How Bad is Irish TV?

Zhane

i think its all cringe worthy.

Sangre

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This bad.

richindub2

The more dara obrien 'comedy' shows rte show the better network two gets!

LFCFan

they're brutal and that's being kind

Elmo

The poll seems to have forgotten TV3 and TG4.

It's just as good as British TV without Big Brother, The Salon, Pop Idol, You've Been Famed, Blind Date, Noel's House Party, Emmerdale wait I am sorry but emmm Most TV is Crap.

With the 20% good you have to take the 80% bad.

RTE don't make that much TV entertainment wise but when the have a good show they have a good show and when they have a bad show they have an awful show. Just like most TV stations.

Don't be so ****ing Negitative about Irish TV.

We don't make Sky One, E4, ITV and all the other bad Brit TV channels now do we.

I think there are alot of good show on Irish TV that most people miss. Because they are watching Big Bother.

Or they are so ****ing negitative about it there not willing to give Irish TV a chance.

I am looking forward to Batchelor's Walk and I am enjoying The Clinic.

LFCFan

Compare RTE to BBC who are the UK's National Broadcaster and you will see just how bad RTE are. At least there are some decent soaps in the UK, Coranation Street, Eastenders and Emmerdale. We have Fair City, 'nough said. They've had the likes of Only Fools and Horses, Faulty Towers, Monty Python, Some mothers do 'ave 'em, Open all Hours, Blackadder, Ab Fab, Alan Partridge, The Office (the list is endless). What have we had? Upwardly Mobile? The Cassidys? And they can't use the excuse of no talent. Ireland has produced some of the funniest people on TV. Even Father Ted was passed over by RTE. The latest sh1te from them has included Celebrity Farm! Oh my good GOD, what a pile of crap. Look at some of the comedies over there that have included Irish comedians. Father Ted for a start, My Hero, Black Books and that one with Tommy Tiernan that I can never think of the name. The only show I've enjoyed on RTE lately has been Batchelors Walk.

Eppie

I'm not excusing RTE here, but compare their funds to those of the BBC. They don't have anywhere near the same kind of budget.

Dustaz

Originally posted by Zhane
i think its all cringe worthy.

I think you should be forced to watch Spanish, Italian, French TV all day long. For seconds, you should be made to watch US TV. Not the american stuff thats good enough to be shown globally - the crap stuff that they get force fed there 24 hrs a day.

Then you might realise that living in the shadow of the greatest TV station in the world has made RTE quite a good station.

Dustaz

Originally posted by LFCFan
Compare RTE to BBC

Why?

LFCFan

Originally posted by Dustaz
Why?

Because they have access to the same Raw materials that RTE do yet RTE continue to churn out crap. I'd understand if there was a ratio where the BBC make 20 good shows to RTE's 3 but I don't think I could come up with 3 at all. I think RTE need a complete overhaul, hiring some new programming people. I know the BBC have a much bigger budget but they also have to pay a lot more for what they show. The difference between them and RTE though is that they produce all their own stuff whereas RTE tend to just buy in foreign shows. RTE could be a great station. Batchelors Walk is an example of what they can do if they put their minds to it.

Dustaz

Originally posted by LFCFan
Because they have access to the same Raw materials that RTE do yet RTE continue to churn out crap.

Sorry, but what are you talking about?

You are not comparing like with like. BBC is the national broadcaster for a nation of 60,000,000 people. RTE has a base of 3,500,000. Did you take maths in school?

This is not simply a "much bigger" budget, this is a difference of HUGE Proportions.

Plus they have access to a far larger pool of talent.

you simply cannot compare the two.

New Zealand is probably a better example (TV3 did all their research based on the independant station there)

Elmo

At least there are some decent soaps in the UK, Coranation Street, Eastenders and Emmerdale

Yes but that is all that british TV is at the moment one long overrated soap opera. Emmerdale is based on the Riordan's

Even Father Ted was passed over by RTE

Not offered to them, if it had been you would have put it in your list of crap.

Tommy Tiernan

Is he not in an american sit com?????? Haven't heard of it.

Note that TV3 pointed out these thing and they have yet to show any kind of aspirations of producing any Irish TV. TG4 have produce so much more TV and they have a tiny budget.

Note:- TV3 had 4 nomination, TG4 had 12 at the IFTA's. What the **** have TV3 being doing these past 6 years????????

Only Fools and Horses, Faulty Towers, Monty Python, Some mothers do 'ave 'em, Open all Hours, Blackadder, Ab Fab, Alan Partridge, The Office

The BBC are the best comedy makers in the world by far, I don't think that that will ever change.

Comedy isn't about money it just happens. Either you have it or you don't.

Look at Apres Match classic comedy for RTE made by the sports department, its just luck.

Just look at the list of 100 greatest British Comedy how many of them come from ITV????? 10% maybe, not even.

LFCFan

Originally posted by Dustaz
Sorry, but what are you talking about?

You are not comparing like with like. BBC is the national broadcaster for a nation of 60,000,000 people. RTE has a base of 3,500,000. Did you take maths in school?

This is not simply a "much bigger" budget, this is a difference of HUGE Proportions.

Plus they have access to a far larger pool of talent.

you simply cannot compare the two.

And how much money did it take to make some of these comedies/programmes? It's not all about money. Ireland has produced some great talent over the years but they all go abroad 'cause there's no incentive for them to stay here. The amount of money the BBC has means they can produce more quality but RTE regulary churn out pure tripe. Upwardly Mobile, The Cassidys, Fair City, Celebrity Farm, Telly Bingo (it hurts just thinking about it). These are just some examples. I'm not saying that RTE should be as good as the BBC but come on, can you seriously say that RTE produce watchable TV on a regular basis? What about Consumer Affairs programmes? They can't do them because it would end up offending their advertisers.

Also, Father Ted was offered to RTE but they didn't want it. They said it wouldn't work. A bunch of Irish priests on an island etc etc, so the writers went to Channel 4 and they were more than happy to fund it. If RTE had produced it, I would hope they would have let it be and not try to censor it. The fact thay Channel 4 made it meant there was no church looking over their shoulders and the writers were able to do what they liked.

I never said Tommy Tiernan was in an American show. It's called Small Potatoes on Channel 4.

LFCFan

Originally posted by Elmo
Note that TV3 pointed out these thing and they have yet to show any kind of aspirations of producing any Irish TV. TG4 have produce so much more TV and they have a tiny budget.

Note:- TV3 had 4 nomination, TG4 had 12 at the IFTA's. What the **** have TV3 being doing these past 6 years????????

TV3 is another matter. They just churn out weepy auld sh!te from the bargain basement of US crud. They have to rely on advertising revenue alone though whereas RTE have advertising and the License Fee.

Look at Apres Match classic comedy for RTE made by the sports department, its just luck.

Apres Match is excellent but you only get to see it during matches. Why haven't RTE comissioned a series with these chaps? There's potential there for a very successful Sketch show.

Just look at the list of 100 greatest British Comedy how many of them come from ITV????? 10% maybe, not even.

Comedies aren't their strong point but they are very good with the Made for TV Dramas and the likes of The Bill.

All I'm saying is, why can't RTE produce any decent TV apart from the very odd half decent one like Batchelors Walk. I was tolerant of them up until they put that monstrosity Shirly Temple Bar on TV with Telly Bingo. That's just an embarrasment to Ireland. What about all the TV presenters in Ireland? They're all wooden with no personalities and any that do show some talent get snapped up by the british stations.

monument

Been a TV viewer in Ireland is far better then been one in the UK as if you're on cable we have RTE, N2, TV3, TG4, C4, BBC 1 & 2, UTV etc...

lodgepole

Originally posted by LFCFan
Also, Father Ted was offered to RTE but they didn't want it. They said it wouldn't work. A bunch of Irish priests on an island etc etc, so the writers went to Channel 4 and they were more than happy to fund it.

That's not true. It was never offered. I know this for a fact. The writers went directly to Channel 4 because they knew RTE would either refuse or **** it up. RTE are a notoriously difficult company to work with.

Sleipnir

Well taking a look at tonight's televisual feasts (see below)I really can't imagine where the TV license money is going.
Nationwide & Leargas? During primetime? This is the best they have to offer?
The only decent thing on tonight is "The Underworld"

On Network two we have such insightful programmes like "Sabrina the teenage witch"

Crocodile Hunters? We saw all that years ago. How many times do you have to see a crazy guy move a crocodile from one dirty pond to another?

They do have Father Ted (a few years after we saw them all on Channel 4 but still)

JUST PLAIN BRUTAL! And they might be looking for another increase this year? I just won't pay it.


19:00 Nationwide Michael Ryan presents reports from around the country

19:30 LeArgas Gaelic current affairs programme looks at the 4,500 Donegal soldiers killed in the First World War and subsequently forgotten, to revive and commemorate the Tirconnell dead

20:00 EastEnders Alfie lets Kat down, which could spell the end of their friendship. A revenge attack on the Ferreiras leaves Adi facing Dan's wrath. Phil returns with a score to settle with Den

20:30 The Raw Bar Six-part series looking at the current state of traditional Irish music, presented by fiddler Dermot McLaughlin who takes to the road to meet those keeping the flame alive

21:00 RTE News: Nine O'Clock The latest stories

21:30 The Underworld Four-part documentary series chronicling the state of organised crime in Ireland today, with interviews and secret footage. Part one examines gangland murders


NETWORK 2

19:00 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Sitcom about a young girl with magical powers. Sabrina lands an interview and photo shoot with pop star Daniel Bedingfield

19:30 Crocodile Hunter's Croc Files Steve Irwin meets the 'dragons' of the Australian outback

20:00 N2 Wild An in-depth look at miniature predators which can be just as deadly as their larger counterparts

21:00 Father Ted Sitcom about three Irish priests. It's the annual All Priests Over-75s five-a-side football competition, but Craggy Island's star striker is incapacitated

21:30 The Panel Presenter Dara O'Briain raises the burning issues of the last seven days with The Panel.

22:30 The Blizzard of Odd Multimedia series hosted by comedian Colin Murphy

Elmo

TV3 is another matter. They just churn out weepy auld sh!te from the bargain basement of US crud. They have to rely on advertising revenue alone though whereas RTE have advertising and the License Fee.

emmm did I compare TV3 to RTE no. I compared it to TG4 who have a tiny budget who seem to actual make TV. Now tell why are TV3 not make more Irish TV???????

There's potential there for a very successful Sketch show.

Here Here, but I think we have just enough personally.

Comedies aren't their string point but they are very good with the Made for TV Dramas and the likes of The Bill.

No but I was comparing them to RTE, and there lack of humour.

The Bill is as wooden as Fair City. IMO.

I have to say ITV relie heavily on

Emmerdale
Coronation Street
The Bill
HeartBeat
Pop Idol
WWTBAM?

I mean they have had the courage to replace The Bill in it 20 year run. 20 years is to long for a cop show.

I think the Clinic is very good. Sundays at 9:30 RTE One.

But I agree that more Drama like The Clinic, Batchelors Walk and The Family is needed.

mike65

I'm more with LFC than Dustaz on this one - talent is talent and that comes cheap! Its the calamitous RTE managment that should take the blame, low-budget is
perfectly okay its wether the programme works that counts. RTE has had little ambition with respect to popular entertainment (beyond chat!) as I suspect culturally the "right-on" socialist Irish speaking top brass
were suspicious of anything thats just good fun/exciting. Instead we got worthy but excuciatingly dull series about wood cutting and the like.

Things have changed somewhat, even the semi-state RTE knows that if its does'nt try and compete at some level it'll be finnished off by the UK 4 and Sky. Which is hard on them. Dustaz is right about how bad most TV is around the world, its RTEs bad luck to be next door to the BBC and Channel 4 (even ITV can do good stuff).

Mike.

monument

Originally posted by Elmo
But I agree that more Drama like The Clinic, Batchelors Walk and The Family is needed.

You could be waving good-bye to them all as the Irish film tax brake, which is to be removed, also affects Irish TV.

BuffyBot

Now tell why are TV3 not make more Irish TV???????

Because, as a station dependent on advertising they need to show programs people will watch, not what is "good" - otherwise advertisers don't bother advertising, and the station goes down the pan.

LFCFan

Originally posted by Elmo
emmm did I compare TV3 to RTE no. I compared it to TG4 who have a tiny budget who seem to actual make TV. Now tell why are TV3 not make more Irish TV???????

TG4 have to justify their existance and in fairness have done a decent enough job of that. RTE exist whether we like it or not. TV3 on the other hand are run by Granada who have no intentions of making Irish programmes.

No but I was comparing them to RTE, and there lack of humour.

The Bill is as wooden as Fair City. IMO.

Come on, there's no way you could compare these 2. Fair City is full of actors that would be out of work without it. It's brutal. The Bill has lasted 20 years for a reason.

I have to say ITV relie heavily on

Emmerdale
Coronation Street
The Bill
HeartBeat
Pop Idol
WWTBAM?

Emmerdale and Coronation Street have massive audiences and are addictive no matter how annoying or useless the storylines. This is because they have some great characters that make watching them a lot easier than the likes of Bella Doyle or that Red headed string of misery in Fair City.

Heartbeat is a good show. Some good characters and great soundtrack. It's original too.

Pop Idol annoys the **** outta me but it is head and shoulders about Euro Star for production, presentation, the judges and addictive quality.

But I agree that more Drama like The Clinic, Batchelors Walk and The Family is needed.

Ah, The Family. Now why couldn't RTE have followed this up with something similar? Why do they make something as good as this and then nothing? Surely with the actors and writers available from this show they could have come up with something similar?

And what about Brendan O'Carrols books? There's loads of potential there for some great comedy series's. I'm sure there are plenty of other potentials too so why don't RTE make any of them instead of spewing out cack like Celebrity Farm?

Elmo

I think leagus is good.
Nationwide is Nationwide, can be good can be bad.

And yes N2's schedule has gone down hill over the past number of months:mad:

But what about TV3.

7 Emmerdale
7.30 Coronation Street
8 Malcome In The Middle
8.30 Coronation Street
9 Bad Girls
10 Law And Order SVU

and TG4

7 Nuacht
7.30 Mna agus Fir Na Heireanne
8 Ard San Aer
8.50 Tall Man Riding (Movie)
10.30 UnderDogs

If you want Irish TV your into TG4 Suil Eile

Elmo

Sorry LFC but I think your full of CRAP.

Pop Idol and You're a Star are as well produced as one another your just bias because You're a Star is Irish. (I don't think much of either of them)

Emmerdale and Coronation Street have massive audiences and are addictive no matter how annoying or useless the storylines. This is because they have some great characters that make watching them a lot easier than the likes of Bella Doyle or that Red headed string of misery in Fair City.

Fair City has been on for 13 years has a massive Irish audience just as big here as Coronation Street is and bigger the Emmerdale. (They are soap operas they are crap) But there is nothing else to watch while they are on therefore we watch them. The BBC and ITV never compete with one another.

TV3 on the other hand are run by Granada who have no intentions of making Irish programmes.

This is why RTE will never compete with TV3 because they are a lame duck, RTE have always compete againist British TV, we don't need TV3 to do that for them.

Heartbeat is a good show.

No its not. Go away from me.

The Bill has lasted 20 years for a reason.

Because it is cheap and doesnt require brains to make. ITV just love it.

TG4 have to justify their existance and in fairness have done a decent enough job of that.

They have done a ****ing excellent job of it. TV3 need to justify themselves, or else the licence should be remove by the BCI and given to someone else.

Dustaz

Originally posted by mike65
I'm more with LFC than Dustaz on this one - talent is talent and that comes cheap!

Really? So David Beckham will be playing for Shamrock Rovers next year? Robert De Niro will im sure be making TV movies for nbc and David Kelly will be producing Nationwides Farm Special.

Please, Most of the best Irish talent goes to work abroad, why is that? Could it be something to do with the money perhaps?

Dont get me wrong, I know that RTE is horrifically badly run and they have made massive mistakes, but I really dont think any of you know just how cheap they are. I know of one magazine programme that is made for less than 1000 euro per episode. The beeb would spend that on coffee.

Everything suffers due to this lack of budget. There is far less time for development which is probably the biggest hurdle. Programmes are not created overnight and the longer gestation period you have, the better the result.

RTE has had little ambition with respect to popular entertainment (beyond chat!) as I suspect culturally the "right-on" socialist Irish speaking top brass
were suspicious of anything thats just good fun/exciting.

I think you probably have a point there but things may be changing. There are at least 3 series in production that could be great (a 'This life' deal, a trans-europe cop drama and a pretty insane puppet series from the zig and zag lads)

Instead we got worthy but excuciatingly dull series about wood cutting and the like.

They have to make that sort of thing. Public service and all that.

Originally posted by LFCFan
Pop Idol annoys the **** outta me but it is head and shoulders about Euro Star for production, presentation, the judges and addictive quality.

Sigh, this is exactly what im talking about. Re-read that. Then realise that You're A Star IS pop idol. Its the same format. Whats the difference? About 50 grand an episode.

mike65

Duztaz! Like The Hoops need Beckham!

I say talent is cheap cos most young and ambitious talent would sell thier grannys to get on national telly.
When one consideres the number of young Perrier Award type comics that this country has churned out in the last decade and how not one of them got a break from Montrose..I recall Tommy Tiernan going on the Late Late (bad move Tommy) and scandelising the old dears in the front row when he should have been on a show
like say The Panel...the fact The Panel now exists (plus stuff like Bachelors Walk) is a hopeful sign even if its a bit rough and ready...I'd be more hopeful about RTEs future now than 5 years ago.

Mike.

Elmo

Fine I know You're A Star is on a much lower budget then Pop Idol but I cannot see much difference in its production.

I actually think that Pop Idol and You're A Star are equal. There are both LCD type TV.

LFCFan

I'm sick of people being so goddamn patriotic when it comes to consumer issues, and Yes, Irish TV is a consumer issue because we have to pay for it. Why do we have to accept mediocre crap from every business in Ireland? Too many people like Dustaz and Elmo accepting it, that's why. RTE are pants, pure and simple. I'd rather they made nothing than put stuff like Celebrity Farm and Telly Bingo on. They think that by producing maybe 1 good show every 5 years they can justify the license fee. The entire management at RTE needs to be fired and some new blood brought in to liven things up. I would love to have a national broadcaster to be proud of but at the moment that's far from the case. I don't just dismiss everything that RTE make. I give everything they make a go because I am waiting for the days that they surprise me. So far those surprises have been few and far between and it's no wonder the likes of the Beeb and ITV get so many viewers from Ireland.

I agree with you about TV3 though. They need to buck up their ideas or lose their license but this is Ireland and regulation is non existant. TG4 are an example for all of them but this is because they HAVE to or go under. It's amazing how companies can do good work when they're fighting for their lives.

ps. these are not just my opinions. I run ripoffireland.org and you wouldn't believe the amount of e-mail I've had from people who are disgusted with RTE.

Sleipnir

I have to agree with you LFCFan. Purely because we pay €150 euro each year, which is a substantial amount of money, and we're shown drivel in return. Really there is very little on RTE that I would say "yes, that was worth the money" Maybe once or twice a year something like that comes on.

"The Underworld" last night was very good; well written and well produced. That's the kind of T.V. that RTE should be concentrating on. Programmes that entertain and inform at the same time. Not the likes of celebrity farm etc. ALL of which RTE steal or buy from other networks (Millionaire etc etc)

They dropped that political satire prog (Spike Island or something? Help me with the names I didn't get much sleep last night) just before the elections even though EVERYONE in the country loved it! It was brilliant, but it was dropped and no reason was given. Just two fingers.

But the thing that really annoys me about RTE is that they never take a chance on anything. They never take the risky road. It's always "that's inoffensive to the entire population so it'll do"
Father Ted is one you always have to come back to; Irish actors, doing 'Irish' things, Irish priests, set on an Irish island. Shown on an english T.V. channel.
Why? Because RTE wouldn't have taken it on as it might offend someone sitting under a rock somewhere.

I wish I could just say
"I don't want you to pipe RTE through to me anymore. Give me my money back"

Oh, and to quote from the Indo yesterday

"Meanwhile, a further increase in the licence fee this year could be resisted by a Dail committee charged with overseeing the performance of RTE. "

It damn well better be.

LFCFan

Originally posted by Kananga
I have to agree with you LFCFan.

I'm glad someone does.

Anyway, who exactly runs RTE? I mean, who makes the decisions on what is produced and what's not? The fact that the writers of Father Ted didn't even bother going to RTE to get funding is proof enough that they are unwilling to take a chance. Come on RTE, get the finger out and stop pandering to the auld biddies and religious nuts in the country. Give us some real TV with bite and start entertaining us instead of launching more debates like this one.

Mossy Monk

Originally posted by Elmo
The Bill is as wooden as Fair City

:eek: :eek:

OMG
Mossy faints

Elmo

No I am not like that LFC.

I am being honest here.

I look at RTÉ and most of the stuff that I watch on it comes from america or Ireland. (British TV is on a downward slope IMO).

I think RTE do feature show just as well as the BBC and ITV.
Off The Rail, The Health Squad, The Restaurant, You're A Star.

Comedy wise fine but ITV have shown much talent in that area.

I look at TV3 and I see crap. People continually give out about RTE but never about TV3.

If TV3 put as much Time and Money into to making TV shows as TG4 do they would be the number one TV channel in Ireland. And lets face it TV3 have enough resources to make as much TV as TG4. And since most Irish TV gets over 300,000 viewers they would make money. Lazyness on behalf of TV3.


And RTE would have got up off there asses and competed with TV3, instead TV3 relie heavily on Imports from Granda and America. And RTE compete with the same.

I'd rather they made nothing than put stuff like Celebrity Farm and Telly Bingo on.

I did I say I like or watch either? You don't mention I'm Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and the other Celebrity Titles coming from ITV which are all crap.

The entire management at RTE needs to be fired and some new blood brought in to liven things up.

Well you'll be glad to hear that there is a new MD of Television and a new DG. Cathal Goan (Hopefully he will do something with RTE he did after all make TG4 what it is).

So far those surprises have been few and far between and it's no wonder the likes of the Beeb and ITV get so many viewers from Ireland.

Just to give you the stats

RTE One = 26%
Network Two = 10%
TV3 = 12%
TG4 = 4%
BBC1 = 8%
BBC2 = 6%
UTV = 10%
C4 = 4%
OTHER DIGI= 20%

Viewers have a wide choice something we need in Irish TV for it to survive.

You have to also realise that the TV licence is not just for RTE TV.
RTE Music
RTE Radio
RTE TV
And broadcasting facitlities.

There are alot of bad things about RTE but with the bad you must also look at the good. And if you look there is plenty of good. but most people are bias.

Sleipnir

Originally posted by Elmo
I look at TV3 and I see crap. People continually give out about RTE but never about TV3.

Again, we do not pay an extortionate amount of money every year for TV3.
We pay €150 per year for RTE, Network 2 and TG4 and we are not getting value for money.
We can't say the same for TV3 because we aren't paying them any money.

Originally posted by Elmo
I think RTE do feature show just as well as the BBC and ITV.
Off The Rail, The Health Squad, The Restaurant, You're A Star.

Off the Rails. Fine, I'm sure there are plenty of people who want to watch a show about the latest fashion.
But RTE then show "The Best of Off the Rails"!!!
I mean come on! "The best of" for a show about clothes and makeup!?!?!?

Originally posted by Elmo
You don't mention I'm Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and the other Celebrity Titles coming from ITV which are all crap.

Again we don't PAY for ITV so we cannot dictate to them what we want shown on that channel.

Plus, RTE took the idea and made it into something worse. And we paid for it. Originality please?



RTE Radio? Scrap Saturday - Scrapped. ect etc

scojones

I agree with LFCFan. All of the irish channels are ****e (all 4 of them). RTE has their head in the sand, and the reason is they see 500,000 or so watching fair city/winning streak and think they're doing a great job. Their highest ratings come in on friday nights, because it's all old biddies watching tv, they only have a choice of four bloody channels of course there's gona be 500,000 of them watching whatever jibberish they throw on the telly.

We can give out about TV3 and say "all they show is imports from america / uk", well lads tbh, that's where most of the good shows come from. There is an hour or so of good tv viewing on network 2 on a monday night. I like the panel, i like father ted, and i like eastenders (/me ducks under the desk). Apart from those shows all there is to watch are movies, IF THEY SHOW ANY GOOD ONES!! Which rarely happens.

What has turned me off TV3 is that they only showed bashir's version of the wacko jacko interview. I emailed them asking if they were going to show michaels version, therefore being unbiased, and they told me more or less to go run and jump. After three consecutive emails they said it would cost too much. Bastards.

TG4 is irish, and my irish ain't that good so i don't watch that channel. However they did show PI a good while back. And that is a damn fine movie.

LFCFan

Originally posted by Elmo
I look at TV3 and I see crap. People continually give out about RTE but never about TV3.

We are forced into paying €150 a year for RTE, not TV3 so that's why people give out about RTE. If TV3 were getting a slice of the License Fee I'd be pissed off with them too.

I did I say I like or watch either? You don't mention I'm Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and the other Celebrity Titles coming from ITV which are all crap.

Although I'm not a fan of 'reality' tv, I'm a Celebrity (that spawned Celebrity Farm) is a billion times better than Celebrity Farm. At least the UK's z list Celebrities have more personality than our z list celebs. In fact, some UK z list celebs have more personality than some of our A list celebs.

Well you'll be glad to hear that there is a new MD of Television and a new DG. Cathal Goan (Hopefully he will do something with RTE he did after all make TG4 what it is).

Well hopefully we will see some improvment then

Just to give you the stats

RTE One = 26%
Network Two = 10%
TV3 = 12%
TG4 = 4%
BBC1 = 8%
BBC2 = 6%
UTV = 10%
C4 = 4%
OTHER DIGI= 20%

How much of that 26% is down to the older generation who know no better? The ones that still only have the 4 channels and wouldn't know a sattelite dish from an arial. RTE are gonna be in a lot of trouble with more and more people waking up to Digital TV. They can't rely on the old reliables forever.

There are alot of bad things about RTE but with the bad you must also look at the good. And if you look there is plenty of good. but most people are bias.

How can you say there is plenty of good? I like good TV and if RTE had it, I'd watch it. The continue to let me down with their programming. If you can give me a run down of programms on RTE this week that are worthy of the €150 license fee I'll be greatful.

LFCFan

Originally posted by Man
get your facts straight.
This is the first year that we are paying €150 p.a and not everyone would have renewed at that rate yet so not all of that income has come in yet and still this is not all going to RTE.
For many years the licence fee was static at a time of rising wages and other costs.
It's going to take time for RTE to catch up, it is improving.

mm

But they also have Advertising Revenue!

Sleipnir

Originally posted by Man
get your facts straight.
This is the first year that we are paying €150 p.a and not everyone would have renewed at that rate yet so not all of that income has come in yet and still this is not all going to RTE.
For many years the licence fee was static at a time of rising wages and other costs.
It's going to take time for RTE to catch up, it is improving.

mm

Get my 'Facts' straight? erm...ok
It is a fact that the annual cost of a T.V. License in Ireland is €150

Did I need to quote how much each individual has paid over the past 50 years? Quoting all increases over that period?

Not all the T.V. license goes to RTE? Who else does it go to tell me?

Originally posted by LFCFan
But they also have Advertising Revenue!

Which has gone on foreign programming, movies and sports rights including this year the very popular non subscription live saturday premiership games, something which might have gone to a separate subscription Irish sky sports had RTÉ not had the funds.
The licence fee is meant for public service broadcasting which is costly because it has lower audiences and doesn't attract lucrative advertising.

mm

Originally posted by Kananga

Not all the T.V. license goes to RTE? Who else does it go to tell me?

Ok this year a proportion of the €150 is going to independent radio and TV3

mm

Sleipnir

really? I didn't know that. When does it come into effect?
Can you back that up with some verifiable source?

LFCFan

Originally posted by Man
Which has gone on foreign programming, movies and sports rights including this year the very popular non subscription live saturday premiership games, something which might have gone to a separate subscription Irish sky sports had RTÉ not had the funds.
The licence fee is meant for public service broadcasting which is costly because it has lower audiences and doesn't attract lucrative advertising.

mm

This thread isn't about what RTE 'buys', it's about what RTE produces! They have to justify €150 per household and at the moment they are not doing that, pure and simple. Hopefully with these new heads in things will change. I look forward to the day when I don't have ill feelings towards RTE.

Yeap, bear with me while I dig out the latest broadcasting act

LFCFan

if this is true then TV3 will be getting a roasting on these forums soon, unless of course they do a serious U-Turn and actually start producing some decent programmes. If I see one more ad for another 'weepy' crap American made for TV show........

Elmo

Prime Time
The Clinic
Batchelor's Walk
The Panel
The Late Late Show
Fair City
RTE News
The Den
True Lives
Would You Beleive
:
:
:

I am not going to defend RTE. That not the impression that I want to give. But I think that all of the RTE programmes made are good. I think they need to invest in more Entertainment just as equally as News. I think they make good news programmes, just as good as ITV and The BBC, without all the resources that they have.

Just because TG4 is in Irish does not mean it is ****e.

I mean you all praise EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and The Bill, all of these are not the height of British Drama there are better shows on TV. I have to say I watch Fair City and Coronation St. every now and then but I cann't stand Emmer' or 'Enders.

I mean Soap opera is soap opera not my cup of tea but it is about popular culture as everyone has stated and RTE seem to be doing that. But 4 - 5 nights is overload.

Lets put it this way.

If the only drama the BBC made was EastEnders.
If the only news was at Lunch, 6 and 10
If the only current affairs was NewsNight
If the only comedy was Have I got news for you
and the only entertainment was Parkinson.
plus 7 or 8 feature programmes like Holiday 2004 etc.

How would you view the BBC then.

Not very well because that is exactly what RTE do. And they do them all just as well as the BBC but the BBC make more so we don't see all the crap. And the BBC put more money into them the RTE have for all their programming.

RTE do need to change and they need to change quick.

RTE need to be an Irish option with out having look at Brit TV for inspiration.

They need to reduse their US output, give it to TV3 let them have it for god sakes.

By the way indirectly we do pay for TV3. Advertisers advertise for our money.

TV3 needed to give the 2 fingers to RTE 6 years ago just as TG4 had done 7 years ago. But they have failed.

TV3 and RTE need to look at what Indep. companies have done for TG4.

And there needs to be major changes in Irish TV.

Irish must realise that Eamon Dunphy, Pat Kenny and the like can be found elsewhere and for less money.

Originally posted by LFCFan
They have to justify €150 per household and at the moment they are not doing that, pure and simple.

You aren't expecting miracles now are ya??
That €150 hasn't been collected from everyone yet and this is it's first year being that high, have you any idea how long it takes for that to filter through into programme making?
It's not going to be instantaneous.
mm

LFCFan

Originally posted by Man
You aren't expecting miracles now are ya??
That €150 hasn't been collected from everyone yet and this is it's first year being that high, have you any idea how long it takes for that to filter through into programme making?
It's not going to be instantaneous.
mm

But RTE have been around a lot longer than this year and they still haven't got it right. We've always paid a license fee. I agree with the people who say that there are some good shows but unfortunatly for every The Family or Batchelors Walk there are 10 Upwardly Mobiles or Telly Bingo. I think most of the problem is the people they get to host these shows. Some of them are so bad it's frightning.

Elmo

Yes 5% of the licence fee will go to independent Radio and TV channels who wish to produce PBS TV.

TV3 prob won't touch it as it would mean doing something, perhaps picking a pen up, I some how think Rick Hethrington won't be too pushed.

I see most of it going to local Indi Radio.

You aren't expecting miracles now are ya??
That €150 hasn't been collected from everyone yet and this is it's first year being that high, have you any idea how long it takes for that to filter through into programme making?
It's not going to be instantaneous.

Would RTE not just get a loan at the start of the year and pay it as the licence fee comes along.

Elmo

I agree with the people who say that there are some good shows but unfortunatly for every The Family or Batchelors Walk there are 10 Upwardly Mobiles or Telly Bingo

No there isn't. RTE don't make that much TV. Maybe for every Batchelors Walk there's 3 bad programmes if we're that lucky. :rolleyes:

Sleipnir

Originally posted by Elmo
Yes 5% of the licence fee will go to independent Radio and TV channels who wish to produce PBS TV.

Will go to Independant Radio and T.V.?

So TV3 aren't actually getting any money from the license fee at present?

LFCFan

Originally posted by Elmo
Would RTE not just get a loan at the start of the year and pay it as the licence fee comes along.

If we could pay the license fee monthly I wouldn't be too worried about increases as long as I could see the influence the extra money had on the station. I don't want RTE to go away. I think it's important to have a national broadcaster but I think there needs to be a radical overhaul of all the processes and a reduction in the amount of PSB to allow for more investment in entertainment, documentaries, investigative programs etc etc. Even stuff like DIY SOS on the BBC is better than any house improvement programme commissioned by RTE. I don't think RTE are into fun and frolics. Paths to Freedom was excellent. Why can't they do more stuff like that? Bull Island was a laugh but RTE of course are Semi-State so bowed to pressue from the government to can it. Maybe RTE should be privatised but still get the license fee. They could have more of a free reign then.

LFCFan

Originally posted by Elmo
No there isn't. RTE don't make that much TV. Maybe for every Batchelors Walk there's 3 bad programmes if we're that lucky. :rolleyes:

Well, I'm talking about over the history of the RTE. You could probably write a list of 20 excellent shows but a also a list of 200 disasters.