The future of RTE after Tubsgate.

It seems the government have come up with the classic, Irish solution to an Irish problem

RTE has long been at the mercy of government regarding the level the licence fee is set at (and because it's long been a politically toxic subject, it's been frozen for years) so direct exchequer funding doesn't really change the picture all that much.

Huge levels of backdoor taxpayer funding with ads (20% of which are incomprensible to nearly all of the people paying for them), this government is just kicking the can down the road.

What's really needed IMHO is a much downsized RTE as a pure PSB with no advertising, so no conflict of interest between PSB and commercial interests. Sell off RTE2 and 2FM as they serve no PSB purpose.

It was frozen largely because the first minister after Ryan decided he couldn't increase it, then it end up that none would increase.

Also the government moved some of the licence fee over to TG4 in their final budget in 2011 this lasted until 2018, something few people are aware of, and should have been questioned by both RTÉ and TG4 in 2011, the BAI as regulator should have also been asking question about this cut to TG4 and it being filled by the licence fee. Yet it all seemed to not be up for discussion. I don't understand how under the act the Department could make that decision.

From 1996 up to 2011 there had been steady increases, why they stopped it during the down turn makes little sense. It seems that the only increase available was a €2 increase, rather then smaller increases, 10c on year 25c another and so on.

From 2018 the government made some moves, TG4 portion of the licence fee was return to RTÉ with it funding being brought back to 2010 levels from the exchequer, RTÉ was given an extra 10m in funding from the government between 2020 and 2024, RTÉ's music groups except the CO were moved to the NCH in 2023 (a year late) and much of that saving when to RTÉ ONE.

I don't believe RTÉ and TG4 will not continue to ask for more money year on year.

I don't believe that removing ads or selling RTÉ2 or 2FM will help. Advertising would move out of the country, failing to help local Irish media. (Certainly TVs share of the ad revenue would move across to UK opt-outs and not to VMTV, which itself is just an opt-out at this point). While RTÉ2 and 2FM have been massively neglected by RTÉ and are worth little at this point.

Regardless of the funding model RTÉ was badly mismanaged, I'd argue that much of what was happening under Dee Forbes tenure was happening during her predecessors tenures also. RTÉ allowed their own buildings not to maintained, this has little to do with the commercial aspects of RTÉ.

What would you save by closing down 2FM and RTÉ2 as broadcast services? 2FM's budget should be cut back. Are you not just bring them back to the GAA GO controversy? How much would RTÉ earn from PPV?

RTÉ have failed on Drama and Film commission, their Head of Drama is the Acting Head of Drama.

There's little value today in suggesting the privatisation of RTÉ 2 TV - 20+ years ago in a somewhat analogue world (with its scarcity of available frequencies albeit with fledgling digital services), selling off the channel would probably have had international buyers lining up with a ready terrestrial network set to be available from day one, but today the only thing going for it is an LCN of 2 or 102 and that's it - anyone seriously thinking of setting up a new TV channel to broadcast in at least terrestrial form just has to approach Saorview these days to hammer out costs for capacity. Not to mention that RTÉ 2's primacy on Saorview will be limited to homes that are viewing the platform and nothing else, which is a small percentage of viewers these days. Besides, no one of note is looking at launching a new TV channel aimed at broad Irish audiences other than possibly the Virgin Media group, in an era where television viewing is slowly becoming delinearised. It would simply be far better to take the channel in as part of a larger overhaul of RTÉ's TV output IMO.

2FM is a slightly different kettle of fish - it has a national FM network and could be of interest to a broadcaster looking to break into the national Irish radio market given the scarcity of available national frequencies (essentially 6.5 networks - four RTÉ stations, Today FM & 0.5 for Newstalk's network) and no sign of being able to expand on this, but there are two issues I see at stake - one being the clear licence conditions such a privatised station would be subject to, (depending on wherever an RTÉ sell off would be enough or wherever RTÉ would have to "surrender" 2FM's broadcasting licence and CnaM would put a licence out to tender - a clone of Today FM isn't likely to fly well for either a new broadcaster or Today FM themselves, for example), while the second being questions over RTÉ's general commitment to broadcasting content to teens & young adults. The majority of PSBs in the EU let alone wider Europe have a full-time station broadcasting either (mostly) popular chart music and/or a station focused on a youth audience and if audience figures are to be believed neither RTÉ Pulse or RTÉ 2XM are adequately filling gaps for such an audience that aren't listening to 2FM. Perhaps a significant refocus is needed for 2FM before any sell off should be seriously suggested, or maybe RTÉ's youth audience would be better served online in a similar way to what the BBC did with BBC Three TV (prior to the channel returning to linear broadcasting)? The only problem I see is that I don't trust RTÉ in its current form to take on such a task that terribly well.

That's a shocking amount of taxpayers' money and still no accountability at RTE or credible plans to make it sustainable. RTE is becoming increasingly irrelevant to the audience. It seems the only real plan is to soak the taxpayer more and more as its viewership and commercial income continue to tank.

€725m direct exchequer funding

is the €725m not the guaranteed combined licence fee and exchequer funding?

So if this materialises

I foresee the licence fee compliance going from bad, to catastrophic.

The next government will make up whatever the shortfall is. Even if there's mass evasion, it's peanuts in the context of overall public spending…

So they get rewarded after the Tuberty fiasco with an even bigger budget!???

Ah Ireland.

Only a fool would pay the license fee now, since the government will come in and top up the fund regardless.

Those that comply with the law will in effect be double taxed.

It's a safe bet that the 400 redundancies will never happen

The thing I wish one or more presenters or correspondents would point out is this is a tax on a persons already taxed income.

Double Irish Tax evasion is a method by US multi-nationals to avoid paying corporate tax.

The license fee is a double Irish tax gouging by our own government.

RTÉ will now be in a more dominant position than ever before where it will receive a guaranteed €725m from the taxpayer while continuing to benefit from the largest share of commercial revenue

If Virgin Media wanted it could invest in public service broadcasting, it is owned by one of Ireland's largest broadband providers, they are making what RTÉ are getting over 3 years in one.

has no alternative but to review all options including our position with regards to our existing Public Service Broadcasting commitments

What commitments? Ireland AM, News, The Tonight Show, Champions League, 6 Nations

25-year record of delivering extensive Public Service content and the 93% of the population that we reach on an annual basis

What record exactly? They have been given a Licence and part of that licence is news and current affairs, they have a strong audience level, they have no online news service except for what goes out on TV.

They already do the bare minimum.

4 TV channels repeating The Chase, Heartbeat and Frost is not PSM, it IMO is less than an ITV opt-out.

They get a 10th of what RTE get, and you are surprised their Public Service output is a more than a 10th of RTE's?

Quelle surprise!

I'd have some sympathy but they get about the same as TG4 (if not more) and have access to the Sound and Vision Fund. Some of their productions from that have been 90% supported by the license fee. They've always avoid prime time TV. Over the last year they could have really made a push into some areas that RTÉ cut back on, VMTV's public service is minimal.

Speaking of "EU competition rules", It amazes me that the TV licence collection contract doesn't have to be put out to tender under EU competition rules, indeed An post getting a 6 millon euro government handout to "update the database" stinks to high heaven but it's not like any mainstream journalist is going to challenge this, they'll all be hoping to get a government advisor or quango job after the next general election.

They tendered out the drivers licence stuff to NDLS, arguably that went quite badly and they learnt from their mistake

Are they planning to abandon the Radio centre and move all radio into the TV buildings ?

No because RTE is on Sky.

Sky Stream TV and Digital Boxes come with a Digital turner build in, meaning that you have to have a licence, for both of these products, meaning that NOW (a sky product) is providing a streaming only service. (Perhaps you don't need a Sky Stream TV or Box for Sky Stream??).

How many large screen monitors are sold for this purpose in any case? I'd say almost 96% people have some type "apparatus capable of receiving and exhibiting television broadcasting".

Also the funding of RTÉ is a complete distraction from the issue of mismanagement of the service over the last decade or more.

Sky Stream is a box for streaming it does not have a TV tuner in it. So Sky Stream and a Monitor would exempt you from needing a TV License according to the statute in its current form.

To be honest RTE have dropped the ball, because aftre getting their 750M deal with the government, they havn't looked ahead. All the providers are moving to streaming services, so a couple years and I do mean just a couple, a lot of people in Ireland will have their streaming box and monitor and not legally need a TV license.

The statute that is quoted earlier in the thread refers to equipment capable of receiving the signal broadcast.

I made the exact same point a few weeks ago.

By the way, want to know how the pay the TV License the Czechia? You guessed it! It goes on your lecky bill.

My electricity is about 120 a month. Would I feel or notice the extra 10 euro that covers the TV license? Grudgingly for the first couple of months but I'd get over it.

Do it that way and it eliminates avoidance. As you said, no more need for inspectors, or people taking up court time.

And, if they play the 30 second "You must have a TV License, its the law" clip on the radio and TV, 4 times a day, 365 days a year, they could eanr an additional 10 hours worth of advertising revenue ayear. No small sum I would imagine.