RTE 50 - Battle Station 9.30 RTE1

mike65

TV50: Battle Station

Historian and broadcaster John Bowman presents a two-part documentary tracing RTE Television's relationship with politics, religion and culture. In the first episode, he outlines the impact the arrival of TV had on the Catholic Church, the Irish-language movement and traditionalists. He also looks at the part that the small-screen played in the clashes between liberalism and conservatism. Concludes tomorrow.

Should be an amusing trip back down memory lane, though John Bowman is possibly the driest person on Irish telly.

neris

Just watching this and Just shows how backward ireland was and in the grip of the church and that **** dev

Lapin

So we can blame León O'Broín for the TV licence tax.

neris

Rte managed to find a whinging nordy for this aswell. Hope rte wrote back to tell him the bbc were his broadcaster in his area

grey_so_what

I remember my mother bowing and scraping to JC McQuaid.......

She thought he was God Almighty himself.

What a power monger.

Lapin

neris wrote: »

Just watching this and Just shows how backward ireland was ........

True, considering BBC Television first went on air in 1936. Its incredible to think it took us a further 26 years to establish a domestic TV channel.

Even allowing for the war years, that is a long gap.

I often wonder why it took us so long.

steelcityblues

Censorship is one of the major reasons for our failure as a republic.

grey_so_what

Advertising then..

"Sponsors" now.

Some things never change. Every program on TV is dominated nowadays by them.

Cardinal Richelieu

Calling viewers morons:D,you wouldn't get away with that now with the wonders of FB and Twitter.

neris

Nudity on rte that must have been the first & last time. Sure wast there outrage when miley had an affair in glenroe

SuperInfinity

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

Calling viewers morons:D,you wouldn't get away with that now with the wonders of FB and Twitter.

On the other hand the "cool" thing nowadays is to call the masses stupid... at least according to the masses. This is part of The Newsroom's premise.

A Disgrace

Good show so far, looking forward to the concluding ep tomorrow.

I think it's fair and balanced, and allowed more than ample time to the licence fee/advertising debate but the one thing that worries me is the 'hint' of an ongoing rift between the broadcaster and the Church - It made sense back in the bad old days when McQuaid was stomping around but to see it rearing its head now (the Fr Reynolds issue) made me think that if in 50 years time and RTE make a TV100 show like this, the same old problems will be evident.

Have we really moved on?

mike65

There was no rift between the Catholic Church and RTE over Fr Reynolds - they slandered him and that's that!

Squire Hockey and the Arms Trial plus provos v stickies tomorrow - should be fun!

A Disgrace

mike65 wrote: »

There was no rift between the Catholic Church and RTE over Fr Reynolds - they slandered him and that's that!
!

Well, it's part of the RTE/Church dynamic, that's for sure. I hardly think the Church are huge fans of RTE for unearthing numerous clerical abuse crimes and reporting such on their news broadcasts - I'm sorry, as much as I admit that it was wrong to release the Prime Time show on Reynolds, I also find it hard to find even a molecule of sympathy for a representative of an organisation that systematically abused and destroyed the lives of thousands of children in this country.

steelcityblues

A Disgrace wrote: »

Well, it's part of the RTE/Church dynamic, that's for sure. I hardly think the Church are huge fans of RTE for unearthing numerous clerical abuse crimes and reporting such on their news broadcasts - I'm sorry, as much as I admit that it was wrong to release the Prime Time show on Reynolds, I also find it hard to find even a molecule of sympathy for a representative of an organisation that systematically abused and destroyed the lives of thousands of children in this country.

It does not matter because Kevin Reynolds is an innocent individual, and the new ultra-liberals are just as arrogant as the old conservatives.

A Disgrace

steelcityblues wrote: »

It does not matter because Kevin Reynolds is an innocent individual, and the new ultra-liberals are just as arrogant as the old conservatives.

The big difference here is that the 'ultra-liberals' have an informed choice - they're not being cornered into 'respect' for the church by fear. They have knowledge.

Yes, there are countless priests nationwide that are honourable, and do the good work, but they're still the face of a dodgy organisation that committed a series of horrific crimes. If a member of government committed such atrocities, the whole cabinet would be out instantly and an election called. We give the church too much respect, and on the whole, it deserves none of it.

SuperInfinity

A Disgrace wrote: »

The big difference here is that the 'ultra-liberals' have an informed choice - they're not being cornered into 'respect' for the church by fear. They have knowledge.

How can you "be cornered" into respecting anything by "fear"? If anything it's the ultra-liberals who are extremely biased against the church because of the fear put into them by some of the really nasty people in the church... some of them didn't know any better, like old school headmasters. How can you claim anyone respects anyone because of fear? People hate people that made them afraid.

Old conservatives had both knowledge and choice and still do. You act like being "informed" is some kind of new invention. The vast majority of people were not harmed in any way by the church, that is a liberal dream.

A Disgrace wrote: »

If a member of government committed such atrocities, the whole cabinet would be out instantly and an election called. We give the church too much respect, and on the whole, it deserves none of it.

What are you talking about? Of course they wouldn't. I think you may want to revise/clarify that analogy.

Lapin

This is looking good already !

neris

Given a different perspective of rte. i always thought rte was a backward organisation but stood up to both the govt and he cranks n holier than thou church

Lapin

Best move Bill O'Herilhy ever made !

FloatingVoter

Accusing Haughey of fraud....my goodness!!!

Lapin

2 excellent programmes in fairness.

Happyman42

I'd still like to see the smugness wiped off Gerry Collins mug. Is that wrong?

Silvio.Dante

A decent stitch up of FF by bowman and his fellow RTE, aloof, 'intellectuals'.

In fairness FF made their own bed. But this programme was far from balanced. But thats what RTE does best eh..?

Happyman42

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

A decent stitch up of FF by bowman and his fellow RTE, aloof, 'intellectuals'.

In fairness FF made their own bed. But this programme was far from balanced. But thats what RTE does best eh..?

Given that FF have been in power most of the life of RTE, I'd say it was close enough to being 'balanced'.

Lapin

Happyman42 wrote: »

I'd still like to see the smugness wiped off Gerry Collins mug. Is that wrong?

He really overplayed the hindsight card tonight.

If only he was so right about everything when he was in office.

Silvio.Dante

Happyman42 wrote: »

Given that FF have been in power most of the life of RTE, I'd say it was close enough to being 'balanced'.

So Fianna Fail are the Panto villains while the Workers Party were a group of principled idealists who may have been over enthusiastic but at least they weren't FF. Yeah, very balanced...:)

Cardinal Richelieu

Conor Cruise O'Brien.....so it wasn't just FF & FG that wanted to censor the media.

Happyman42

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

So Fianna Fail are the Panto villains while the Workers Party were a group of principled idealists who may have been over enthusiastic but at least they weren't FF. Yeah, very balanced...:)

I thought the admission that the newsroom and current affairs was controlled by the WP at one time and the subsequent comments from those who believed that and didn't believe it, extremely frank and balanced actually.

FF's relationship with media is well documented elsewhere, nothing new in the programme imo

Neeson

No need for the constant shots of the RTE mast and building throughout the program.

jimmyw

Jeez did ye see Bunny Carr?, he is all bloated and big:eek:

Neeson

Ate too many pies.

Harry Angstrom

I found it funny to see the Chief Exec of TV3 having a pop at RTE, considering he's presiding over a tin-pot mickey mouse station who seem to be under the misapprehension that news doesn't happen at weekends. :rolleyes:

And for all its faults, I doubt that RTE would ever even contemplate airing a despicable programme like Psychics Readings Live for 2 hours every night.

SuperInfinity

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

I found it funny to see the Chief Exec of TV3 having a pop at RTE, considering he's presiding over a tin-pot mickey mouse station who seem to be under the misapprehension that news doesn't happen at weekends. :rolleyes:

No, TV3 does decent programming a lot of the time and don't force money from you <snip>. It doesn't concern you if they have a show you don't like raising funds.

"misapprehension" my foot... they're doing their best on a tight budget.

Neeson

SuperInfinity wrote: »

No, TV3 does decent programming a lot of the time and don't force money from you you ape.

Eh what decent programming exactly? Unless crimes your prime then tv3 waste your time.

Harry Angstrom

SuperInfinity wrote: »

No, TV3 does decent programming a lot of the time

Had to check the calendar there, to make sure it wasn't April 1st.

steelcityblues

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

I found it funny to see the Chief Exec of TV3 having a pop at RTE, considering he's presiding over a tin-pot mickey mouse station who seem to be under the misapprehension that news doesn't happen at weekends. :rolleyes:

And for all its faults, I doubt that RTE would ever even contemplate airing a despicable programme like Psychics Readings Live for 2 hours every night.

They are a commercial station. If you don't like their ethos or programming, at least they don't have you around their necks in terms of contributing. Still less dangerous than RTE.

Harry Angstrom

steelcityblues wrote: »

Still less dangerous than RTE.

Give me a break :rolleyes:

When it comes to watching the Champions League matches, I know I'd watch it on RTE a lot quicker than I'd watch it on TV3. Trrrrrrrrevor Welch is as bland as they come, and the same goes for their panel of "experts". The same also goes for their GAA matches.

TV3 is a joke. One of their top "journalists" Alan Cantwell seemed to think that An Phoblacht was a daily newspaper on a recent Vincent Browne Show. They don't know their arse from their elbow most of the time.

I'm happy to pay my licence fee if it means I receive good quality programming such as we got from RTE's recent European Championships coverage and their Six Nations coverage, and their news output is always very comprehensive. RTE is much maligned on these pages but I'd love to see how you'd cope if you only had to rely on TV3 and their crap output.

steelcityblues

Interesting that the only positive examples you come up with are sports programmes.

Do you not think that's says something about the quality of RTE, or lack thereof?

I am not saying TV3 are great either, but at least I don't have to subsidise a bunch of 'stars' whose egos are greater than their talent, and not to mention the bits of revisionism you will get with a state broadcaster.

Harry Angstrom

steelcityblues wrote: »

Interesting that the only positive examples you come up with are sports programmes.

Erm, I did mention RTE news as well...... Maybe you like getting your news tabloid-style from TV3 but I prefer my news in a little bit more depth, and without the "happy fluffy bunny story" at the end of the bulletin. :rolleyes:

SuperInfinity

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

Had to check the calendar there, to make sure it wasn't April 1st.

You can check your calendar all you want. Millions of people watch tv3 so it's obviously an irrational behaviour and opinion on your part. Checking your calendar to see if it's April 1st, oh how clever and witty you are.

tv3 have many good shows, both imported and domestic. First off, if you are saying this about all the imported shows and movies, then you are ignorant beyond belief and nobody could take you seriously because you must be about 12 years old. You would not have a leg to stand on if you want to criticize all the top-rated internationally established import shows and movies tv3 often has.

Now I wouldn't be a big fan of "Ireland AM", or "celeb gossip" shows, however Vincent Browne which is on for an hour every night is more than decent tv, it's good stuff, even if it is often boring. I have also often found myself watching the reality crime shows and tv3 news which I find to be of good quality.

Harry Angstrom

SuperInfinity wrote: »

You can check your calendar all you want. Millions of people watch tv3 so it's obviously an irrational behaviour and opinion on your part. Checking your calendar to see if it's April 1st, oh how clever and witty you are.

tv3 have many good shows, both imported and domestic. First off, if you are saying this about all the imported shows and movies, then you are ignorant beyond belief and nobody could take you seriously because you must be about 12 years old. You would not have a leg to stand on if you want to criticize all the top-rated internationally established import shows and movies tv3 often has.

Now I wouldn't be a big fan of "Ireland AM", or "celeb gossip" shows, however Vincent Browne which is on for an hour every night is more than decent tv, it's good stuff, even if it is often boring. I have also often found myself watching the reality crime shows and tv3 news which I find to be of good quality.

Jaysus, where do I start with this?

SuperInfinity wrote: »

Millions of people watch tv3 so it's obviously an irrational behaviour and opinion on your part.

The top-rated show on this island is The Late Late Show. It pulls in about half a million viewers. Please explain to me how "millions" watch TV3?? :rolleyes:

SuperInfinity wrote: »

I have also often found myself watching the reality crime shows.

You mean those shows that TV3 show ad nauseum but change the title to make people think they're watching a new programme? :rolleyes:

SuperInfinity wrote: »

tv3 have many good shows, both imported and domestic. First off, if you are saying this about all the imported shows and movies, then you are ignorant beyond belief and nobody could take you seriously because you must be about 12 years old..

I'm a lot more than 12 years old. There really is no rational answer to this. :rolleyes:

SuperInfinity

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

The top-rated show on this island is The Late Late Show. It pulls in about half a million viewers. Please explain to me how "millions" watch TV3?? :rolleyes:

Just like I said, millions of people watch tv3. I dunno how I can explain it any more simply than that and in a way you can't pretend to not understand.

DublinWriter

I was lying in bed last night watching this on my iThing, thinking about how much mike65 would like this (disturbing enough for ya Mike?!) and that I'd have to start a thread on it tomorrow to alert him to the programme.

But then he goes and beats me to it.

Now it's turned into the usual interweb bicker-fest. You could start a thread on here entitled 'Will the sun rise in the morning?' and three pages into the debate posters will be questioning each others' qualifications in the field of Astrophysics.

Back to Battle Station - great content backed up by surprisingly high production values. An excellent companion to Bowman's Window and Mirror.

I'm probably not alone in thinking that McQuaid should have been buried in the middle of Walkinstown Roundabout with a silver-steak through his heart.

Harry Angstrom

SuperInfinity wrote: »

Just like I said, millions of people watch tv3. I dunno how I can explain it any more simply than that and in a way you can't pretend to not understand.

Fact: Millions of people do not watch TV3 </end of fact>