For example I assume in 2016 would have also included the brexit ref but then the 2017 UK general election is not included ! Anyone know what RTÉ coverage of the 2017 UK GE was like?

Also I don't see how World Cup Qualifiers could be listed as a special event.

These are waffle figures. With the exception of 2021 when their was an exception to the 4 year return of the Olympics and world cup. These are technically special events but RTÉ know well in advance that they are coming and that they will be covering them.

reubenreuben

RTE's olympic coverage has been atrocious.

Bad commentators, constant ad breaks, woeful coverage at diamond park during the Harrington fight .

Whst actually are we paying for?

political analyst

Although the reporting of sporting events as main stories on news bulletins is not confined to Ireland, RTÉ has, unlike the BBC, ITV and Sky News, an overlap between ordinary news and sports news because only RTÉ has sports coverage presenters on news bulletins as sportscasters and signing off with reference to the news division of the broadcaster in question, e.g. "Jacqui Hurley, RTÉ News". I think it raises the issue of - and this is strictly hypothetical - what would happen if, for example, Jacqui Hurley went into politics, got elected and then, like George Lee, quit politics and returned to broadcast journalism. Obviously, she wouldn't have to wait 6 months before going back to presenting sports programmes - but would the 6-month rule still apply to being on news bulletins as a sportscaster or as a reporter signing off with reference to RTÉ News?

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122493079#Comment_122493079

This is how it should work, if you have decided to run for politics you can take a career break in the run up to the election so to avoid any perceived political interference by RTÉ, once you are elected you resign from your position at RTÉ, if you are unsuccessful you can return after six month. You resign from your position at RTÉ, you are taking up a new job.

You can return to RTÉ on completion of the dail term, not, NOT, when you decide you have decide to return. If any job comes up at RTÉ you may apply for it like everyone else.

I wish anyone in RTÉ good luck in their political careers and please close the door on your way out.

Politics should not give you a career break, its not a career break, its a new job.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122491173#Comment_122491173

You'd think otherwise from the RTÉ-twitteraity.

Tow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122493489#Comment_122493489

That is not how it works in RTE. It is the same as any other public sector Job, the old post has to be left open for their return.

Ruth Buchanan took them to court over this, long before George Lee went to get is free parking for life in the city centre.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122494024#Comment_122494024

Well then Dear George you can get paid a public service wage. Close the door on your way out.

RoTelly

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio/2024/08/11/sales-of-tv-licences-in-2024-over-10m-down-on-figure-for-previous-year/

449,456 - Jan to July 2024

499,186  - Jan to July 2023

552,198 - Jan to July 2022

Responding to a query from The Irish Times, a spokesman for the department said: that direct TV licence sales by An Post have been on a downward trajectory for a number of years due in part to changing viewing habits.

I would love to know who the spokesperson is from the department a government spin doctor or the civil servant. Let me put it this way viewing habits haven't change people just don't watch RTÉ as much as you might think :)

But back to the sales of licences.

drop of 53,012 in 2023

drop of 49,730 in 2024

a total drop off of 102,742, that's is 20% of those that paid in 2022.

Yeah they all changed their viewing habits that much in the last 2 years, all the oirechtas TV they've watched on line :)

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122493489#Comment_122493489

That's not what my point was about. I was raising a regulatory issue by mentioning the scenario in my post. Read it carefully.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122496693#Comment_122496693

I did and the strike though is my initial attempt to answer and then I realised that Mr. Lee should not have returned to RTÉ.

RTÉ possible don't have a policy and CnaM/BAI probably don't have a code of practice for such cases. IMO if regardless of who you work for there should be a clear process.

1. It will depend on the election type
2. Broadcaster must give 6 months notice for Local and Euro elections, with 3 months off air prior to the election
3. Broadcaster may not run for a political party in the local elections and may only be a independent community candidate and may not support a coalition in the council. If they make any bias political remarks either to the left or the right during this time they must step down. They may not report on any news or sport in that area. (This is more difficult but unlikely that any of the media would ever go into local politics).
4. By-elections / General Elections, 6 months before the require date e.g. The broadcaster must make their decision before Sept 30 this year for the next general election, and for the number of upcoming by elections following the Euros, they would have had to have notified the broadcaster on the day the MEP was declare elected.
5. 3 months before the election they must be removed from broadcast, and will be on leave during the month of the election campaign.
6. If they are not elected they may return to work, but will not return to broadcast for another 3 months
7. If they are elected they have now resigned from their position at the broadcaster, they do not return unless they apply for a new position. (See 3 for local Councillors)

But I doubt you will find any kind of guidance from any broadcaster on this.

JP Liz V1

Eurovision spends

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/rte-spend-bambie-thug-eurovision-33449260

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122498168#Comment_122498168

400k on a 3 day event which paints Ireland in a positive light. Versus a bit more than what Joe Duffy earns in a year.

Personally I think the Eurovision spend is better value.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122498261#Comment_122498261

What annoys me about Eurovision is their head of delegation. This time last year he was saying : -

While rival broadcasters employ teams of people to stage their Eurovision bids, Michael is a one-man operation, sometimes directing Prime Time, organising RTE’s New Year’s Eve coverage and the Rose of Tralee as he also tries to find a song and performer who could regain Ireland’s Eurovision glory.

Last year RTE splashed out on more than €315,000 sending Derry singer Brooke Scullion to Eurovision.

But Michael said: “It’s not enough to be perfectly honest ….and it’s a dog fight to get every cent.

“At the same time, I think we are one of the few organisation around Europe who tell you what we spend.”

Does matter who is running the show it really about the song and the act, and he is either lucky or extremely unlucky.

Expect more of the same next year from our entry as he's at last found the hook required.

And if it flops he tell us, you should have paid your TV licence.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/thats-rich-rte-splashed-out-27650436

https://www.thesun.ie/tvandshowbiz/9877941/eurovision-rte-abuse-blame-sacked-michael-kealy/

JP Liz V1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122498261#Comment_122498261

I think Eurovision is a guilty pleasure for us all, the spectacle amazes and tbf we did well with Bambi Thug this year

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122497386#Comment_122497386

The 6-month rule doesn't apply if the RTÉ person who left to go into politics and has then left politics to go back to RTÉ is not involved in news or current affairs.

Jacqui Hurley is a presenter on The Sunday Game and so it was erroneous of me to mention her in my hypothesis.

Evanne Ní Chuillin presented the RTÉ News coverage of the return of the Irish Olympics team yesterday afternoon. If she went into politics - and I'm not saying that she's interested in doing so - and then quit politics to return to RTÉ, would she be barred from being a sports reporter on news bulletins for 6 months? Is her affiliation with RTÉ News or is it with RTÉ Sport?

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122500006#Comment_122500006

It should and my points are hypothetical, ask RTÉ and the CnaM if they have any codes of practice written down for this type of thing.

And it should cover all RTÉ presenters. Look at Mairead McGuinness. She presented an independent production on RTÉ for years before she became an MEP, it is unlikely she will return to RTÉ but if she does it should be done slowly.

RoTelly

So no really changes to RTÉ radio following a raft of exits. So the idea that the top stars bring in a auidence can largely be dismissed.

And if your interested due to sport in July RTÉ had a 33% share of the audience, while in June similar figures. RTÉ2 will average about 7% share for the year but will have achieved 14% share in June and July, August will see those figure diminish as will the rest of the year.

Brendan Bendar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122506625#Comment_122506625

Was there a "raft of exits" Ro , None of the so called big hitters apart from Dobbo left.

Tubs of course but that was different.

Your point is quite correct though.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122507268#Comment_122507268

I'd agree no bigger hitters, but a group of presenters that 2FM and some in the media considered to be big hitters.

Laura Fox has pretty much take over from Jenny Z and she's getting 141,000 listeners up 6k. Not much less than Westlife show which ended on 155k.

Brendan Bendar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122507285#Comment_122507285

yes….God help us all if there are folk out there who consider Garrihy, Ryan, and co ‘big hitters’

Bunch of grifters and chancers Ro….and I know you probably agree with that.

Just back from the Supermarket to buy my copy of Irelands Own and I see Derrane and a host of other

chancers grinning out of the covers of several magazines…we really are thick if we can’t see through these chancers.

I also see Seoighe apparently trying politics now that her TV career has stalled.

Unbelievable that folk would be taken in by these grifters.

But hey……Nina Carberry….. Mullooley….. this lot have seen an opportunity it seems.

inajock

Daithi O Se coming with a run at a the politics now too. Well up on the ballot paper

ShamNNspace

Now that the cheque has cleared its back to spend, spend, spend in the small principality of Montrosia...Verona here we come.... How's poor Dee these days btw?? , wishing her a full recovery, then she might be able to answer a few questions, maybe even return some money she didn't earn... One guy robs us with a shotgun, the other with a fountain pen,

Brendan Bendar

what kind of a wedge is Marty on?

Viscount Aggro

Hes long past retirement... Get rid of him.

Bring back Brendan Balfe, or Rodney Rice.

RoTelly

Also I am thinking that many of those presenters have got away without having to be in the top ten list.

From what I can gather when the RTÉ annual report is published later in the year it will only show the top ten earners, this means because RTÉ have added the executives to the list they then remove many of the people that would have been added to the the list due to lowering of the earnings and the exit of others.

Now we are left with a list that you can't compare to previous lists. Really the top ten onscreen talent should be published along with the top ten non-onscreen talent at RTÉ.

I'd say getting FC and TLLS to become independent productions is to remove those stars from the top ten earners list.

Expunge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122507785#Comment_122507785

Marty is with the other giant talent agency - Carol and Associates. They seem to have avoided the spotlight that Noel Kelly found himself under.

Their roster isn't quite as young and hip - more "has beens" on the books

Entertainment Agency & Consultancy - Carol and Associates