Does The TV3 News Dept Close At Weekends

dixiefly

Once again at a weekend we have to get our live news from RTE, Sky News and BBC News. At least RTE were on hand to show the press conference live. They were caught out a couple of times in the past few weeks and Sky/BBC got ahead of them with the Breaking News.

Were the people in charge of news at TV3 not able to see that there was a strong chance that there would be an important press conference this weekend and make the appropriate plans to cover it?

Instead they treat us to reruns of Coronation Street. And on top of that their correspondant asks the most idiotic question of the press conference.

sceptre

Moved to News/Media.

Wide Road

Even CNN showed it live.

gcgirl

When you think about it RTE have far more money than TV3 and are a far bigger organisation and also your tv licence goes towards rte now far enough if we paid a section of our licence to tv3 I would expect but we don't !

dixiefly

gcgirl wrote: »

When you think about it RTE have far more money than TV3 and are a far bigger organisation and also your tv licence goes towards rte now far enough if we paid a section of our licence to tv3 I would expect but we don't !

I see your point but I dont agree.

TV3 are a national station and would have committed to a news service when getting their licence. On top of that they are getting a huge amount ofn cheapo ITV probrammes.

A news service that essentially covers only 5 days is not worthy of the name. In case they dont realise events take place over 7 days not 5 days.

BTW, I dont think RTE should be getting the level of licence fee they are getting and paying Tubridy, Kenny, Finucane etc so much but that is another debate.

jack presley

I used to love when they did the 5:30/6:30 news thing and a story would break or there'd be a development in between the 2 but they'd still run the original reports.

GSF

Well TV3 had to cut costs when advertising dropped like a cliff 2 years ago by about 20%. Since TV3 has no other source of income, what was it supposed to do. A sensible business cuts its cloth to meet its measure.

jdivision

RTE's news coverage on a normal weekend is awful

MalteseBarry

It's funny how many are critical of the News coverage, suggesting that the same many continue to watch the coverage. I don't understand why anyone continues to watch something of which they are critical? I gave up watching TV news years ago, as I couldn't stand the way it was dumbing down and becoming more and more infantile. On the few occasions when I do get to see tv News, I am reassured that my decision was the right one.

JustinDee

MalteseBarry wrote: »

It's funny how many are critical of the News coverage, suggesting that the same many continue to watch the coverage

Exactly the same here.
Its not as if TV3 is in receipt of the licence fee holder's money either.
So what if they weren't there. Maybe there was good reason beyond their control?

coylemj

As a national TV station TV3 are obliged to have a news service but as previous posters have said, there is no way they can compete with RTE as they don't get any licence revenue. I guess all things considered they don't do too badly but the reality is that anyone who is really interest in current affairs is going to watch news bulletins on RTE and maybe tune into TV3 for Vincent Browne but not for regular news programmes.

Ursula Halligan is another reason why news junkies stay away in droves from TV3, she is just awful. RTE still can't decide whether DDP or David McCullagh should be promoted to political editor, either of them can wipe the floor with Ms. Halligan.

GSF

coylemj wrote: »

Ursula Halligan is another reason why news junkies stay away in droves from TV3, she is just awful. RTE still can't decide whether DDP or David McCullagh should be promoted to political editor, either of them can wipe the floor with Ms. Halligan.

Depends on whether you are an insider or an outsider. The RTE staff wont upset the politicans. All too clubby. Haligan doesnt care who she upsets.

Dempo1

Does it ever open? appalling stuff to watch, amateurish, hysterical halligan, robotic O Donavon, disinterested Cantwell mother of god you would think after all these years TV3 would actually learn something about broadcasting, the morning show is cringe inducing, presented by opinionated and quite frankly uneducated idiots. The only redeeming factor on current affairs coverage is Vincent Browne!

MalteseBarry

I have never seen any of the shows you mention. Why do you watch them if you think they are so poor?

Dempo1

MalteseBarry wrote: »

I have never seen any of the shows you mention. Why do you watch them if you think they are so poor?

I don't actually, gave up quite some time ago but recalling how bad TV3's current affairs coverage is, particularly the news. I do however enjoy Vincent Browne and occasionally endure part of the 5.30 news whilst putting on the kettle on my return for work but flick over just before the greatest plank on TV (smiling & smug weather man King) appears to bore the nation with Birthday requests!

JustinDee

GSF wrote: »

The RTE staff wont upset the politicans

This is absolute rubbish, especially in the past few weeks.

Dempo1

JustinDee wrote: »

This is absolute rubbish, especially in the past few weeks.

Couldn't agree more, i don't get this argument that RTE don't like to upset politicians or rock the boat. Throughout the past two years Miriam O Callaghan, Brian Dobson, Pat Kenny, Sean o Rourke could hardly be described as Timid when it comes to questioning politicians. On the other hand TV3's intrepid reporters seem to specialize on Hysteria, Ursala O Halligan being quite hilarious in her predictions which at past are wrong and at worst, Hysterical.

jdivision

Miriam O'Callaghan is a woeful interviewer. Awful. Always goes for the juggular at the wrong time.

kevin99

TV3 was granted a licence to broadcast in Ireland. Part of that remit is that the staton broadcasts news & current affairs.
Granted advertising has fallen 20% but that does not mean the station cuts back a news service at weekends.
The investors knew what they were doing when they decided to set up the station. They could never compete with the State broadcaster. So, they dumb down everything.

They pay pittance to wannabe TV stars. The reporters learn on the job, as there is no training given, as far as I know. And those with any natural ability move on once very qucikly.

The remainder are rubbish reporters. Some clearly don't understand what they are reporting on. They have no correspondents except in politics.

The ironic thing is that the presenters really fancy themsleves and think, no rephrase that, believe they are superstars.

It's like Newstalk and TodayFM radio stations. Cheap and cheerful.

Dempo1

kevin99 wrote: »

TV3 was granted a license to broadcast in Ireland. Part of that remit is that the staton broadcasts news & current affairs.
Granted advertising has fallen 20% but that does not mean the station cuts back a news service at weekends.
The investors knew what they were doing when they decided to set up the station. They could never compete with the State broadcaster. So, they dumb down everything.

They pay pittance to wannabe TV stars. The reporters learn on the job, as there is no training given, as far as I know. And those with any natural ability move on once very quickly.

The remainder are rubbish reporters. Some clearly don't understand what they are reporting on. They have no correspondents except in politics.

The ironic thing is that the presenters really fancy themselves and think, no rephrase that, believe they are superstars.

It's like Newstalk and TodayFM radio stations. Cheap and cheerful.

WOW, you took the words right out of my mouth. I was struck how bad this stations coverage of the GE was just last Sunday. Alan Cantwell presented an extended early evening news, he had three respected Political correspondents from the print media, Jesus, cantwells presentation skills were and are awful, he kept on interrupting and actually seemed angry or put out, probably because he had to work a Sunday. This particular presenter always struck me as an embittered Journalist (thats a laugh) who failed to get an internship at RTE. Ursala Halligans Hysterics were put to bed for a brief period on the after debate analysis show, God it reminded me of a bunch of ould ones sitting around a few mugs of complan.

Awful, awful and more awful as the campaign continues.

MalteseBarry

It seems to me most tv now is quite predictable. For instance last night I watched the leaders so called debate.

And I wondered what was the point of it all. No one said anything unexpected, and it was all just soundbites, trying to come over as nice, with leadership qualities.

donmaga1

It is great the way people are bashing TV3. If you think you guys can do a better job in TV3 go for a job there instead of hiding behind you user name. I would not be a reporter and think that everyone on TV3 does a great job. Rte have vast amount of money to fund there News and it is boring.

Tv3 only does Updates at the weekend and I would say not a lot is going on there most weekends.

jdivision

jdivision wrote: »

Miriam O'Callaghan is a woeful interviewer. Awful. Always goes for the juggular at the wrong time.

I think last night's debate shows that she's the most overrated TV presenter in the country. Dreadful performance, no control, allowed Martin speak absolute nonsense (wouldn't have anything to do with her brother that, obviously)

kevin99

There is no financial investment in TV3 news. In fact, several journalists were made redundant over the past few years. Why? Because advertising hit the floor. Why is that? Because advertisers (a) are cutting back budgets and (b) the viewing figures for TV3 news are poor.

In relation to your comment that RTE has 'vast amounts of money', remember that it is the State owned broadcaster and is restricted in many ways that TV3 is not.

TV3 entered the TV market believing they would carve out a nice viewing and advertising market. However, they don't make any home produced programmes without sponsorship. And most are copied straight from the UK TV commercial sector.

The owners of the station would not have any news bulletins if they could get away with it.

If they are finding the commercial market tough then get out. But they entered the market, thought they would make a killing and failed.

The ordinary TV hacks do a decent job under extreme pressure and limited resources.

My point is that if TV3 news wants to be taken seriously and to grow its audience then the station owners need to invest in high standard, home grown programming, besides reality TV shows abd boring crime shows that simply repeat what is already in the public domain, and decent documentaries,comedy programmes and news bulletins.

You mention that RTE news is boring. What do you want the journalists to do? Jazz it up? Sensationalise it like Sky News?
I don't work there but I would say that their news coverage is excellent.
I repeat TV3 entered the market to make a killing and failed. That is not RTE's fault. Maybe the mandarins in Granada will allocate a few million euro to TV3 who can then hire experienced editors, producers, researchers instead of what is currently happening - paying poor salaries to a paltry staff many of whom are inexperienced.
However, the guys who covered the party leaders during the election campaign are hard working and did as good a job as could be expected. Nothing against any of them.

donmaga1 wrote: »

It is great the way people are bashing TV3. If you think you guys can do a better job in TV3 go for a job there instead of hiding behind you user name. I would not be a reporter and think that everyone on TV3 does a great job. Rte have vast amount of money to fund there News and it is boring.

Tv3 only does Updates at the weekend and I would say not a lot is going on there most weekends.

Dempo1

I came across "by pure accident i might add" that appalling midweek program last night, mother of god WTF is this show about, the presenter reminded me of an agony aunt. The show has TV3's correspondents (thats a laugh) basically congratulating themselves on all their hard work over the GE campaign, Jesus Gerome Hughes still has not washed his hair since his ridiculous "Homeless Expose", awful crap are they really this desperate to fill air time?

kevin99

I watched that programme last night.

The presenter is Sarah Carey, columnist with Irish Times.

Before the naval gazing bit she interviewed regular, former Dublin north TDs, Jim Glennon (FF) and Nora Owen (FG).
These two have been on that programme practically every second week for the past few months. I don't know what Glennon is on 'cos he was a backbench TD, overlooked by Bertie so he stood down at the last election. He now works for Edleman PR, presumably as a lobbyist. He also pops up on the George Hook radio show to talk about politics and rugby. He is a former Irish rugby international, (4 caps). And he writes a rugby colum for the Sindo.

I enjoy Jim's style and light-hearted approach, and banter with Nora Owen but surely the researchers on the show, if there are any, can get other 'senior' ex FF TDS.

I agree with your comments about the four hacks. What a load of pious ****e to have to watch. All they do is board the party bus of the leader they are covering and stop off with him for his electioneering, sticking a microphone near them.
None of them had a bad word to say about the leader they followed for the past three weeks or their handlers. Quite amazing. Yet every day Labour was at FG's throats, FF was winding up both of them and SF and the Greens slagged off the two right wing parties.
Remember hearing a journo saying all the broadcast media wait for the RTE reporter to ask the key questions when doorstepping politicians. The rest stick their mikes in the mouth of the interviewee and then phone their news eds their response, as if they asked the actual questions.
Slapstick reporting.
But sure what do you expect. I doubt if any served a term covering proceedings in the Dail or Seanad or covering Oireachtas committees.
Veteran Irish Times political hack, Michael O'Regan should have been on the show along with other experienced political reporters.

Dempo1

kevin99 wrote: »

I watched that programme last night.

The presenter is Sarah Carey, columnist with Irish Times.

Before the naval gazing bit she interviewed regular, former Dublin north TDs, Jim Glennon (FF) and Nora Owen (FG).
These two have been on that programme practically every second week for the past few months. I don't know what Glennon is on 'cos he was a backbench TD, overlooked by Bertie so he stood down at the last election. He now works for Edleman PR, presumably as a lobbyist. He also pops up on the George Hook radio show to talk about politics and rugby. He is a former Irish rugby international, (4 caps). And he writes a rugby colum for the Sindo.

I enjoy Jim's style and light-hearted approach, and banter with Nora Owen but surely the researchers on the show, if there are any, can get other 'senior' ex FF TDS.

I agree with your comments about the four hacks. What a load of pious ****e to have to watch. All they do is board the party bus of the leader they are covering and stop off with him for his electioneering, sticking a microphone near them.
None of them had a bad word to say about the leader they followed for the past three weeks or their handlers. Quite amazing. Yet every day Labour was at FG's throats, FF was winding up both of them and SF and the Greens slagged off the two right wing parties.
Remember hearing a journo saying all the broadcast media wait for the RTE reporter to ask the key questions when doorstepping politicians. The rest stick their mikes in the mouth of the interviewee and then phone their news eds their response, as if they asked the actual questions.
Slapstick reporting.
But sure what do you expect. I doubt if any served a term covering proceedings in the Dail or Seanad or covering Oireachtas committees.
Veteran Irish Times political hack, Michael O'Regan should have been on the show along with other experienced political reporters.

I missed the bit with the political hacks, just happened to come across the show by accident, God Sarah is an appalling presenter, kinda looked like mammy chatting with her kids who returned home from the weeks work.

kevin99

Just switched over to TV3's election coverage. ****e.
VB in studio with usual media hacks.

Then I saw a snippet from the RDS with the red head political reporter and that Sara Carey so immediately switced back to watch the footie.

I mean what expertise does Sara Carey have in political terms. She waffled on about the arrival of the Haughey clan to the count centre and informed the one viewer and their dog of an audience that people were friendly and warm towards them, given Sean is likely to lose his seat in Dub Nth Central.

She never said who was there. Was Ciaran and Conor there? Was Sean himself there? Was their Mum there? I mean it is just basic journalism. And she wittering on talking rubbish.

Now that the electorate has spoken and sacked FF TD's and ministers, it is time for TV3 to recruit experienced political analysts instead of columnists.
But of course the latter are all working with RTE on their election coverage. Probably getting paid a lot more than what TV3 would pay.

Dempo1

Predictably grim stuff, the site of Grumpy Cantwell at any time is enough to make me switch channels, he looked so pissed off at not having the weekend off. At least Gerome brushed his hair. Kinda like Vinny Browne and Aine Kerr so the studio contribution was good enough, just a pity they had to cross over to their roving reporters.