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CIE and RTE an Interesting Comparison

  • 22-10-2014 1:32pm
    #1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,121 ✭✭✭


    A neighbour's son is doing his thesis on semi-states and his particular interest is in the birth of independent broadcasters in Ireland. He procured an impressive collection of newspaper articles, dail debates and editorials - not to mention ministerial comments and the likes.

    What strikes you is the exact same arguments used by CIE regarding opening up and developing rail transport now, were used by RTE back in the early 70's. The cozy connection between semi-state unions, managers and civil servants/politicians to almost socially engineer Irish people to believe that broadcasters in Ireland other than RTE was a lunacy as 'Ireland is unsuited to private radio and TV stations'. Small population base, only one city etc... Same mantras used by CIE regarding railways.

    Among the more interesting sidelines:

    RTE would mothball and render useless broadcasting infrastructure a private radio station may want to purchase

    RTE managers and unions writing Broadcasting regulations

    Extra public funds channelled into RTE to create a pointless second station rather than use this for independent broadcasting

    RTE refusing to market a whole range of services to advertisers which private broadcaster immediately jumped on.

    Numerous 'reports' on various plans for private radio and TV which went on for decades rather than just do the right thing and hand out operating licences to the network.


    and on and on and on.

    Both RTE and CIE were also products of Fianna Fail and the Andrews political dynasty very heavily involved in protecting both as their own political booty.


Comments

  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,099 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    ClovenHoof wrote: »
    RTE would mothball and render useless broadcasting infrastructure a private radio station may want to purchase

    ...

    Extra public funds channelled into RTE to create a pointless second station rather than use this for independent broadcasting

    ...

    Numerous 'reports' on various plans for private radio and TV which went on for decades rather than just do the right thing and hand out operating licences to the network.

    Private/independent broadcasting was expressly illegal in the 1970s by choice of the government, NOT RTE. RTE weren't gung ho wanting it either obviously but it wasn't their decision to allow it in 1988.

    CIE now are still deliberately hampering private operators when the concept is legal, possible and proven internationally. Track access, destroying rolling stock, access to bus stations etc etc.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,823 ✭✭✭✭Zebra3


    With regard to commercial broadcasting, there is also the danger of dominant private media empires being non-critical of their owner(s).


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,779 ✭✭✭Carawaystick


    Zebra3 wrote: »
    With regard to commercial broadcasting, there is also the danger of dominant private media empires being non-critical of their owner(s).

    Careful Now!


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,636 ✭✭✭SeanW


    Zebra3 wrote: »
    With regard to commercial broadcasting, there is also the danger of dominant private public media empires being non-critical of their owner political overseers(s).
    FYP!


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