Ah, poor RTE is playing we have no money.....

punisher5112

murpho999 wrote: »

It's normal in other countries to privatise companies so what's the problem?

Also, Luas is now run by Transdev and it will change again in the future. I don't see the problem with it and it's a highly efficient service.

Irish Water is only a mess in that how it's funded and irish people refused to pay for it unlike how people in other countries pay for their water.

So there's no real need to bash the whole country.

Luas operations hasnt changed once, it's exactly the same operator since day one!

Don't get your argument....

Many countries keep their national airlines and transport infrastructure and so on....

Everything I've seen here and in many other countries when privatised it's in no way better for the consumer or the state or the people.

Chinasea

The 3 hipsters they choose weren't very representative for starters.

Why were they armed with 3 RTE logo'd disposable, plastic lidded coffee cups. Doesn't RTE have a dishwasher?

Stop the waste.

murpho999

punisher5112 wrote: »

Luas operations hasnt changed once, it's exactly the same operator since day one!

Don't get your argument....

Many countries keep their national airlines and transport infrastructure and so on....

Everything I've seen here and in many other countries when privatised it's in no way better for the consumer or the state or the people.

Ok, I thought Transdev and Veolia were separate companies but it's simply a name change. Either way I don't see the problem and what Irish company could do it?

How was Telecom Eireann better than Eir for the consumer? Or Aer Lingus?

They were both ridiculously expensive when publicly owned and they didn't care about the consumer.

It's competition and deregulation that benefited the consumer.

Bummer1234

Watching this last night and the lassy who had a projector so didn't have to pay for a tv license.....There was me about to throw the TV on done deal after hearing that :pac:...

of course the change there thinking of bring out for household media charge will change that if they get there way....

WB Yokes

NIMAN wrote: »

It'll be any digital device, there will be no escaping it.

Except maybe for a few tree huggers who live off the grid.

How will the charges be implemented?

Cina

I'd still like to have a national broadcaster but purely for the news, elections, current affairs, big sport events etc. and a good website (which is about the only good thing RTE have right now) for reporting and such.

But RTE in its current state is a joke. Why in 2019 when everyone has internet access and can download all these shows are they paying millions and millions just to buy and air US and UK shows? It's ridiculous.

Chop them down to one station and only air original Irish TV on it, preferably not the drab sh*te they currently do, and don't air for the sake of it. if there's nothing on, either keep the screen black or show the news, and drop the f*cking license fee down a peg or two.

zeebre12

downtheroad wrote: »

It might only be a drop in the ocean that is the RTE total expenditure but the taxi situation is a disgrace. What other employer in this country pays for taxis to and from work for its staff. Such an easy solution for Dee Forbes to save a few hundred grand, tell staff they can make their own way to and from Montrose like any normal commuter.

What kind of staff get free taxis? Has this always been the way?

NIMAN

WB Yokes wrote: »

How will the charges be implemented?

No idea. I think there was mention of letting Revenue collect it, but don't think Revenue are keen on the job.

If they want it, they'll get it.

Either add it to your property tax. Or your electricity bill?

If RTE sut down between midnight and 7am, would it save much?

nkl12xtw5goz70

completedit wrote: »

It’s very important we don’t lose our national consciousness in a world of American dominated media.

Curiously, RTE spends about €25 million a year on importing television programmes from overseas. Turn on RTE and you're likely to see something like The Simpsons, Home and Away, or EastEnders.

Even with the home-produced shows, it's hard to see how fare like Operation Transformation, Dermot Bannon's Incredible Homes, or Daniel & Majella’s B&B Road Trip help to promote a national consciousness.

Plumbthedepths

zeebre12 wrote: »

What kind of staff get free taxis? Has this always been the way?

I drove taxis several years ago the Midlands correspondent ( can't spell his name, arrogant gob****e)for RTE regularly got a taxi from Athlone to his home in Lanes borough after the pub. It was always expensed to RTE, ie the licence payer.

lawred2

An outrageous abuse of their platform to push such a transparent propaganda video..

That would be enough for me for the government to be seeking that dismissal of that whinging Dee Forbes.

padd b1975

NIMAN wrote: »

Wonder did Miriam feel any shame when the piece finished and it came back to her to finish the show?

I'd say not. She probably thinks she isn't being paid enough, what with being one of the nation's darlings.

The wardrobe of someone half your age doesn't come cheap you know.

zeebre12

One thing I always wondered is with RTE reporters/correspondents on RTE News is what are they doing all the rest of the time? Like the religious/education correspondent is on maybe once a month talking for a minute or two. Is that their full time job?

Assetbacked

TG4 for the win. Fantastic lifestyle shows which get involved in Irish communities and the people who live in them with some fantastic stories and beautiful scenary shots.

Great documentaries too and not wasting millions on shows they don't need to broadcast.

cj maxx

RTE on the offensive re state money and the lack of it . There must be a budget or something happening soon !

Agricola

Sick to the hole of RTE doing a shít Irish version of every reality TV format doing the rounds. Time to stop wasting cash on sub par rubbish and invest it into the important things a public service broadcaster is supposed to. RTE couldn't compete with the UK offerings coming in via Sky, it certainly can't compete in the age of streaming. Just concentrate on high quality Irish interest content that's not going to be made elsewhere and stop shoveling money into blackholes.

topper75

Yeah my great grandad had 'no money' either from his cartwheel and horseshoe business back in the day.

But rather than whinging to the govt he accepted that motor cars were now a thing. He set about learning something new and adapting.

RTÉ are not stupid people. They do know that scheduled TV is now history and that tech has rendered them utterly redundant for 2020 and beyond.

People are really tired of their stance and how it is being run. I often say - we never get referendums on what really matters.

rob316

Zoe Ball with probably 10m people a day tuning in for is making less than RTE "top stars" what a ****ing joke.

zeebre12

zeebre12 wrote: »

What kind of staff get free taxis? Has this always been the way?

I know a person who lives in north Dublin close to a dart station that gets taxis paid for when working late, and late is when the dart is still running. This person works behind the scenes, not on tv or radio. Now they do get the train during what you might call regular hours but the taxi option does get used a lot.

Sleepy

Honestly, the unions have the place so ****ed up the only reform option available is to shut RTE entirely and start afresh. There is no reason whatsoever for the licence payer to be footing the bill for Network 2 or 2fm. TBH, I don't even mind paying for the orchestras, it's the repeats of US dramas, grossly inflated salaries (porters clearing six figures?!), nepotism and wasteful work practices that stick in my craw.

According to a quick google, RTE had 1,856 employees (as of 31 December 2013) when compared to Channel 4's 727 (2010). That's more than double the employees for a media network that doesn't come close to Channel 4's in terms of quality.

El_Bee

punisher5112 wrote: »

Prime time doing an investigation into how rte themselves have no money....

They have 3 people watching clips and are asked should we be forced to pay...... Guess the answer yes yes we should be forced....

RTE are a shocking set up and squander a fortune....

I still can't wrap my head around how RTE gets both Advertising money and License Fee's from the public AND funding from the government and it's STILL almost broke? Banana Republic stuff.

Cyclepath

rob316 wrote: »

Zoe Ball with probably 10m people a day tuning in for is making less than RTE "top stars" what a ****ing joke.

This is what I don't understand. There's no market based assessment of the RTE presenter's real worth.

If for example you halved the wages of Miriam O'C, Joe Duffy and The Tubster, what would actually happen? Would the BBC snap them up, or pay then more? Unlikely I'd think.

Let's face it, what could they actually do? Where else would they get even half of what RTE pays them?

I know my own wages are very closely compared to the market rate for what I do. My wages are based on my company's desire to pay me as little as possible while ensuring that nobody else is paying significantly more for what I do.

Can we not apply the same logic to RTE's 'stars'?

the beer revolu

Sleepy wrote: »

According to a quick google, RTE had 1,856 employees (as of 31 December 2013) when compared to Channel 4's 727 (2010). That's more than double the employees for a media network that doesn't come close to Channel 4's in terms of quality.

Not comparable. Channel 4 does not make any content. They buy it all in. RTE still makes a lot of content.

lawred2

the beer revolu wrote: »

Not comparable. Channel 4 does not make any content. They buy it all in. RTE still makes a lot of content.

when you say they buy it all in? Do you mean that they use production companies?

the beer revolu

lawred2 wrote: »

when you say they buy it all in? Do you men that they use production companies?

Yes.
RTE commission independent production companies too but they also produce a lot of content themselves. This requires a lot more staff.

nkl12xtw5goz70

the beer revolu wrote: »

RTE commission independent production companies too but they also produce a lot of content themselves. This requires a lot more staff.

Do we really need RTE producing domestic versions of The Voice or Dancing with the Stars? How do these shows serve the Irish taxpayer who is paying to produce them?

RTÉ should be limited to creating public-interest programmes that commercial channels would not produce. They should be able to do that with one TV station and one radio station. No need for "star" presenters, a staff of around 2,000 people, plus 500 more self-employed contractors, all whinging that they aren't being handed enough of people's hard-earned money.

Wibbs

They'd be far better off going the Channel 4 route. It's mostly how things are done these days. Then again if you had the same hierarchy and mindset running RTE in those circumstances you'd still have "jobs for the boys" in action when it came to outsourcing content.

weldoninhio

weldoninhio wrote: »

Why is a television license paying for:

RTRadio One
RTRaidi Gaeltachta
RTLyric FM
RTPerforming Groups
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland levy
BCI Sound and Vision fund
Collection Costs from An Post/Communications and Social Protection Departments

Not to mention the orchestras!!!

You forgot RTE Junior. The worlds least listened to radio station

lawred2

Anton Shapely Pocketknife wrote: »

Do we really need RTE producing domestic versions of The Voice or Dancing with the Stars? How do these shows serve the Irish taxpayer who is paying to produce them?

RTÉ should be limited to creating public-interest programmes that commercial channels would not produce. They should be able to do that with one TV station and one radio station. No need for "star" presenters, a staff of around 2,000 people, plus 500 more self-employed contractors, all whinging that they aren't being handed enough of people's hard-earned money.

outside of current affairs, news and covering sport I can't see why there is any need for RTE to produce 'content'

padd b1975

the beer revolu wrote: »

Not comparable. Channel 4 does not make any content. They buy it all in. RTE still makes a lot of content.

Channel 4 bares no resemblance to what it once was.

Went down the woke rabbit hole years ago.

lawred2

padd b1975 wrote: »

Channel 4 bares no resemblance to what it once was.

Went down the woke rabbit hole years ago.

instinctive roll eyes when I see that term

Sleepy

the beer revolu wrote: »

Not comparable. Channel 4 does not make any content. They buy it all in. RTE still makes a lot of content.

RTE already buy most of their most popular content from the likes of Coco / Octagon etc and their "big name" presenters are all managing their tax bills through their own production companies.

Why do you think the organisations aren't comparable? Both are state media companies with a public service broadcasting remit.

Who's doing the better job?

murpho999

El_Bee wrote: »

I still can't wrap my head around how RTE gets both Advertising money and License Fee's from the public AND funding from the government and it's STILL almost broke? Banana Republic stuff.

It's not banana republic stuff. It's completely normal.

Here's a list of countries that have TV licence fees.

It's the BBC that is the exception and not the norm in that it's completely funded in the UK by Licence fees and no advertising. It's compelled by law on that and has advertsing on its services outside the UK.

El_Bee

murpho999 wrote: »

It's not banana republic stuff. It's completely normal.

Here's a list of countries that have TV licence fees.

It's the BBC that is the exception and not the norm in that it's completely funded in the UK by Licence fees and no advertising. It's compelled by law on that and has advertsing on its services outside the UK.

You think it's perfectly acceptable for RTE to be receiving 3 different sources of funding and is still hemorrhaging money?

the beer revolu

Sleepy wrote: »

RTE already buy most of their most popular content from the likes of Coco / Octagon etc and their "big name" presenters are all managing their tax bills through their own production companies.

Why do you think the organisations aren't comparable? Both are state media companies with a public service broadcasting remit.

Who's doing the better job?

All I commented on was that you can't compare staff numbers in RTE to staff numbers in Channel 4 because RTE produce programming and Channel 4 do not.
Channel 4 are not a state media company and does not have a public service remit.

NIMAN

El_Bee wrote: »

You think it's perfectly acceptable for RTE to be receiving 3 different sources of funding and is still hemorrhaging money?

It was overspending beyond its means for years cos they always knew they'd get bailed out.

Time for the bailing out to stop.

DF needs to be told there is no extra money getting pumped in, and she has to do her job and make tough decisions. Its not good enough to just keep spending more than you're getting in.

She could start by looking at her own salary. She seems to be doing a fairly poor job since she started. Is she worth the salary?

NIMAN

NIMAN wrote: »

It was overspending beyond its means for years cos they always knew they'd get bailed out.

Time for the bailing out to stop.

DF needs to be told there is no extra money getting pumped in, and she has to do her job and make tough decisions. Its not good enough to just keep spending more than you're getting in.

She could start by looking at her own salary. She seems to be doing a fairly poor job since she started. Is she worth the salary?

Excellent point. Why would they bother implementing any cuts when they know they can go cap in hand looking for a bail out to cover their deficit.

A firm no to such a request would go a long way to getting RTE to get their house in order and live within their means, means which are quite generous as it is thanks to a licence fee and advertising revenue.

Sleepy

Honestly, I think you can compare them: RTE are heavily over-staffed. Outside of news and current affairs (and arguably even those when you contrast the job ITN do for Channel 4 with RTE's own News) they really *should* be buying in the vast majority of their content (from Irish production companies). With any sort of competent procurement, the likes "Today" would cost a fraction to purchase in from a production company than what it costs to produce it with their overly-unionised staffing situation.

randd1

- Irish version of Takeshi's Castle/Wipeout, with genuinely funny and difficult obstacles, and without the bleeping for the cursing.
- A series based on how alcohol affects you doing every day things. They do the thing normally first, then everyone has a feed drinks and then tries to them. Episodes would include driving (obviously on a race track and not at speed), 5 a side soccer, writing a business letter, making a dinner, riding a bike. A bit of a laugh and a bit educational too.
- Satirical news show along the lines of Waterford Whispers.
- Spoof comedy along the lines of Fr Ted based around a Sunday league team.
- Simple question based game show where players start with 100 points and take points off each other until they eliminate each other.
- For the sports enthusiast, a GAA magazine show during the summer. Talk to obscure clubs and players, local characters instead of the usual 10 or so people.
- Visual programme about Irish wildlife/scenery. The TV3 drone over Ireland programme as a template.
- Set aside 30 minutes a weekday evening for independently home produced programmes who are shown based on a competition. Meets the "assist Irish arts" criteria and costs them nothing bar a fraction of some of the higher ups wages in prize money.

Set up work experience programmes with various universities and IT's to take in a set number of media students every year to help run the programmes and cut costs. Can provide fresh blood/talent to the station as an aside

Some programmes and an idea for new blood/lower costs pulled out of my arse in the space of 5 minutes. Surely they can do actually better with a bit of planning.

murpho999

El_Bee wrote: »

You think it's perfectly acceptable for RTE to be receiving 3 different sources of funding and is still hemorrhaging money?

I didn't say that.

But a business/organisation losing money is not banana republic stuff it's just poor management.
It doesn't matter where the revenue comes from.

It just annoys me when people just bash the country and think other places don't have the same problems.

NIMAN

randd1 wrote: »

- Irish version of Takeshi's Castle/Wipeout, with genuinely funny and difficult obstacles, and without the bleeping for the cursing.
- A series based on how alcohol affects you doing every day things. They do the thing normally first, then everyone has a feed drinks and then tries to them. Episodes would include driving (obviously on a race track and not at speed), 5 a side soccer, writing a business letter, making a dinner, riding a bike. A bit of a laugh and a bit educational too.
- Satirical news show along the lines of Waterford Whispers.
- Spoof comedy along the lines of Fr Ted based around a Sunday league team.
- Simple question based game show where players start with 100 points and take points off each other until they eliminate each other.
- For the sports enthusiast, a GAA magazine show during the summer. Talk to obscure clubs and players, local characters instead of the usual 10 or so people.
- Visual programme about Irish wildlife/scenery. The TV3 drone over Ireland programme as a template.
- Set aside 30 minutes a weekday evening for independently home produced programmes who are shown based on a competition. Meets the "assist Irish arts" criteria and costs them nothing bar a fraction of some of the higher ups wages in prize money.

Set up work experience programmes with various universities and IT's to take in a set number of media students every year to help run the programmes and cut costs. Can provide fresh blood/talent to the station as an aside

Some programmes and an idea for new blood/lower costs pulled out of my arse in the space of 5 minutes. Surely they can do actually better with a bit of planning.

- Cooking in prison
- Monkey tennis
- Inner city sumo

randd1

NIMAN wrote: »

- Cooking in prison
- Monkey tennis
- Inner city sumo

They'd need the fat suits for that one, heroin addicts don't tend to be the fattest.

Although, having an inner city obstacle course that you have to finish through parkour racing in the fastest time while being chased a member of the guards might be something to look at.

Plumbthedepths

murpho999 wrote: »

It's not banana republic stuff. It's completely normal.

Here's a list of countries that have TV licence fees.

It's the BBC that is the exception and not the norm in that it's completely funded in the UK by Licence fees and no advertising. It's compelled by law on that and has advertsing on its services outside the UK.

Thanks for the link, not sure why you use the word normal, the licence has been abolished in many countries aswell would that not qualify as normal?

ednwireland

randd1 wrote: »

- Irish version of Takeshi's Castle/Wipeout, with genuinely funny and difficult obstacles, and without the bleeping for the cursing.
- A series based on how alcohol affects you doing every day things. They do the thing normally first, then everyone has a feed drinks and then tries to them. Episodes would include driving (obviously on a race track and not at speed), 5 a side soccer, writing a business letter, making a dinner, riding a bike. A bit of a laugh and a bit educational too.
- Satirical news show along the lines of Waterford Whispers.
- Spoof comedy along the lines of Fr Ted based around a Sunday league team.
- Simple question based game show where players start with 100 points and take points off each other until they eliminate each other.
- For the sports enthusiast, a GAA magazine show during the summer. Talk to obscure clubs and players, local characters instead of the usual 10 or so people.
- Visual programme about Irish wildlife/scenery. The TV3 drone over Ireland programme as a template.
- Set aside 30 minutes a weekday evening for independently home produced programmes who are shown based on a competition. Meets the "assist Irish arts" criteria and costs them nothing bar a fraction of some of the higher ups wages in prize money.

Set up work experience programmes with various universities and IT's to take in a set number of media students every year to help run the programmes and cut costs. Can provide fresh blood/talent to the station as an aside

Some programmes and an idea for new blood/lower costs pulled out of my arse in the space of 5 minutes. Surely they can do actually better with a bit of planning.

watch this to see how muchh it costs to make tv

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MszYiKczYls

c.p.w.g.w

The news, current affairs stuff and Irish football (LOI & International's) is all I use RTE for. Never use the player(because it's awful). Rest of the content is certainly not aimed at me(,very early 30's)

murpho999

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Thanks for the link, not sure why you use the word normal, the licence has been abolished in many countries aswell would that not qualify as normal?

Sorry you're just cherry picking.

The point is that many countries have licence fee that fund stations that also show ads just like here.

Blitzkrieger

punisher5112 wrote: »

RTE are a shocking set up and squander a fortune....

Probably been said loads of times already, but 'talent' and staff are paid way too much. You often hear the 'but we'd be paid more elsewhere' drum being beaten, and the obvious response is 'Fook off somewhere else then'. It's just a shocking service for the money.

I firmly believe the licence fee should be optional. That access should be restricted and you should have to pay for access. As poor as the service is, I would pay for RTE for the sports coverage, but it should be optional and there always has to be competition in the market. If a match is being broadcast on RTE and another channel, I'll always watch the other channel because the presenters on RTE are terrible.

Of course, it being a 'national broadcaster', they will always need to be subsidised by the tax payer. But this model of 'broadcaster' is rapidly dying a death. Who watches TV anymore? Apart from old people obviously. In ten years time they'll be even less relevant than today.

so TL;DR - bad value for money, ditch overpriced staff, evolve with the market

murpho999

murpho999 wrote: »

The point is that many countries have licence fee that fund stations that also show ads just like here.

And do many other countries also get government funding and then piss all the money up against a wall and come back looking for more?

That's the issue people have.

The entire organisation is completely mismanaged. Even the way the license fee is collected is wasteful.

El_Bee

murpho999 wrote: »

It just annoys me when people just bash the country and think other places don't have the same problems.

It annoys me when people think we shouldn't criticize anything if it happens elsewhere, by that logic people should shut up about the the homeless and housing crisis because other countries have it worse.

tdf7187

punisher5112 wrote: »

I'd be more worried about Denny O'Brien

Indeed. I was using Murdoch as an example but O'Brien would be a far more likely bidder in the Irish context.