TV Licence increase

southie

I am hopping mad, just seeing in the paper today that bloody rte are looking for another increase in the licence fee. For bloody what same crap that they are spitting out year after year, murder she wrote, the same bloody movies over and over do they think we forget seeing them a year or two ago. am so mad

Badabing

It should be going down not up, it's index linked and inflation is dropping like a stone.

AntiRip

How much are they looking for? Agree that it should be going down not up

mushypeas30

Is anyone surprised though. The pay they give some of the guys working there is so high i wouldn't be surprised if they ended up having another increase in 6 months time like the government and their mini-budgets!

Lenny

how much is it going up by?

Mossy Monk

*sits back and watches as people complain about **** programming and Gerry Ryans wage packet*

Elmo

They will always look for an increase. They are unlikely to get it. TG4 saw their government funding reduced.

I don't think the planned increase from 5% to 10% of the license fee for the BCI's Sound and Vision Fund will happen this year either.

Mike 1972

Mossy Monk wrote: »

*sits back and watches as people complain about **** programming and Gerry Ryans wage packet*

And why shouldnt they.

And lets not forget out of court settlements with TD's who laughably claim to have no money

Mossy Monk

Mike 1972 wrote: »

And why shouldnt they.

And lets not forget out of court settlements with TD's who laughably claim to have no money

I said that because that is all every one of the thousand television licence threads decend into.

ynotdu

R.T.E with its many faults is still an Excellant TV Broadcaster.I agree about the saleries being Too high.Its public service remit leaves it with many obligations a purely commercial station could not possibly match.Many times it has the European premiere of shows it could not possibly buy but for it,s relative low audience and without that income would plunge into a downward spiral(Setanta being an example of how quickly things can go wrong if one wrong move is made:eek: ) There are Many(one in particulor) broadcasters would like to see that happen to R.T.E.

Like them or loath them there are many Fantastic presenters and shows on R.T.E T.V or radio even judged on a World basis.

Radio one is as good as Radio gets from 7am to 7PM of the genre.

On TV Pat kenny,Turbity,O,callaghan,Bowman,Dobson etc are World class.
My main complaint is how long their holidays are(Terry Wogan used to get a week off in Summer,now he gets two(honest)

like almost everything it aint a black and white argument,really Though RTE more going for them than against them as PSB,s.

Hard to forgive them for apologising for showing the semi-nude paintings of B Cowen though,and He and his wife should have taken it on the chin as part of being in Politics.The apology makes sense now that they were granted an increase(or might it be that the Govt intended to take away the Free TV license for Pensioners in next budget :P

Elmo

They won't get an increase. It isn't going to happen.

As for European premiers while I agree with all of what you have said TV3 and TG4 could both buy in European premiers. It isn't the role of a PSB to buy in US shows they aren't that expensive to buy.

bk

Elmo wrote: »

As for European premiers while I agree with all of what you have said TV3 and TG4 could both buy in European premiers. It isn't the role of a PSB to buy in US shows they aren't that expensive to buy.

Well US imports let them fill non peak times cheaply, that they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford to fill with Irish content (well not without loads of stupid repeats) and the US imports help subsidise Irish made content (the US imports help cheaply bring in lots of ad money).

Elmo

bk wrote: »

Well US imports let them fill non peak times cheaply, that they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford to fill with Irish content (well not without loads of stupid repeats) and the US imports help subsidise Irish made content (the US imports help cheaply bring in lots of ad money).

Yes this is true, but it isn't a reason for increasing the licence fee. They are complete commercial and RTÉ should look at decreasing the prices the currently pay in LA this summer, to insure continued acquisition of 11,000 hours per year or they should reduce the numbers that they buy due to commercial issues arising form the global recession. Ditto TV3 and TG4.

Irish prices for 1 hour of TV in euro:-

Movies 2,000 - 5,000
Features 800 - 1,500
Kids 800 - 1,500
TV Serials 1,500 - 3,000

ynotdu

Hi elmo,
I think shows such as the West wing,Soprano,s etc served them well as loss leaders,keeping RTE as a lively entity.

It is a thin line RTE have to walk.IMO if they dropped any H B O type quality programmes,They would get as bad a name as French TV got or PBS in the States.

Channels nobody ever tune into and so the good and bad get lost.

I dont believe TV3 would risk as many buy-ins&unfortunatly most people never check out whats on TG4 even though even to a non Irish speaker they often show gems.

I honestly believe RTE is not that broken that it needs to be fixed.
People need to be careful what they wish for in this recession regarding Irish broadcasting lest short term savings leave us with mainstream stations no longer Irish in all but name.

Elmo

Both RTÉ and TG4 need US and British television I amn't dening that, those programmes bring audience to News, Current Affairs, Documentaries and some quality minority programming that they may miss otherwise. However both RTÉ and TG4 actually make money from their imports while their Irish programming will tend to be the loss leader. In other words why watch CSI on RTÉ when you could watch it on Living? because RTÉ may show a show of Irish interest that Living won't.

PSB is actually really important to commerical TV services, something they often forget about. The proof TV3 and ITV. As ITV continues to remove many local and PSB programming they have seen their audiences turn to the BBC and C4, while the business model for TV3 suggests that you make money from imports and forget about making any orgininal programming of your own (ok they have changed in the last 2 years), this allows TV3 have a 10% audience share in confidence that they will make money from that 10% share, however the lack of orginal programming cause them to remain at 10%, small growth will be seen on the days that they do show original programming. (Canwest beleive that it is better to be number 3 than number 2 wasting money trying to be number 1.) Both ITV and TV3 will suffer during the recession due to these points of veiw.

bk

Elmo wrote: »

Yes this is true, but it isn't a reason for increasing the licence fee. They are complete commercial and RTÉ should look at decreasing the prices the currently pay in LA this summer, to insure continued acquisition of 11,000 hours per year or they should reduce the numbers that they buy due to commercial issues arising form the global recession. Ditto TV3 and TG4.

Of course I expect that they will be able to negotiate down the price they pay for US content at the next negotiations.

However from what I've heard, the US imports are completely covered by ad revenue, no license fee goes to paying US imports and in fact the US imports usually make a surplus that goes to help paying for Irish made content.

I agree with ynotdu that RTE needs to have s balanced schedule with some quality HBO type content as part of the mix to attract viewers, who might stay and watch Irish made content.

Also don't forget part of their public service remit is to also show quality US made content, don't forget almost 30% of people don't have multichannel and don't want to pay for Living, etc. but still want to see some quality US imports.

Elmo

bk wrote: »

Also don't forget part of their public service remit is to also show quality US made content, don't forget almost 30% of people don't have multichannel and don't want to pay for Living, etc. but still want to see some quality US imports.

It is not part of RTÉ's, TV3's or TG4's remit to broadcast any non-European programming.

While I understand there are plenty of people in 4 TV land, none of the 4 TV channels have any responsiblity to show US or British programming, although British television is more attractive due to the language. Their responsiblity is for quality Irish programming. The mix of US programming helps them since they make profits on US programming and they also attract other viewers for their Irish programming.

Over all the main remit is to provide Irish programming.

scath

They apparently but 2 increases in, one last november, the other in March.

One of the things that is weighing on them is the increased initial costs associated with DTT broadcasting during network build.

Of course there is a problem with the wage packets of presenters being compared to the UK, which is simply, due to lesser population, RTÉ not yet carried on satellite abroad, isn't justified. Pay packet should reflect viewer numbers.

I think that the holding out over the wage cut didn't help G Ryan's ratings it would seem since.

Both the board and also presenters need to take wage cuts while the lower end of the scale such as producers, directors, programme making needs to get the bulk of what remains after savings.

In other words, instead of being the first, these should be the last to be rewarded, the board I mean and the top presenters. I would say bring down the basic wage and make the bonus the incentive for performance.

Also the current TV license system is crap. Of course it allows non payers. If we have it then it should be on each electricity bill and at least RTÉ would get more money than they are mandated to than at present and none of this taking people to court over the license fee.

scath

They apparently put 2 increases in, one last november, the other this March.

One of the things that is weighing on them is the increased initial costs associated with DTT broadcasting during network build.

Of course there is a problem with the wage packets of presenters being compared to the UK, which is simply, due to lesser population, RTÉ not yet carried on satellite abroad, isn't justified. Pay packet should reflect viewer numbers.

I think that the holding out over the wage cut didn't help G Ryan's ratings it would seem since.

Both the board and also presenters need to take wage cuts while the lower end of the scale such as producers, directors, programme making needs to get the bulk of what remains after savings.

In other words, instead of being the first, these should be the last to be rewarded, the board I mean and the top presenters. I would say bring down the basic wage and make the bonus the incentive for performance for higher earners while give the lower ones a better wage with a smaller performance bonus reflective of realities at that end.

Also the current TV license system is crap. Of course it allows non payers. If we have it then it should be on each electricity bill and at least RTÉ would get more money than they are mandated to than at present and none of this taking people to court over the license fee non payment.

Elmo

March 2010? I don't think it will happen to be honest no government would be able to increase it this year or next. Unless the sneakily got rid of the licence fee and put a PSB levy on your electricity bill @ €13.50 per month. Wouldn't surprise me. But I think the Electricity Bill is the best option.

Mike 1972

While I understand there are plenty of people in 4 TV land

And quite a few in "3 TV" land :rolleyes:

none of the 4 TV channels have any responsiblity to show US or British programming, although British television is more attractive due to the language.

What language is US programming in

Elmo

Mike 1972 wrote: »

What language is US programming in

I was point to the fact that 50% of all imports on TV stations should come from the EU. I don't really know how RTÉ, TG4, BBC, ITV and C4 get away with not having 50%, TV3 does by their use of ITV programming in English.

Mike 1972

Elmo wrote: »

I was point to the fact that 50% of all imports on TV stations should come from the EU. I don't really know how RTÉ, TG4, BBC, ITV and C4 get away with not having 50%, TV3 does by their use of ITV programming in English.

Fair boint but
1) Isint it all programming not just imports (i.e. home produced counts towards the 50%)
2) I think theres some "as far as practicable" type get out clause

bk

Elmo wrote: »

It is not part of RTÉ's, TV3's or TG4's remit to broadcast any non-European programming.

I'm not sure of that, can you point me to the details of RTE's remit.

I think an important part of RTE's remit is to give the people what they want and given the popularity of some of the high quality US imports, it would seem that there is a big demand for it.

As a person who grew up in 4 TV land (and less) I was very happy to get all the US made content I could get which was of a far better quality and far more entertaining then most of the boring BS produced in Ireland and the UK (Glenroe, Emerdale, etc.)

In fact I would say that UK made content is getting significantly worse with all the reality TV stuff (x-factor, etc.)

Elmo

bk wrote: »

I'm not sure of that, can you point me to the details of RTE's remit.

I think an important part of RTE's remit is to give the people what they want and given the popularity of some of the high quality US imports, it would seem that there is a big demand for it.

As a person who grew up in 4 TV land (and less) I was very happy to get all the US made content I could get which was of a far better quality and far more entertaining then most of the boring BS produced in Ireland and the UK (Glenroe, Emerdale, etc.)

In fact I would say that UK made content is getting significantly worse with all the reality TV stuff (x-factor, etc.)

I also grew up in 4 TV land and at one stage 2 TV land. US programming in the 80s was dreadful but good memories from my childhood. 1990s US Network TV was at its best with ER, Friends, Seinfeld, The Practice etc etc some quality TV in the 1990s. Now the americans have reverted back to feck soap opera and Action TV

British TV is filled with **** at the moment alright with some gems.

As for Irish programming, I think Drama over the last 10 - 15 years has got better, in particular some of the Monday night dramas on RTÉ TWO.

While RTÉ TWO was initally set up to provide "foreign" programming to those in 1 TV land in 1978, after 10 years of some dreafful programming scheduling and with the onset of deregulation RTÉ 2 rebrand as Network 2, and focused more on Children, Sports, Teenagers, 15 - 45 year olds and the Irish Lanuage, this was also due to the influx of Super Channel, sky One and TCC. Again a rebrand in 1998 due to deregulation (TV3) and TG4. Since 1998 they have invested money into their Monday night dramas. And of course TV3 have taken over the mantle of 4TV lands redistribution of UK and US programming to a large extent.

However saying all of this it was all the policy of RTÉ unlike government and EU policy which stipulates certain criteria for RTÉ and TG4 with EU law surround TV3.

TV3 must provide 30% of programming from Ireland (up from 20%) with 15% of their Irish programming budget going to Independent producers which amounts to about 1.5million a year. 50% of all imports must be from the EU, mainly ITV productions but TV3 could argue that it doesn't need to keep such a requirement under the EUs very relaxed laws surrounding that 50%.

You would not be able show me a written remit stating that RTÉ, TV3 or TG4 must show non-EU programming, however plently of documentation telling them to produce Irish programming and show EU programming.

ateam

Cuts on the way for RTE:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2009/0613/1224248747528.html

Beijing bureau axed and the number of prime time investigates dropped from 8 to 6.

What about all their pointless news reporters and correspondents - the ones you see twice a year, examples - Education (Emma O'Kelly), Environment (Paul Cunningham), Agriculture (Joe O'Brien), Fisheries (Tom MacSweeney) Religious (Joe Little), Health (Fergal Bowers), Arts (Sinead Crowley) and 4, that's right 4 Northern correspondents. Given that the Troubles are over years now, why is there still 4 correspondents based in the North.

Charlie Bird files one report a month and generally reads from the CNN website anyway - waste of money.

Elmo

ateam wrote: »

Cuts on the way for RTE:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2009/0613/1224248747528.html

Beijing bureau axed and the number of prime time investigates dropped from 8 to 6.

What about all their pointless news reporters and correspondents - the ones you see twice a year, examples - Education (Emma O'Kelly), Environment (Paul Cunningham), Agriculture (Joe O'Brien), Fisheries (Tom MacSweeney) Religious (Joe Little), Health (Fergal Bowers), Arts (Sinead Crowley) and 4, that's right 4 Northern correspondents. Given that the Troubles are over years now, why is there still 4 correspondents based in the North.

Charlie Bird files one report a month and generally reads from the CNN website anyway - waste of money.

I don't really know why people give out about the newsroom its one of the areas were cuts should not be made.

I can imagine that Joe Little as been very busy in recent weeks. Same goes for Health. And Tom MacSweeney has a radio show.

As for the 4 NI correspondents, how many correspondents do they have for the rest of the 26 counties, per county prob twice as many.

ateam

Elmo wrote: »

I don't really know why people give out about the newsroom its one of the areas were cuts should not be made.

I can imagine that Joe Little as been very busy in recent weeks. Same goes for Health. And Tom MacSweeney has a radio show.

As for the 4 NI correspondents, how many correspondents do they have for the rest of the 26 counties, per county prob twice as many.

They don't need 4 correspondents though, 4 is too many. How often do you see Tommy Gorman on the news? He's being paid for what exactly - a cosy job.

Joe Little has been busy, but what about before the Ryan Commission? He was no where to be seen for months. And when this all dies down, he'll be off the screens for months.

Joe O'Brien - files a report once a month - do you not think he should be cut?

The Education correspondent - she pops up during the leaving cert exams and then goes away again. Do you not mind that public money funds that?

I like and watch RTE news but changes need to be made.

Elmo

ateam wrote: »

They don't need 4 correspondents though, 4 is too many. How often do you see Tommy Gorman on the news? He's being paid for what exactly - a cosy job.

Joe Little has been busy, but what about before the Ryan Commission? He was no where to be seen for months. And when this all dies down, he'll be off the screens for months.

Joe O'Brien - files a report once a month - do you not think he should be cut?

The Education correspondent - she pops up during the leaving cert exams and then goes away again. Do you not mind that public money funds that?

I like and watch RTE news but changes need to be made.

They all work on other shows and do research. I think you have to remember that RTÉ have a very wide remit (which includes NI). And that well research news reporting must be provided. I amn't sure how they work their corrosponents but they are just editors with responsiblity for such areas as you point out, I am sure that they also work on other news stories. But you will need to FOI RTÉ for that information. Just because they aren't on the TV or Radio doesn't necessarily mean they aren't working.

Joe Little appears quite abit on RTÉ in fairness, he reported on the Popes death and successor, any Church of Ireland proceedings, etc etc

ateam

Elmo wrote: »

Just because they aren't on the TV or Radio doesn't necessarily mean they aren't working.

How do you know that? This is RTE spin.

The special correspondents need to be pooled together so as to cut the number of news staff. I don't think it will have any impact on the quality of the news.

EDIT: The remit needs to change then. 4 correspondents is too much and a complete waste of public money.

Elmo

ateam wrote: »

How do you know that? This is RTE spin.

The special correspondents need to be pooled together so as to cut the number of news staff. I don't think it will have any impact on the quality of the news.

EDIT: The remit needs to change then. 4 correspondents is too much and a complete waste of public money.

Under the Good Friday agreement Ireland is entitle to seek a United Ireland and those people in NI who consider themselfs Irish also are allowed to seek such a change. RTÉ and TG4 both broadcast into NI. Cathal Goan (DG) is from NI, The Irish President is from NI and the new Director of TV is also from NI. IMO we should know about muders and road accidents in County Antrim as much as those in County Cavan. It is news.

4 correspondents each of who much cover 1/3 of the Island. 2 of which are possibly there for TG4.

The special correspondents need to be pooled together so as to cut the number of news staff. I don't think it will have any impact on the quality of the news.

I have seen some terrible news reporting due to its lack of research. TV3 to a certain extent relies on RTÉ and the Press for their news output.

ateam

Elmo wrote: »

Under the Good Friday agreement Ireland is entitle to seek a United Ireland and those people in NI who consider themselfs Irish also are allowed to seek such a change. RTÉ and TG4 both broadcast into NI. Cathal Goan (DG) is from NI, The Irish President is from NI and the new Director of TV is also from NI. IMO we should know about muders and road accidents in County Antrim as much as those in County Cavan. It is news.

4 correspondents each of who much cover 1/3 of the Island. 2 of which are possibly there for TG4.

Good Friday Agreement? Are you seriously binging that into this discussion?

RTE can report from the North with one reporter - they don't need 4. In general the number of regional correspondents needs to be looked as well.

I'm not making this a Northern Ireland issue or anything, this is about RTE wasting public money on four reporters on a part of the country that does not need 4 reporters.

Elmo

ateam wrote: »

Good Friday Agreement? Are you seriously binging that into this discussion?

RTE can report from the North with one reporter - they don't need 4. In general the number of regional correspondents needs to be looked as well.

I'm not making this a Northern Ireland issue or anything, this is about RTE wasting public money on four reporters on a part of the country that does not need 4 reporters.

Yes because the Good Friday Agreement reference TG4 and since TG4 get its news from RTÉ, they must then provided correspondents for TG4. TBH you brought up the end of the troubles as a reason to cull the NI staff, are you SERIOUSLY bringing the troubles into this discussion?

But perhaps you are right: -

1 for Dublin
1 for Ulster
1 for the rest of Leinster
1 for Munster
and 1 for Connacht

Sounds like a very rounded news staff to me.

Elmo

Sometimes I wonder why they print his non-sense. And it leads me to beleive that I would be able to write a column for a newspaper. From what he is saying RTÉ should only aim to get a million viewers, and live in populist land. I amn't a big fan of soccer but if RTÉ or TG4 where to take his view they would never show Eircom League. Or any sport outside the GAA.

I am sure that International soccer will have its lows.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/were-forced-to-watch-on-as-the-rulers-of-planet-montrosia-fill-our-screens--with-dire-useless-bilge-1775660.html

Again I agree with his views on salaries (even if it ends up being a bit of a rant, and goes of the topic in several areas), but then I think he possibly should not be paid as much as he is paid, espically when you have many people on boards.ie writting just as much non-sence for free.


If New Zealand are in the World Cup RTÉ shouldn't broadcast any of their matches.

ynotdu

Hi elmo,I followed the link and read the whole article by Kevin Myers(when I have the paper physicly in My hand I learned to ignore his self serving,pompous,populist(when he thinks he has the finger on the pulse of our darkest instincts)Apologetic when he knows his attempts at controversy went too far, whinging about being victomised as a west Brit when he misjudges the mood&generally attemting to be all things to all people(with exceptions as in when he groveled his way out of his criticism of lone parents.)
How many faces has he had??????
He still has HIS job though:rolleyes:

Basicly He told us that RTE *stars* are overpaid(he did not mention the voluntry pay cuts before xmas,or the vote by ALL RTE staff to take a paycut.
Let Me take a cheap shot at him as he SO enjoys doing to others: Amazingly He used the word WALLY so often against others without him seeing any Irony in it:pac: (He must have NO friends,or someone would have told him)

So,RTE stars are overpaid& RTE can be very boring is all that he said in effect&got PAID for it

If only the dogs in the street who already know that well had a newspaper He would be last at feeding time and would no doubt explain that with pained expression of hurt he has on his face(or is that his natural look?)as HIM being picked on again

Let him suck eggs,He,s yesterdays news !:p

cfcj

Thanks ynotdu for your post, totally agree. So fed up of these idiots like Kevin Myers who seem to hate Ireland the 'ohhh the British weren't so bad' attitude. And RTE is the worst for it. I laughed when I read a comment in the paper saying if they didn't pay the likes of Gerry Ryan's salary then they would go somewhere else and RTE wouldn't attract such "talent". LOL, who would pay more for them?? This is license paid 'talent'' that has told its listeners to go shop in Northern Ireland instead of supporting the local economy and got all hot under the collar when he was asked for a voluntary wage reduction.