RTÉ pushing for a "Netflix" tax to boost their coffers and stifle competition

lawred2

bossdrum wrote: »

Nobody mentioned Patrick Coveney commenting on RTE only yourself.

This is the guy.
https://about.rte.ie/inside-rte/rte-executive-board/rory-coveney/

Was there a need for the smart arse response!?

Wasn't aware of another brother.. a family of high achievers

BrianD3

Notwithstanding the repeats, teleshopping and banal and imported crap, they do some good things. They are facing similar challenges that any public service, general/terrestrial broadcaster faces. BBC1, BBC2 and Channel 4 are all shadows of their former selves IMO.

There's a lot of focus on the pay of the RTE "top talent" contractors but what about the employees behind the scenes. I doubt that RTE is a lean operation. 122 employees on over 100k p.a. in 2019
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40029092.html

One thing that bugs me and shows how sloppy they can be are the repeats of The Today Show which include a weather forecast. So when Monday's programme is repeated unedited on Tuesday, we get a weather forecast with numerous mentions of "today", "tonight" and "tomorrow" and then some chit chat afterwards about "today's" weather from Daithi/Maura. If this was a private company competing against other private companies, someone would surely recognise how unprofessional that looks and do something about it - but no

whisky_galore

BrianD3 wrote: »

Notwithstanding the repeats, teleshopping and banal and imported crap, they do some good things. They are facing similar challenges that any public service, general/terrestrial broadcaster faces. BBC1, BBC2 and Channel 4 are all shadows of their former selves IMO.

There's a lot of focus on the pay of the RTE "top talent" contractors but what about the employees behind the scenes. I doubt that RTE is a lean operation. 122 employees on over 100k p.a. in 2019
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40029092.html

One thing that bugs me and shows how sloppy they can be is the repeats of The Today Show which include a weather forecast. So when Mondays programme is repeated unedited on Tuesday, we get a weather forecast with numerous mentions of "today", "tonight" and "tomorrow" and then some chit chat afterwards about "today's" weather from Daithi/Maura. If this was a private company competing against other private companies, someone would surely recognise how unprofessional that looks and do something about it - but no

Why does a show called The Today Show need to be used as filler for the following day?

I thought that was what the RTE player was for, so we don't have repeats ad nauseam, no?

Orange Tiny Terror

RTE is a microcosm of the Irish snobbery class, convinced they know better than the rest of us plebs. As someone else pointed out they represent old Ireland and have had years to see the writing on the wall, yet they’ve done nothing to adjust and all the while with the tax payer bankrolling them. Wind it up or let it modernise, either way with it’s current culture and snobbery it deserves to die.

sxt

sxt wrote: »

We have Tg4. The only channel that will ever encourage local talent, and that produces quality Irish programs.

Tg4 employs 80 people compared to the thousands in RTE

Alot of the top stars in RTE arent even employed by RTE, they are contracted to RTE to avoid taxes which is a not often talked about disgrace in itself

I absolutely love TG4. The saddest thing is it would be the first thing cut if RTE folded in the morning.

Zaph

If I decide to subscribe to Netflix, Amazon, Disney, etc., it's my choice what to subscribe to and how to spend my money. However just for having a TV so I could watch any of those I have to pay €160 a year for the privilege, most of which goes to RTE. I have no choice as to whether or not I want to pay that (well obviously I do, but I then may face prosecution, which I'd rather avoid). That RTE are now telling me that they want another fee that I'd have no choice in paying if I wanted one of the other services beggars belief.

Somebody in there needs to cop the fcuk on and realise that they are currently delivering a crap service and not providing value for money in any way. They have a bunch of contractors who seemingly can just name their price and it doesn't matter how abysmal they are as they'll still have their contracts renewed every year, simply because there's a certain aging demographic that laps up their sh*te and RTE are too scared to upset them because that's nearly the only audience they have left.

Strumms

Next o’Neills sportswear will be demanding a government levy on umbro, under armor, Nike, adidas purchases...

Jury’s hotel ( before the sale ) might demand a tax or levy on hotel rooms of people booking in the premier inn, Hilton, Radisson etc.

frozenfrozen

Zaph wrote: »

If I decide to subscribe to Netflix, Amazon, Disney, etc., it's my choice what to subscribe to and how to spend my money. However just for having a TV so I could watch any of those I have to pay €160 a year for the privilege, most of which goes to RTE. I have no choice as to whether or not I want to pay that (well obviously I do, but I then may face prosecution, which I'd rather avoid). That RTE are now telling me that they want another fee that I'd have no choice in paying if I wanted one of the other services beggars belief.

Somebody in there needs to cop the fcuk on and realise that they are currently delivering a crap service and not providing value for money in any way. They have a bunch of contractors who seemingly can just name their price and it doesn't matter how abysmal they are as they'll still have their contracts renewed every year, simply because there's a certain aging demographic that laps up their sh*te and RTE are too scared to upset them because that's nearly the only audience they have left.

No its all the irish broadcasters asking for it and the money wouldn't go to rte you've been caught out by an editorialised title

fritzelly

frozenfrozen wrote: »

No its all the irish broadcasters asking for it and the money wouldn't go to rte you've been caught out by an editorialised title

You can bet your bottom dollar RTE would be looking for the majority of it, same as the licence fee

Strumms

It’s an additional tax... we pay enough already....Covney can fûck off with himself trying to force dip people’s pockets...

An independent production company is an independent business... they can fûck off demanding public money...

If I want to start a gym, but I only have 100,000 and I’ll need 300,000, can I demand x% of nationwide gym memberships to be redirected into my pocket ? My business? It’s not the Soviet Union.

whisky_galore

whisky_galore wrote: »

Why does a show called The Today Show need to be used as filler for the following day?

I thought that was what the RTE player was for, so we don't have repeats ad nauseam, no?

The RTÉ Player is specifically designed to be virtually unusable. The adverts on it work seamlessly, though. If only the programmes did.

kowloonkev

Of course Netflix should be paying tax on their income in Ireland. Are they not paying tax? It shouldn't go to RTE though.

lawred2

kowloonkev wrote: »

Of course Netflix should be paying tax on their income in Ireland. Are they not paying tax? It shouldn't go to RTE though.

All subs are subject to VAT

Dick phelan

neck like a jockey's bollox from RTE. The actual level of delusion and entitlement to suggest the government has any right to tax a private company specifically because it's in competition with them. I subscribe to Netflix, it's my money and RTE can get fcuked trying to force me to further fund their sub par service. Here's a better idea, how about move with the times,

for chirst sake the RTE player is an absolute disgrace, compare it to the BBC Iplayer or ITV, Channel 4 etc it's like a transition year project in comparison. The same RTE refusing to take pay cuts in the middle of a pandemic and now they want to add a further tax on top of the already too high TV license. I hate RTE and everything they represent, a perfect example of what's wrong with this country.

whisky_galore

Zaph wrote: »

...

simply because there's a certain aging demographic that laps up their sh*te and RTE are too scared to upset them because that's nearly the only audience they have left.

Ironically that demographic most likely to watch RTE, aged 75 and up, are exempt from paying for a licence.

Madeoface

sxt wrote: »

We have Tg4. The only channel that will ever encourage local talent, and that produces quality Irish programs.

Tg4 employs 80 people compared to the thousands in RTE

Alot of the top stars in RTE arent even employed by RTE, they are contracted to RTE to avoid taxes which is a not often talked about disgrace in itself

You must have a different tg4 to me. The only domestic stuff I see there is reams of bogball where the audience for that is in the stadia already, country and Irish music shows, endless **** about 1916 and women's Aussie rules football; because two Irish girls from the west went over to Melbourne.

It shows good westerns from time to time but really should go too. It's a community employment scheme.

y0ssar1an22

y0ssar1an22 wrote: »

RTE just need to produce stuff that people will watch...its such an easy concept. we dont want to see your 65 year old go off on a jaunt to america under the guise of reality TV.

and this increased tax...makes no sense. we pay a license so you can do exactly that, you just piss it away on nonsense.

go after youtube as well. there are irish youtubers with more subscribers than the population of ireland. tax them so you can have a cut of their revenue.

just improve your product or you will be passed out.

Hold up a sec, these are independent content creators who are already liable for tax. Please explain why first of all, and then how this would be remotely fair.

whisky_galore

Madeoface wrote: »

You must have a different tg4 to me. The only domestic stuff I see there is reams of bogball where the audience for that is in the stadia already, country and Irish music shows, endless **** about 1916 and women's Aussie rules football; because two Irish girls from the west went over to Melbourne.

It shows good westerns from time to time but really should go too. It's a community employment scheme.

I rarely find anything good to watch on TG4 now.
They used show good docus once, usually foreign ones. The movies these days seem to be dated Westerns, they used show more of a variety before.
Most if not all their home produced stuff is crap or I'd have zero interest in. Country n Irish/puir Wee Daniel shows, Irish language soaps no one watches and bog ball.

Fr Tod Umptious

Madeoface wrote: »

You must have a different tg4 to me. The only domestic stuff I see there is reams of bogball where the audience for that is in the stadia already, country and Irish music shows, endless **** about 1916 and women's Aussie rules football; because two Irish girls from the west went over to Melbourne.

It shows good westerns from time to time but really should go too. It's a community employment scheme.

I'd agree with this analysis.

People tend to wax lyrical about TG4 but barely even watch it.

I'm a GAA fan but I'm really not that interested in a lot of the GAA they show, Kilkenny club hurling or Galway club football are not that appealing to me.

They have to be given credit for their ladies GAA football coverage which has been going on for long before it became popular to highlight women's sports, but in reality it's a niche sport on a niche station.

I think their best home grown production is Hector's travel shows, where he seeks out people and places that travel/road trip shows rarely do.

Madeoface

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

I'd agree with this analysis.

People tend to wax lyrical about TG4 but barely even watch it.

I'm a GAA fan but I'm really not that interested in a lot of the GAA they show, Kilkenny club hurling or Galway club football are not that appealing to me.

They have to be given credit for their ladies GAA football coverage which has been going on for long before it became popular to highlight women's sports, but in reality it's a niche sport on a niche station.

I think their best home grown production is Hector's travel shows, where he seeks out people and places that travel/road trip shows rarely do.

Yeah my young daughter watches the women's football from time to time and it's good for her to see the seniors on the team play county, but club games? There is no audience for that outside the people in the stands.

Tg4 also gave the world that dathai fella. They should pay us a fee.

RandomViewer

Madeoface wrote: »

Yeah my young daughter watches the women's football from time to time and it's good for her to see the seniors on the team play county, but club games? There is no audience for that outside the people in the stands.

Tg4 also gave the world that dathai fella. They should pay us a fee.

Hector and Maura Derrane as well

the purple tin

RTE needs to sort itself out or shut up shop. They are a bloated, old boys club that are grasping at straws.

Ubbquittious

purplefields wrote: »

I have not watched or listened to any RTE output in 20 years.
I don't ever click on links to their website either. I have made a conscious effort to avoid all of their broadcasting.

So why should I be forced to pay for it?

Would it not be a far better idea for RTE to become a full streaming service like netflix, and people that want to watch that stuff can pay to watch it.

You're an outlier. Very few like that who avoid RTE out of spite

Kaleb2015

It’s time for rte to go. Pay a tv license for **** we never watch. Can’t remember the last time I watched it. Why should they get more funding from something they have nothing to do with.

Their “talent” need to take a huge pay cut. Where else are they going to go? What other country would take them at all let alone for the salary they are on?

shtpEdthePlum

Ubbquittious wrote: »

You're an outlier. Very few like that who avoid RTE out of spite

Not even remotely.

That's all the people I know who are in their 30s.

I actually know one lad who watches stuff on it still but that's a consequence of living with his parents. He complains that it's on and would never put it on otherwise.

Of the neighbours I know living around here, two elderly people pay it. All the rest are young people and if you ask do they have a tv licence they'll look at you like you have four arses.

RTÉ are badly struggling, I give them about 3 years before mass avoidance. The viewers are dying and switching off. You can't send a licence inspector to every house in the country and you can't resurrect the dead. Gone are the days when they were the only option.

kowloonkev

Kaleb2015 wrote: »

It’s time for rte to go. Pay a tv license for **** we never watch. Can’t remember the last time I watched it. Why should they get more funding from something they have nothing to do with.

Their “talent” need to take a huge pay cut. Where else are they going to go? What other country would take them at all let alone for the salary they are on?

Yes for sure it is a rotten organisation with talentless buffoons having jobs for life. That is certainly something that needs to be sorted before trust can be rebuilt. But the country does need a national public broadcaster for obvious reasons.

Potential-Monke

If they want to do it, they just will. And Netflix will lose out because I'll just stop paying. Netflix won't allow this though. They'll use some of their $40 billion to get a crack team of solicitors and win. Doesn't make sense anyway. As probably everyone else has said, move on with the times or shut up shop. I'm all for the latter. Funny that RTE rhymes with misery.

riclad

The point of netflix is it shows comedys, drama,s ,reality tv shows and films not avaidable on other tv channels.even 10 years ago you coould get sky tv or cable tv.
rte make good documentarys, current affairs tv,sports and show reality tv shows .
there are alot of people in rural area,s who cant get fast broadband.
they cannot watch netflix or disney tv.
i think young people mostly watch sport, or american tv shows on rte.
theres a good range of programs on rte ie player .
sport on rte is very popular.
they provide good coverage of major sporing events, the world cup etc
it would be sad if rte is gone,
who is going to cover current affairs, politics ,sport ,news in ireland ?
yes i know theres probably 1000s of young people who just watch youtube,netflix ,usa comedy, drama,s ,reality tv on uk tv

theres 1000s of people who simply cannot get broadband ,
its not viable to run ,fibre cables outside citys, large towns.

fritzelly

riclad wrote: »

theres a good range of programs on rte ie player .

You've just invalidated your whole post

Kirby

riclad wrote: »

theres 1000s of people who simply cannot get broadband ,
its not viable to run ,fibre cables outside citys, large towns.

SpaceX has now over 1500 starlink satellites in low earth orbit. The have been launching Falcon 9's with them for the past two years regularly.

Places where fibre isn't viable will now have an alternative to access high speed internet. Doesn't matter if you are in ballygobackwards or at the top of Mount Everest, coverage is universal.