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

Are they not ultimately separate issues though? Even if RTE transformed its internal operations it would still need a new funding system to replace the licence fee...

But how do we know they are going to be reformed internally, what metric will be put in place. What extra content would the plan on making. As I said RTÉ we given a saving of 8m in 2022 and made a loss of 2.8m, most of that saving went over to RTÉ ONE Television did you notice any changes?

I have no problem with having to organise a new system of payment, but you have to see a plan and the CnaM must be able to see it happen.

You could start by increasing the % of money given to independent productions, at least there we can see a breakdown of what they are producing with that subsection of their budget.

I just don't trust them enough.

For me Kevin Bakhurst will have to present 3 document

1. Showing that they have reformed their governance
2. Showing what they would do if no changes are made for 2023 and what they will do without funding changes in 2024
3. Showing what they will do should they get a proper funding package.

However the government should also be organizing a transition from RTÉ to the split up of the organization should the above not be acceptable.

Initially For example the move of RnaG to TG4, and also the move of the CO and Lyric over to the NCH (These moves would save RTÉ 24m, TG4 and the NCH would see increases in funding to the tune of 10m for TG4 and 14m to NCH).

This is just my opinion.

They would argue that RnaG is largely speech based.

There are certain aspects from both TG4 and VMTV RTÉ should have been looking at over the years.

1. RTÉ should have decided that RTÉ2 would act in the same manner in terms of production as that of TG4 ~20m on independent programming, this wouldn't take from RTÉ2's sports output.
2. RTÉ ONE's daytime programming should be run exactly like that of VMTV, it is crazy to think that potentially Ireland AM costs less than Today even though it goes out 50 weeks of the year, 7 days a week.
3. Finally high quality programming on RTÉ ONE in prime time.

Liked the review of the 2 Johnnies

RTÉ can only close down services if they make a request to the minister, there is no way a minister will allow for Lyric to be closed. Their Strategy 2024 wasn't worth the paper it was printed on, it fail to take into consideration that the idea of closed down the digital station would have to be signed of by the minister.

I suppose you could look at it this way, if the minister and cabinet are not happy with the uncosted 10 point plan: -

1. To say to RTÉ that they will pay RTÉ until the end of 2023 so that RTÉ can insure financial security for this year.
2. Say to RTÉ in 2024 RnaG will move to TG4, which will get an increase in exchequer funding
3. Say to RTÉ in 2024 the CO and Lyric will move to the NCH, which will also see an increase in exchequer funding
4. Say to RTÉ to revise their plans based n the idea that they will no longer fund these part of the schedule
5. Say to RTÉ to reduce funding to 2FM until such time a better plan is announced, this means 2FM must survive on Ad revenue for 2024 alone
6. Say to RTÉ that the government will then support RTÉ base on their 2022 annual report for the service the are then providing, however a new plan must be shown.
7. Then we look the new plan and we start gain, if it is felt it is not good enough
8. RTÉ TV moves over to Screen Ireland (again increase funding to Screen Ireland, the commission news and current affairs from RTÉ)
9. Then we look at the new plan
10. Then we tell RTÉ they are gone gone gone gone
11. But otherwise if it is all good then get their nice little bail out. :)

I agree no matter how you look at it RTÉ is getting a bail out and a new funding structure.

The problem is they don't understand the privileged position that they hold.

Most of the audience in at the RTS event were of the opinion that it is a just a straight forward case of funding RTÉ, and disregarding ordinary audience members, and lets not mention the scandal of the mismanagement of RTÉ over the last 20 or so years.

It is crazy to think that RTÉ will be rewarded for ineptitude.

I didn't mean that as an rte problem, not actually sure how much of a problem funding really is for rte, more from a fairness point of view.

If they want to introduce a new model find, but lets not have the current set in RTÉ being part of it.

If you take the Finnish model and give it to RTÉ do you think RTÉ will be fair on how the redistribute the new funding that they receive?

As I say they didn't see to have a plan for the 8 m the saved on the NSO, except push it into RTÉ ONE and the Toy Show the Musical.

There needs to be oversight and any issues addressed. Like the losses at 2FM,the huge swath of the population they don't cater for,the rake of internet stations they,what are they for?

Money fight.

The absolute neck of these people

They tried 'commercially sensitive' but now the things they want to hide are 'priviliged'...

If I was Mr. Bakhurst I'd be scheduling a meeting with Fuffy, Byrne et all in the morning and discussing their imminent 40-60% pay cuts...

*Fuffy is obviously a typo, but I like it, and you know who I mean... so I'm leaving it....

The story is that Kevin tried that and Joe took great offence. With Joe going on a work to rule, taking all his (many) holidays and was not on air for weeks.

I think Joe has indicated this is his last contract soI would not be surprised if he retires after the end if this one. Either way the rates will be reduced.

However it's not just the contracted staff on serious lolly. Senior journalist's are on 170+K/ year, George Lee, Aine Lawlor etc

Totally agree,I would say a fifty percent reduction in staff is quiet possible.

like is what was said,some of the channels on youtube have fantastic content ,good sound ,good picture,good editing and free.

Nail on the head.. How could they ever change themselves... They are turkeys and they aren't going to vote for Christmas...

The bare minimum should be a cull of about 40% of staff, and those that are lucky enough to be kept around, should be looking at a minimum of 20%-30% salary reduction for those at the lower end, and rising incrementally to 60%-70% for those at the higher end (€150k+)..

And when the unions get involved with their mouths frothing, threatening strike action... let them at it... strike away and see how much they are really missed.... and how much the public really care about them....

They know they can't strike because it'll backfire catastrophically on them.... and they'll have zero public support.

Remember when the Tubridy scandal broke, Emma O'Kelly lead a load of staff out to the carpark for what? To protest?, to show their disgust? B0ll0x! it was to protect themselves and nothing more... it was pathetic....

"We're all hard workers and we don't deserve this"... yes you might be, but you are all paid handsomely for your 'hard work'... you're all part of the problem...

Just listening to an interview on news at one with Brendan Gloster about cost saving.

Irony overload!

Georgi “ I’m worth it”

Lee!

Ironically, he was more qualified than that school teacher/TD Noonan when it came to Economics and business. Think that Lee is the Doom and Gloom Climate change correspondent for RTE. He'll probably be sent to Iceland if that volcano erupts in the next few days. On the upside, the Icelanders might also escape a visit from Tubridy to their book conference next week.

Regards...jmcc

God forbid RTE employ people who know their remit as a correspondent (kinda like politics in this country) - what qualifications has he held at any position he's held in RTE?

He's just a lifer in RTE who does very little for a very nice wage and can never be sacked and when he wanted to try politics RTE welcomed him back when he realised he had to work for less wages.

Though he is very suited to the climate doom propaganda with that depressing voice

As @Hotblack Desiato said above - he thought he was a shoo-in for the front benches and when told you have to earn the position he went off sulking back to RTE

The researchers are some of the main assets in RTE as they make people like Tubridy and the rest of them look smart. Kenny was smart enough to be able to do some of his own research. Without a team of researchers, some RTE "talent" would be a lot less impressive.

Regards...jmcc

It gets worse:

RTE has a lot of very serious questions to answer and the PAC should compel Forbes to appear.

Regards...jmcc

Just reading the coverage from the Irish Times and this stood out: "A new RTÉ news app will be developed by 2025." 2025? That's not a typo.

Regards...jmcc

Surprised they didn't mention developing their own AI now that AI is a big issue for the technology journalists and the happy-clappies. :) RTE Player was a clusterfsck and would have been difficult to develop. RTE should have got a refund. A news app is a lot simpler.

Regards...jmcc