RTE : A poor excuse for a Public Service Broadcaster

Het-Field

RTE is a unique Public Service Broadcaster. It is one of the few which draws revenue from advertisers, and the average punter who watches it. The BBC (one of the worlds greatest and reknowned Public service broadcasters) do not seek revenue from advertising.

I dont believe that the licence is required, and it is an unnecessary burden on people who use the Television to avail of shows like the 6 one News, Questions and Answers, Prime Time, and the array of "public interest documentaries" which have been shown over the years. Of course people will argue for and against the benefits of shows like Q&A, as its questionable how beneficial a staged political show is ! However,as a public service broadcaster people should be entitled to these rights for free. Feck it, RTE earn enough in advertising rights anyhow, even the weatherforcast is sponsored by Avonmore Milk.

The licencing fee is being spent on creating rubbish like "Failte Towers", "Celebrity Farm", "Your A Star", "Celebrity Banaisteoir" and the likes. These fall outside the remit of Public Service Broadcasting. While I agree that people need to be entertained, I believe that its sufficient to provide Australian soaps, The Simpsons, and other indigenous comedy shows, which have been quite successful. These have always been available. However, the reality show is a waste of taxpayers money, and should be scrapped. It should be up to the likes of TV3 and Channel 6 to provide such shows.

I also believe that RTE is wasting huge money on keeping the Channel running through the night. I think it is an inexpert use of taxpayers money to utilise mind numbing shows like Shortland Street and Laguna Beach, and Immature (yet highly funny) MTV shows like Jackass, Wildboyz, and Viva La Bam. The fact that thy show a weekly repeat of Prime Time and Questions and Answers with 30 mins of Euronews at 6am, doesnt validate this flagrant waste of money. The BBC closes down at Between 3.15 and 4.15 on most nights (after a nightly showing of Panorama) and converts to BBC News 24 until 7am. If RTE cannot provde a service such as this, then it should effect closedown at 2am, with a rousing rendition of our National Anthem of course. If people wish to watch television beyond that, then they should seek to install NTL or Sky digital.

While i conceed that RTE's sports coverage is second to none (I doubt any indigenous channel gets as much coverage of sports as RTE does), I believe that there needs to be some changes. These include

1.The Abolition of the Licence Fee
2.The Removal of the ridiculous Reality TV which has become so prominant
3.The reversion to Closedown at 2AM, or do a deal with a NewsChannel which would provide information relevant to Irish People
4.Reform of Questions and Answers from a watered down snore fest, to a more enlightened and fast moving discussion
5.Earlier Transmission of "The Week In Politics"

I would welcome other suggestions on how our National Broadcaster could improve its service

bistrosidecar

You're a fool.

Britain has a population of 60million people to pay a license fee to make the BBC the world's best. Ireland has 4.4million people to pay, and fools like you forget that television shows cost the same to make whether they are broadcasting to 1person or 1million people.

The BBC's budget was over £8billion last year whereas RTE's was 440million EURO with revenue from advertising and the license fee.

Your point is invalid.


I would agree, however, that RTE does not take full advantage of the untapped talent in this country and instead relies on the same old presenters year on year (particularly in their young people's section).


But overall RTE do the best they can, they are a non profit organisation so all of their money goes into trying to produce quality programming. Nobody is gaining from the license fee but the public.



If you have a suggestion as to how RTE could improve their programming on the same budget I suggest you write them a letter.

bistrosidecar

By the way, they produce crappy reality tv shows because they are EXTREMELY cheap to produce and gain big audiences.

aidan_walsh

**** it, shut down RTE 2 while you're at it. One channel should be enough for anyone.

bistrosidecar

Are you high?

utick

death to rte

KnifeWRENCH

Het-Field wrote: »

I would welcome other suggestions on how our National Broadcaster could improve its service

Perhaps by writing to them rather than preaching to us?

Het-Field

bistrosidecar wrote: »

You're a fool.

Britain has a population of 60million people to pay a license fee to make the BBC the world's best. Ireland has 4.4million people to pay, and fools like you forget that television shows cost the same to make whether they are broadcasting to 1person or 1million people.

The BBC's budget was over £8billion last year whereas RTE's was 440million EURO with revenue from advertising and the license fee.

Your point is invalid.


I would agree, however, that RTE does not take full advantage of the untapped talent in this country and instead relies on the same old presenters year on year (particularly in their young people's section).


But overall RTE do the best they can, they are a non profit organisation so all of their money goes into trying to produce quality programming. Nobody is gaining from the license fee but the public.



If you have a suggestion as to how RTE could improve their programming on the same budget I suggest you write them a letter.

Dont call me a fool. The abolition would be mitigated by the huge money RTE gets for advertising, and sponsorship. The Weather is sponsored by Avonmore, The Premiership is sponsored by Budweiser, The Late Late Show is sponsored by Halifax. That is just to name a few. No BBC show is sponsored, nor does it have any advertisments between shows. They raise the money that way. RTE is getting the best of both worlds, and that is a burden on the taxxpayer. Plus with the concept of Closedown at 2am, RTE could save a great deal of money

BBC is also expected to transmit to a far greater number of people. They have recievers in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and America. They run channels like CBBC,BBC Parliment, BBC News 24, BBC World, and the UKTV Channels. They rarely show crap, like RTE does, and have for years pumped out quality entertainment. The BBC have produced Only Fools and Horses, One Foot In The Grave, Vicar of Dibley, Porridge, Norton TV and Open All Hours for Comedy Buffs, Match Of The Day, Grandstand, and Sportnight for Sports fans, Teletubbies, Tweenies for children, The Weakest Link for Gameshow Buffs, Late Night With Jonathan Ross (a less patronising more fast paced version of the Late Late Show, Panorama, and University Challange. Their indigenous shows like Eastenders and Casualty certain beat Fair City and The Clinic Hands down. When The Clinic is going as long as Casualty then I will admit to being qrong along with 15 Radio Channels (with some top DJs&presenters).

The wages they pay presenters certainly eclipse the top RTE presenters. Their news coverage is fantastic, and Question Time certainly beats the hell out of Questions and Answers.

The BBC Must broadcast too far more people, hence their greater budget. They invest the fee wisely, and reap the benefits. Our licence fee is pissed away on Pat Kenny's 2 1/2 Friday Snore, politically inept shows like The Week In Politics and Questions and Answers, keeping the server going all night so insomniacs can watch Shortland Street and Laguna Beach at 3am, and ridiculous reality shows.

Enoguh is Enough. RTE should use it or lose it

Dont be at yourself

My issue isn't so much that RTE gets the license fee, its that they completely squander it on producing stillborn 'comedy' and drama shows, American & Australian imports that are otherwise available, and on the salaries of the likes of Pat Kenny and Ryan Turbridy.

It's a complete misuse of public funds. The BBC are constantly monitored and checked to ensure that they're not using their financial clout to stifle competition from private TV stations, in terms of paying over the odds for content or salaries. Meanwhile, RTE is using mine and your money to buy the Irish rights to US shows which could otherwise be bought commercially by Channel 6 or TV3, and to pay salaries to their 'stars' that are far in excess of the market rate.

icdg

Het-Field wrote: »

RTE is a unique Public Service Broadcaster. It is one of the few which draws revenue from advertisers, and the average punter who watches it. The BBC (one of the worlds greatest and reknowned Public service broadcasters) do not seek revenue from advertising.

In no way is it unique in this. In fact the BBC is one of the exceptions in being completely licence-fee funded. The likes of ARD, ZDF, RAI, NOS, I could name other European PSBs, are all dual-funded like RTÉ.

1.The Abolition of the Licence Fee

Replaced by what? Completely advertising funded? It won't be a public service broadcaster anymore then. You won't find much room for anything other the minimum Government stipulation of Irish programming - maybe the news and a small amount of current affairs programmes - to keep you going. The rest will be imports. Take a look at TVNZ to see where this road will take you.

2.The Removal of the ridiculous Reality TV which has become so prominant

Agreed, reality TV should really be left to TV3...

3.The reversion to Closedown at 2AM, or do a deal with a NewsChannel which would provide information relevant to Irish People

Why? Do people who work evenings, and arrive home overnight, not deserve television programmes too? Surely that is part of RTÉ PSB function...

4.Reform of Questions and Answers from a watered down snore fest, to a more enlightened and fast moving discussion

Not sure what you could do with it. It is essentially a copy of Question Time. "Improving" of programmes like that frequently equates with "dumbing down"...

5.Earlier Transmission of "The Week In Politics"

In fact, The Week in Politics seems to do better at Sunday 23:00 than at its original Saturday 19:00 slot. I welcome anyone who can tell me why to do so. The alternative slots: Sunday 18:30 (the "family" slot - 7th Heaven and its ilk) and Sunday 21:30 (the "medical" slot) seem to have been monopolised. Still, answers on a postcard...

godtabh

Het-Field wrote: »

RTE is a unique Public Service Broadcaster. It is one of the few which draws revenue from advertisers, and the average punter who watches it. The BBC (one of the worlds greatest and reknowned Public service broadcasters) do not seek revenue from advertising.

I dont believe that the licence is required, and it is an unnecessary burden on people who use the Television to avail of shows like the 6 one News, Questions and Answers, Prime Time, and the array of "public interest documentaries" which have been shown over the years. Of course people will argue for and against the benefits of shows like Q&A, as its questionable how beneficial a staged political show is ! However,as a public service broadcaster people should be entitled to these rights for free. Feck it, RTE earn enough in advertising rights anyhow, even the weatherforcast is sponsored by Avonmore Milk.

The licencing fee is being spent on creating rubbish like "Failte Towers", "Celebrity Farm", "Your A Star", "Celebrity Banaisteoir" and the likes. These fall outside the remit of Public Service Broadcasting. While I agree that people need to be entertained, I believe that its sufficient to provide Australian soaps, The Simpsons, and other indigenous comedy shows, which have been quite successful. These have always been available. However, the reality show is a waste of taxpayers money, and should be scrapped. It should be up to the likes of TV3 and Channel 6 to provide such shows.

I also believe that RTE is wasting huge money on keeping the Channel running through the night. I think it is an inexpert use of taxpayers money to utilise mind numbing shows like Shortland Street and Laguna Beach, and Immature (yet highly funny) MTV shows like Jackass, Wildboyz, and Viva La Bam. The fact that thy show a weekly repeat of Prime Time and Questions and Answers with 30 mins of Euronews at 6am, doesnt validate this flagrant waste of money. The BBC closes down at Between 3.15 and 4.15 on most nights (after a nightly showing of Panorama) and converts to BBC News 24 until 7am. If RTE cannot provde a service such as this, then it should effect closedown at 2am, with a rousing rendition of our National Anthem of course. If people wish to watch television beyond that, then they should seek to install NTL or Sky digital.

While i conceed that RTE's sports coverage is second to none (I doubt any indigenous channel gets as much coverage of sports as RTE does), I believe that there needs to be some changes. These include

1.The Abolition of the Licence Fee
2.The Removal of the ridiculous Reality TV which has become so prominant
3.The reversion to Closedown at 2AM, or do a deal with a NewsChannel which would provide information relevant to Irish People
4.Reform of Questions and Answers from a watered down snore fest, to a more enlightened and fast moving discussion
5.Earlier Transmission of "The Week In Politics"

I would welcome other suggestions on how our National Broadcaster could improve its service

Do we need to have a tread on this topic every week? Should just be a sticky were all rants go

byte

Yet another hilarious thread, where somebody tries to compare the ever-rich BBC with the much poorer RTE. It has already been stated in this thread why there is a difference between the two, mainly due to revenues.

I'm pretty sure if RTE had £8 billion, they'd be just as good.

BBC do make money etc from advertising, through its commercial arm, BBC Worldwide. At least, I'm pretty sure UKTV (owned between BBC Worldwide and Virgin Media) channels carry sh1tloads of adverts last time I looked.

bistrosidecar

The BBC broadcast in exactly the same way as RTE and if you had any semblance of a clue into what you are talking about you would know that it doesnt cost more money for satellites to reach more people particularly on such a small landmass as Britain.

It's very ease to slag off RTE.
You've made no new points that havent been previously made by irate readers of The Star in the past.

You go and try to broadcast the same quality of television as the BBC does at 1/20th of their budget and see how you get on before you judge.

Their budget is 440million -that's it, nothing more so dont talk about advertising, yes they could change the way they make and save money but you still wouldnt achieve anything like what the BBC does.

cooperguy

RTE do a very good job for the budget they have. Because we live next to one of the best (if not the best) broadcasters in the world we have a very low view of our own PSB. Compared to alot of PSB around the world we are of a very high standard.

Also Pat Kenny, Gerry Ryan etc. get paid in relation to the amount of advertising revenue they bring in. You pay nearly the same to advertise during the Late Late as you do during the Superbowl in America or so I hear!

Dont be at yourself

Pat Kenny should be paid the market rate - ie. what TV3 or an UK broadcaster would pay him if his services were available, or what it would cost to replace him.

Either of those figures would be significantly less than the 900k per anum that he's on at the moment. If RTE wants to shed this image of an old boy's club, they should aim their sights at Ireland's own Alan Partridge straight away.

Elmo

There is alot there to read. And its been said before on boards.

And I have always pointed out how commercial the BBC are.

The BBC own 50% of UKTV (Dave, UKTV Gold, UKTV Drama etc)
http://uktv.co.uk/uktv/item/aid/527826
The BBC earn money from selling programming abroad
http://www.bbcworldwide.com/tvsales.htm
The BBC earn money selling DVD
http://www.bbcshop.com/
The BBC earn money from international TV services such as BBC USA, BBC Canada etc.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/
The BBC have a vast array of publications e.g. Radio Times, Lonely Planet
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/about/whatwedo/

and on top of all that they have revenue from about 20 million households around the UK.





TV3 don't want to make Irish TV, their licence is as a PSB, a commerical PSB but a PSB all the same. Most of their Prime Time shows will be funded by the Licence fee.

RTE do have problems:-

1. Too many celeb TV shows, in one year they have 2 at least, in a small country it should be 1 every 2 year or none at all. (Or left to TV3 but then they wouldn't make them)
2. There attitude toward many of their imported shows is in disarray, we have all given out about top shows on at 2am (Or left to TG4 or TV3)
3. RTE 2 since the name change has gone from bad to worse, so much so that RTE are planning to put the panel on RTE ONE.
4. Spending far too much money on their stars.

RTE need to look at the work of TG4. But changing RTE by removing their Licence Fee would kill Irish TV altogether, just look at French TV when it was broken up and New Zealand AFAIK went back to the original Licence Fee.

Don't compare RTE to the BBC.

copacetic

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

Pat Kenny should be paid the market rate - ie. what TV3 or an UK broadcaster would pay him if his services were available, or what it would cost to replace him.

Either of those figures would be significantly less than the 900k per anum that he's on at the moment. If RTE wants to shed this image of an old boy's club, they should aim their sights at Ireland's own Alan Partridge straight away.

why would they do that? because you don't like him?

As it happens I don't either but for all the slagging he gets on internet forums and in the media, his radio and TV shows bring in massive amounts of listeners/viewers and therefore ad money. RTÉ make back what they pay him in a few weeks of shows.

Elmo

As it happens I don't either but for all the slagging he gets on internet forums and in the media, his radio and TV shows bring in massive amounts of listeners/viewers and therefore ad money. RTÉ make back what they pay him in a few weeks of shows.

The toy show pays for pat.

Dont be at yourself

why would they do that? because you don't like him?

No, because he is clearly overpaid and under-talented. He is the highest paid broadcaster on these shores, but few could say he's the most talented. RTE could give his job to any number of up and coming presenters and the Late Late Show would still pull in the viewers.

But you're right - many people don't like Pat Kenny. And as RTE is public-funded and has a responsibility to all of its license payers, I find it a little rich that a man as widely detested and out-of-touch with a large proportion of the country hosts Ireland's premier show.

As it happens I don't either but for all the slagging he gets on internet forums and in the media, his radio and TV shows bring in massive amounts of listeners/viewers and therefore ad money. RTÉ make back what they pay him in a few weeks of shows.

That's not the issue. Lets not kid ourselves - Pat Kenny isn't pulling in the viewers, the Late, Late Show is. Compare and contrast the viewing figures of The Late Late Show and Kenny Live. Audiences tune into the Late Late because it is a national institution at this stage, not to watch a robotic Pat Kenny.

Just because the Late, Late Show pulls in the viewers, it doesnt mean he should be paid so highly. Pay him the going rate for a broadcaster. There are plenty of experienced broadcasters across the UK & Ireland with the charisma and the personality to do what he does, and for cheaper.

Elmo

Pat Kenny is overpaid, I would agree with that.

Is he out of touch? I don't know he seems to know his stuff on the Radio and has a very successful radio show, and I don't think that you can say he only gets listeners because of the Late Late Show.

copacetic

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

No, because he is clearly overpaid and under-talented. He is the highest paid broadcaster on these shores, but few could say he's the most talented. RTE could give his job to any number of up and coming presenters and the Late Late Show would still pull in the viewers.

But you're right - many people don't like Pat Kenny. And as RTE is public-funded and has a responsibility to all of its license payers, I find it a little rich that a man as widely detested and out-of-touch with a large proportion of the country hosts Ireland's premier show.



That's not the issue. Lets not kid ourselves - Pat Kenny isn't pulling in the viewers, the Late, Late Show is. Compare and contrast the viewing figures of The Late Late Show and Kenny Live. Audiences tune into the Late Late because it is a national institution at this stage, not to watch a robotic Pat Kenny.

Just because the Late, Late Show pulls in the viewers, it doesnt mean he should be paid so highly. Pay him the going rate for a broadcaster. There are plenty of experienced broadcasters across the UK & Ireland with the charisma and the personality to do what he does, and for cheaper.

I didn't say many, as you well know. I said internet people and the media. The definition of few. I presume people listen to his radio show even though everyone doesn't like him either?

Clearly overpaid and undertalented? Seys u, is what I'm sure Pat wouldn't say.

Mossy Monk

Het-Field wrote: »

RTE is a unique Public Service Broadcaster. It is one of the few which draws revenue from advertisers, and the average punter who watches it. The BBC (one of the worlds greatest and reknowned Public service broadcasters) do not seek revenue from advertising.

Your first paragraph has shown that you are talking through your arse. No need to read anymore.

bistrosidecar

Yes Het-Field.

Im going to leave this thread because clearly your thoughts are the same old rantings that have been made by drunks for years.
Im not sure if boards is the right place to pull crappy info out of your arse and start displaying it to the public.
In conclusion then, YOU KNOW NOTHING. okie doke?

Our man in Havana

Time to close this thread.