Funding of RTÉ International

rlogue

As many of you now know the UK government are to no longer fund the BBC World Service and the BBC will have to fund it from its own resources.

The BBC overseas TV channels are funded by advertising and would not be affected by the change of funding.

Why is this relevant to us? The excuse trotted out by RTÉ for the ongoing lack of RTÉ International is that they have stated that the Irish government should fund the channel rather than advertising or subscriptions on the basis that the BBC World Service was funded by the UK government.

This is now not the case.

Also bearing in mind that RTÉ want to bring in the Ireland-only Saorsat service then any opportunity that ex-pats could watch Irish TV this way is now closed.

Surely the precedent that RTÉ have used over the last two years to avoid funding the overseas satellite TV service now no longer applys?

watty

Sadly this may be true.

Which means no funding and no RTE International. The only hope was Direct Foreign Affairs funding. RTE hasn't had a cent for DTT roll out costs from Government. RTE NL has had to borrow most of the money.

RTE hasn't the money unless they fire all those overpaid Presenters and some of Donnybrook Management.

rlogue

That would certainly meet the funding gap, especially getting rid of the managers...