RTE Salaries

creedp

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

If you really think that TV or radio presenters only work the hours that they are on air then there is no use having a debate with you here.

Surely though the hours off air are proportional to those on-air and in that case Ms Finucane works less that any other top presenter. In that regard it was seriously disingenious of her to chastise other public servants on her one show for not realising how hard the private sector work.

I think she should seriously look into her own work schedule and €500k+ salary before chastising others!

Readyhed

Max Powers wrote: »

RTE is like most other state bodies; undereffective, a lot of overpaid/over holidayed staff especially at upper levels, oversized in general has an uncanny ability to make embarrassing half-a$$ed copies of succesful things from the abroad.

The TV tax should be scrapped,
RTE will then be forced to cut number of channels/staff and stand on its own 2 feet with its significant ad money

Absolutely correct.

Any business/organisation that can depend on a huge income regardless of how efficient it is will sink into an abyss of waste, coruption and poor performance.

CelticRambler

creedp wrote: »

Surely though the hours off air are proportional to those on-air ...

Proportional, yes, but do you have any idea what the proportion is? I have a cyber-acquaintance on another forum who's recently spent five days working for a broadcast on the "private sector" - an ad, as it happens - preparing a few Shetland ponies for a shot. How long are they on screen for? 2 seconds.

That might be the extreme end of things, but there is a huge amount of work that goes on behind the scenes, and the better presenters will never really switch off. I agree that no-one is worth three quarters (or even half) a million euro per year, but basing any calculation on their on-air time shows a no understanding of the business at all.

Max Powers

got my TV tax bill today, i resent paying this the most out of all the taxes inc water/property tax. RTE should be made stand on its own feet. They have the greatest ability on earth to try copy a show format from BBC and make their yellow-pack crap excuse of a version of it. Add in the mix of overpaid 'stars' such as tubs and Pat Kenny who had the cheek to say that no one gives out about John O Shea getting 70000 a week from Utd, so why do people give out about his paltry 1m approx as it was a few years ago.

Readyhed

Max Powers wrote: »

got my TV tax bill today, i resent paying this the most out of all the taxes inc water/property tax. RTE should be made stand on its own feet. They have the greatest ability on earth to try copy a show format from BBC and make their yellow-pack crap excuse of a version of it. Add in the mix of overpaid 'stars' such as tubs and Pat Kenny who had the cheek to say that no one gives out about John O Shea getting 70000 a week from Utd, so why do people give out about his paltry 1m approx as it was a few years ago.

The citizens of Ireland are not forced by law to pay John O'Shea's salary!!

Compu Global Hyper Meganet

Companies don't give worthy employees pay rises just because they deserve it. They do it so that their most valuable workers won't move on to their competitors. With this in mind, why do RTE give such enormous salaries to their on air talent? If they slashed Joe Duffy's or Marion Finucane's salary, what are they going to do about it? Other Irish stations would still be unable to match the RTE offer, and radio/TV stations abroad are hardly going to be interested. (I can hardly imagine the BBC approaching Marion for instance). Just can't understand it.

creedp

CelticRambler wrote: »

Proportional, yes, but do you have any idea what the proportion is? I have a cyber-acquaintance on another forum who's recently spent five days working for a broadcast on the "private sector" - an ad, as it happens - preparing a few Shetland ponies for a shot. How long are they on screen for? 2 seconds.

That might be the extreme end of things, but there is a huge amount of work that goes on behind the scenes, and the better presenters will never really switch off. I agree that no-one is worth three quarters (or even half) a million euro per year, but basing any calculation on their on-air time shows a no understanding of the business at all.

We are talking about a radio show here and in the case of Ms Finucane she does one show a week. I'll bow to your expertise but I don't think I need to be an expert on media production to understand that she is grossly overpaid and more than slightly out of touch with reality.

mistermouse

RTE not only are poor value for money but the licence fee is nothing more than a tax. The stations in general offer very poor value for money to the state

The paying of huge wages to presenters who use companies to work the taxation system is a further waste to the state

Now that so many viewers have access to multiple channels, the license tax is propping up wastage.

Many advertisers have moved with the times and you can be assured that the Govt move to place a fee on media ie covering online etc is showing that they know RTE is a failed entity but this new charge will still be used to prop up RTE rather than independent broadcasters/online media etc which are quickly becoming the choice of viewers

At the very least the fee should be distibruted and RTE privatised and let stand on its own to see if it can. RTE do not do that much homegrown worthwhile product and cannot really be seen as a PBS in any sense of the word.

Furthermore I would really question how good many of their 'Stars' are. Many of Ireland's Best broadcasters are not on Irish TV Channels and those who would go to the UK in a cull, might not last as long as we are led to believe.

RTE is a protected entity, one that politicians of all sides like to keep in with. Therefore its easier to foist an unfair tax on the taxpayers.

Benedict

People talk about "supply and demand". The sort of daft pay that the likes of Joe Duffy picks up each week is a national disgrace. Supply and demand my foot. We don't get a choice in deciding what these people get. We are just informed that they are getting X amount and that's it.
It's a complete rep-off. Joe Duffy gets more in a year than the President and Vice President of the USA? Are we out of our minds or what?

Benedict

Chemical Burn mentions a figure of around 2.7K per hour for Marian Finucane. That's assuming a 52 hour week - but there are many weeks in the year in which there is a "stand in" - so it's probably nearer to 3k per hour. I think that she is brilliant at her job - but hey! It's a recession and hospital wards are being closed!

While the government is slashing pay all around them, this elite group appears to be safe. Is it because politicians are terrified that if they upset the presenters, the presenters will say nasty things about them on air?

These presenters whine that they have "no pensions". After all, wouldn't everyone prefer to be a nurse on 25k a year and have a modest pension to look forward to than receiving 40 or 50k a month for decades and having "no pension".

Hey Joe, Marian and the rest? Why not stick a couple of hundred grand a year into a pension fund? That way, you'd have a two million Euro pension fund accumulated every ten years?

Le_Dieux

Benedict wrote: »

People talk about "supply and demand". The sort of daft pay that the likes of Joe Duffy picks up each week is a national disgrace. Supply and demand my foot. We don't get a choice in deciding what these people get. We are just informed that they are getting X amount and that's it.
It's a complete rep-off. Joe Duffy gets more in a year than the President and Vice President of the USA? Are we out of our minds or what?

What galls me more is when a mary phones in pleading poverty and making his/her case, there is the bould joe going 'I know, I know, and understand where You are coming from Mary'.

What, HTF can someone on half a million quid a year know how tough it is out there?:mad::mad::mad:

Benedict

RTE Boss: You know that you'll have to spend anything up to 8 hours a week on air?

Applicant: Others don't do that? Some of them spend far less?

RTE Boss: But things are changing. The public will be paying you. They'll want value. So if you're not willing to do up to 8 hours a week. That's 8 a week, not 8 a day!

Applicant: Okay Okay

RTE Boss: But of course, there'll be many a week where you'll do nothing at all. We'll organise a stand in so that you can de-stress in the sun maybe?

Applicant: What's the money like?

RTE Boss: Well we can't be too greedy can we. The times that are in it and all. What do we say um, um, um 1k per hour?

Applicant: 1k an hour? You must be joking!

RTE Boss: Yes, I suppose it is a little on the low side. How about 1.4K an hour - and that's whether you're actually working or not?

Applicant: 1.4k? You crazy?

RTE Boss: Okay Okay Okay. Let's leave it at eh eh eh 1.5k an hour.

Applicant: And no pension?

RTE Boss: Well we think that if you're getting 40k to 50k per month, well maybe you could organise your own pension? No?

Applicant: Well if I'm expected to fund my own pension, gonna cost, hum hum. Let's see. I'm gonna have to anwer the phone on air? Read out texts? Hum, 1.65k per hour and not a penny less. Still cheap compared to some of em?

RTE Boss: Yeah, okay. No skin off my nose, Not my money. Okay. You begin Monday.

Applicant: Thanks Boss.

Pappa Charlie

And Joe talks to the country as if he's a mans man and on the minimum wage, it makes my stomach turn listening to such hypocrisy.

Benedict

Boss: How's it going Jack. You've been doin' well in the job. You really have sounded so - o o o o sympathetic to those people who texted and phoned

Jack: Thanks boss, one does one's best, so to speak.

Boss: And interviewing that homeless man - that was really clever.

Jack: I do me best Boss, so to speak.

Boss: Mind you you look tired. You might need some time off - bit of a break, I have a stand in lined up

Jack: To tell you the truth Boss, there has been stress.

Boss: I knew it. The strain is really showing.

Jack: It's them begrudgers you were talking about.

Boss: I might have known. They're everywhere these days.

Jack: People complaining that I get more in a month than they do in a year

Boss: Jealousy Jack. That's what it is. Jealousy. Tell you how to deal with that.

Jack: How Boss?

Boss: Just mention the fact that we don't get pensions

Jack: But on our kind of lolly, we can buy our own gilt edged pensions

Boss: But they don't know that do they?

Jack: I suppose not.

Boss: Tell you something. They don't realise how difficult life can be for us! Since the awful bust, you know something? There have been weeks where after I've paid all my bills, I've been left with what? A few grand?

Jack: No!

Boss: Well, maybe a little more than that. But it's not easy.

Jack: Well anyway, I'll remember what you said. If I meet any begrudgers, I just say "yes, but we don't get a pension"

Boss: You learn fast Jack. Let me know how you get on.

Episode 3 follows soon.

Pappa Charlie

Benedict wrote: »

Boss: How's it going Jack. You've been doin' well in the job. You really have sounded so - o o o o sympathetic to those people who texted and phoned

Jack: Thanks boss, one does one's best, so to speak.

Boss: And interviewing that homeless man - that was really clever.

Jack: I do me best Boss, so to speak.

Boss: Mind you you look tired. You might need some time off - bit of a break, I have a stand in lined up

Jack: To tell you the truth Boss, there has been stress.

Boss: I knew it. The strain is really showing.

Jack: It's them begrudgers you were talking about.

Boss: I might have known. They're everywhere these days.

Jack: People complaining that I get more in a month than they do in a year

Boss: Jealousy Jack. That's what it is. Jealousy. Tell you how to deal with that.

Jack: How Boss?

Boss: Just mention the fact that we don't get pensions

Jack: But on our kind of lolly, we can buy our own gilt edged pensions

Boss: But they don't know that do they?

Jack: I suppose not.

Boss: Tell you something. They don't realise how difficult life can be for us! Since the awful bust, you know something? There have been weeks where after I've paid all my bills, I've been left with what? A few grand?

Jack: No!

Boss: Well, maybe a little more than that. But it's not easy.

Jack: Well anyway, I'll remember what you said. If I meet any begrudgers, I just say "yes, but we don't get a pension"

Boss: You learn fast Jack. Let me know how you get on.

Episode 3 follows soon.

You should write for fair city!

Benedict

Boss: Hello Jack?

Jack: Hi Boss

Boss: What can I do for you?

Jack: It's about my RTE Presenters salary

Boss: Oh now Jack, we've been through this already, you already get more than the Spanish and French presidents combined for a few hours a week on air, generous holidays, I mean, what do you want?

Jack: A reduction.

Boss: What did you say?

Jack: I get paid too much. I can't cope any more. I'm seeing nurses and firemen and all, doing 40 hours a week and getting less in a year than I get in a month.

Boss: Ah. so that's it. The begrudgers have finally got to you. They've broken you down. I told you what to say - tell them okay, so you're paid a small fortune out of public funds for a few hours work a week - but mention "no pension" that usually shuts them up.

Jack: I want a reduction. Don't you understand? I feel guilty.

Boss: Guilty? About what? Those other presenters - the ones on only around 3 or 4 grand a week. Have they been getting to you? Making you feel bad? Because if they are, just remind them they still get more than the minister for finance - and he's on the go the whole time. He can't just introduce a few records on air and then sneak off down to Doheny Nesbitts for an early pint?

Jack: Had you going there for a minute didn't I Boss.

Boss: What do you mean Jack?

Jack: That's where I am now. Doheny Nesbitts, having an early pint. Want to join me?

Boss: You really do learn fast boy. You're one of us alright.

mikom

padraig102 wrote: »

Can anyone explain why RTE presenters get paid so much? is there anything that can be done about it?

-Marian Finucane, whose fee of €570,000 is particularly controversial because she only broadcasts four hours a week, saw a 10 per cent reduction to €513,270.

Chemical Burn wrote: »

4 hours per week at 52 weeks per year, 208 hours.
€570,000/208hours
€2,740/hour

mikom wrote: »

Try 30 weeks per year.
She is missing every third or forth week.

Rape of the licence payer is what it is.

Marion Finucane absent again this morning.
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mari2222

Why dont they have to tender for the services every so often like the rest of the public sector? Unless for employees of course which the "big names" are not.

clairefontaine

They should sell RTE. It's a waste of money and the license is too expensive for people.

[Jackass]

Did anyone see this discussion on Vincent Brown a couple of weeks back?

He (VB) was saying that his show has about 4 staff (including camera, sound etc.) and the RTE equivalent (Prime Time) has over 40 staff working on the show.

I don't know the viewing figures, but I'd imagine VB more than holds its own in the ratings against RTE. Privately owned TV3 is massively competitive with RTE and many of its productions far superior, and it operates on an absolute miniscule proportion of funding. It's just not a wastefull black hole for money on administration staff and people not needed and not overpaying talentless individuals. It's efficient.

As with most state agencies in Ireland, RTE is a regressive monopoly, sucking in over 66% of advertising revenue to waste on over staffed, underachieving projects. It's a state backed monopoly squashing competition and maintaining rock bottom standards.

RTE should be broken up and several private stations should be licenced.

The budget vs the production quality of RTE is awful, another state backed utter failure. Paying Pat Kenny something like EUR250,000 a year "to keep him", as though he would get a job an offer remotely like that from any other broadcaster in the world...he's the Irish Alan Partridge. Madness.

Benedict

The question is, who gives RTE authorities the right to squander public money the way they do. Joe Duffy answers the phone on air for about an hour (if you deduct ad breaks) 5 days a week for most (not all) weeks in the year. For that he gets considerably more pay than Barak Obama!

If RTE told him (not "asked" him) to do the job for a paltry 100k per annum, what's he going to do? Walk out and slam the door?

The usual threat is that such people will go abroad if we (and it is "we") don't pay them vast sums and then what would Ireland do at all?

I would love to be a fly on the wall if Joe showed up at the BBC and offered his expertise and then told them how much they would have to pay!

I'd say they'd check their calendars to see if it was the 1st of April.

Think of how many Garda cars could be purchased for difference between what these guys get and what they should get!

I want my money spend on Garda cars, not on Joe Duffy.

Pappa Charlie

Benedict wrote: »

The question is, who gives RTE authorities the right to squander public money the way they do. Joe Duffy answers the phone on air for about an hour (if you deduct ad breaks) 5 days a week for most (not all) weeks in the year. For that he gets considerably more pay than Barak Obama!

If RTE told him (not "asked" him) to do the job for a paltry 100k per annum, what's he going to do? Walk out and slam the door?

The usual threat is that such people will go abroad if we (and it is "we") don't pay them vast sums and then what would Ireland do at all?

I would love to be a fly on the wall if Joe showed up at the BBC and offered his expertise and then told them how much they would have to pay!

I'd say they'd check their calendars to see if it was the 1st of April.

Think of how many Garda cars could be purchased for difference between what these guys get and what they should get!

I want my money spend on Garda cars, not on Joe Duffy.

Pat Rabbitte and Co haven't the balls to take them on as they can be the difference between being elected and shafted as Sean Gallagher found out, there's a lot rotten in this country and RTE are right up there with politicans and bankers!

avalon68

kippy wrote: »

Obviously she "works" more than the hours she is on the air - but no where near enough to justify the salary she is getting paid.
There is absolutely no reason any public service paid presenter of anything in this country should be getting paid over and above 150K per year and that in itself is generous.
If they were "THAT" good at attracting "revenue" for advertising I wouldn't have had to stump up 160 quid for the past few years on a license fee.

If they "threaten" to go else where, let them off. Hire in someone else, there are plenty young media graduates out there with the drive to do a lot more than the current guys in there.

Whilst I completely agree they are overpaid, and not by any means good presenters imo (5 min of Joe Duffy is enough to make me want to jump from a moving car!) - wages cant be cut on the basis of someone else will do it cheaper - I could easily transfer that argument - we have hundreds of young nurses and teachers who would love to get jobs, and many would work for significantly less than current staff.....and may also be better, bring fresh ideas etc. Why not cut all public wages? We have enough unemployed people in most professions that it should be no trouble to fill all available positions relatively quickly....whether someone earns 50k or 500k, they have a contract and just because we dont like it, doesnt mean we can just rip it up....though I really wish we could!

Benedict

Is Avalon68 seriously suggesting that the RTE authorities (on behalf of the public) have signed a contract to pay forever more someone around 8k per week for answering the phone on air for less (in hours) than one day's work per week? And this 8k will be paid whether the person is working or not?

Does such a contract exist?

avalon68

Benedict wrote: »

Is Avalon68 seriously suggesting that the RTE authorities (on behalf of the public) have signed a contract to pay forever more someone around 8k per week for answering the phone on air for less (in hours) than one day's work per week? And this 8k will be paid whether the person is working or not?

Does such a contract exist?

I dont know - but it seriously wouldnt surprise me! Foresight isnt something that has generally been demonstrated in the past - just look at the likes of benchmarking.....the very fact that they were asking them to volunteer to take a pay cut a while back (remember Ryan Turbridy.....) makes me think they probably have very strong contracts that would be difficult to wiggle out of.

Zamboni

I saw this and thought of this thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk1-yBAept0

It truly is a disgrace what the licence fee gets burned on.
I only watch RTE for some local news.
And even then I have to wait until RTE have finished giving FREE daily prime time advertising to a religious cult.

Manach

Zamboni wrote: »

And even then I have to wait until RTE have finished giving FREE daily prime time advertising to a religious cult.

Or in other words a world religion whose clergy and members have beneficially contributed much to the social fabric of Ireland.

Zamboni

Manach wrote: »

Or in other words a world religion whose clergy and members have beneficially contributed much to the social fabric of Ireland.

I'll fight you on that point on a different battlefield if you wish but its not relevant to the topic.
In this context there is no charge to the organisation receiving the advertising.
Can you imagine the market price of one minutes prime time advertising for 365 days a year?
The income, expenditure and salaries/pension of RTE are completely mismanaged in every aspect.

nice_guy80

Its funny, cause TG4 is a far superior station run for a fraction of the cost

they have kept their salaries low and staff multi-task across various things from presenting, editing etc

Benedict

There is most definitely something wrong somewhere when you get an organisation funded by public money insisting that someone answering a phone on air for about five hours a week (for most weeks) is worth more than in terms of salary than three full-time hospital consultants?

And what about a radio chat show host who is paid in excess of 3k per hour?

When hospital wards are being closed for lack of funds?

Have we all taken leave of our senses?

mari2222

The government must stop subsidising RTE - when it is a private company it can pay whatever it likes. As a public-funded entity it should "tender" for services such as "presenting".......that should reduce costs greatly..........I can even feel a TV programme idea coming on......Presenter Idle or somesuch........

robp

nice_guy80 wrote: »

Its funny, cause TG4 is a far superior station run for a fraction of the cost

they have kept their salaries low and staff multi-task across various things from presenting, editing etc

Tg4 does some great stuff but they just don't pull in the guests RTE does or do the international reporting. Also it is just one channel while RTE is several plus several radio channels.

molly09

What is the average salary of the main. Tv3 presenters?

mike65

TG4 gets a significant grant every year.

total income in 2010 was 49.79 million. That's not bad for a channel that shows Bonanza and Little House of the Prairie!

nice_guy80

mike65 wrote: »

TG4 gets a significant grant every year.

total income in 2010 was 49.79 million. That's not bad for a channel that shows Bonanza and Little House of the Prairie!

they also show A LOT of GAA and Rugby games - prime advertisement slots

AnonymousSam

paddy147 wrote: »

Poor Pat Kenny needs every cent he can get,as he cant get by on 500k a year.


Hes having a tough life you knwo............................:pac::pac:

Haha... Very clever.

Scartbeg

Out of interest, do the presenters have to pay their producers and researchers themselves, or are these staff paid directly by RTE?

nice_guy80

RTE pay them

most RTE high flyers have their own little companies set up

so you can be sure they are VERY efficient at lowering their tax bills

bbsrs

Scartbeg wrote: »

Out of interest, do the presenters have to pay their producers and researchers themselves, or are these staff paid directly by RTE?

They don't even pay for their own clothes not to mind staff!

bbsrs

robp wrote: »

Tg4 does some great stuff but they just don't pull in the guests RTE does or do the international reporting. Also it is just one channel while RTE is several plus several radio channels.

What guests of note do RTE pull in. Have you watched the flagship Late Late Show or the Saturday Night Show , more interesting guests on CBeebies.

robp

bbsrs wrote: »

What guests of note do RTE pull in. Have you watched the flagship Late Late Show or the Saturday Night Show , more interesting guests on CBeebies.

On the Late Late Show there is a steady steam of moderate rate guests. It adds up. I don't see TV3 or TG4 exceeding them in this respect in any way.

nice_guy80

robp wrote: »

On the Late Late Show there is a steady steam of moderate rate guests. It adds up. I don't see TV3 or TG4 exceeding them in this respect in any way.

TG4 don't really do that sort of show
What show do they have that is comparable with The Late Late?

Benedict

Some of the radio presenters are terrific. Pat Kenny is world class and Ireland is lucky to have him. Marian is pretty good too.
But there are terrific Gardai out there too. Terrific teachers and nurses. Terrific fire service workers who risk their lives for us.
But they don't get 2 or 3 grand an hour because they're terrific! They have to struggle to pay the mortgage. If a garda is so brilliant that he or she gets 20 Scott bravery medals, he or she still won't get for a full week's work as much as Joe Duffy gets for 1 hour.

Hey folks! This country is broke - or didn't you realise? We can't afford this nonsense any longer! There are squad cars needed. Pot holes to be fixed. Patients on trolleys because of shortage of beds. There is never money made available for any of that stuff. But no problem when it comes to paying thousands of Euro an hour for someone to answer the phone on air and sympathise with the unfortunate Irish public who are at their wits end worrying about how to pay the ESB bill.

mikom

Benedict wrote: »

Some of the radio presenters are terrific. Pat Kenny is world class and Ireland is lucky to have him. Marian is pretty good too.
But there are terrific Gardai out there too. Terrific teachers and nurses. Terrific fire service workers who risk their lives for us.
But they don't get 2 or 3 grand an hour because they're terrific! They have to struggle to pay the mortgage. If a garda is so brilliant that he or she gets 20 Scott bravery medals, he or she still won't get for a full week's work as much as Joe Duffy gets for 1 hour.

Hey folks! This country is broke - or didn't you realise? We can't afford this nonsense any longer! There are squad cars needed. Pot holes to be fixed. Patients on trolleys because of shortage of beds. There is never money made available for any of that stuff. But no problem when it comes to paying thousands of Euro an hour for someone to answer the phone on air and sympathise with the unfortunate Irish public who are at their wits end worrying about how to pay the ESB bill.

There are people barely keeping a roof over their heads in this country and we are being asked to bankroll this sort of shite.

the taxpayer-funded national broadcaster provided a taxi to bring Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae on a 650km round trip.


The journey took him from Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, to Dublin and back, to appear at RTE's Montrose studios for 'The Saturday Night Show'.


The fare for Mr Healy-Rae's trip would be around €400.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rte-spends-1000-per-day-on-taxis-despite-costcutting-drive-29144640.html

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Cerco

Benedict wrote: »

Some of the radio presenters are terrific. Pat Kenny is world class and Ireland is lucky to have him. Marian is pretty good too.
But there are terrific Gardai out there too. Terrific teachers and nurses. Terrific fire service workers who risk their lives for us.
But they don't get 2 or 3 grand an hour because they're terrific! They have to struggle to pay the mortgage. If a garda is so brilliant that he or she gets 20 Scott bravery medals, he or she still won't get for a full week's work as much as Joe Duffy gets for 1 hour.

Hey folks! This country is broke - or didn't you realise? We can't afford this nonsense any longer! There are squad cars needed. Pot holes to be fixed. Patients on trolleys because of shortage of beds. There is never money made available for any of that stuff. But no problem when it comes to paying thousands of Euro an hour for someone to answer the phone on air and sympathise with the unfortunate Irish public who are at their wits end worrying about how to pay the ESB bill.

I would not agree that PK is world class. He obviously has a very effective research team to brief him well. He is poor when challenging politicians and likes the sound of his own voice. The greatest irritant is when he raises questions with panelists and then goes on to answer them himself.
Marian is ok but like all others way, way, way overpaid. As for Joe Duffy's moan show well I will comment.

Cerco

"The taxpayer-funded national broadcaster provided a taxi to bring Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae on a 650km round trip.


The journey took him from Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, to Dublin and back, to appear at RTE's Montrose studios for 'The Saturday Night Show'.


The fare for Mr Healy-Rae's trip would be around €400."


To enhance his political profile and I am sure there were other expenses as well. Makes you wonder who are the gob****es.

Benedict

The question here is, who the hell gives RTE the permission to bring in a presenter and say "tell you what, I'll give you two grand an hour of their money for taking calls on air and you'll be filthy rich in five years".

I didn't give permission for my money to be squandered in this way instead of, maybe, paying a couple of hundred an hour (still a lot of lolly) and sending the balance to help the Temple Street Children's Hospital or fixing lighting in ghost estates.

Did you?

Le_Dieux

Benedict wrote: »

The question here is, who the hell gives RTE the permission to bring in a presenter and say "tell you what, I'll give you two grand an hour of their money for taking calls on air and you'll be filthy rich in five years".

I didn't give permission for my money to be squandered in this way instead of, maybe, paying a couple of hundred an hour (still a lot of lolly) and sending the balance to help the Temple Street Children's Hospital or fixing lighting in ghost estates.

Did you?

And then the same 'receptionist' has the gall and balls to take (?) 3g's for a 'funny Thursday' next week? And one of the clowns He has on it can only laugh at his own 'jokes'???

Who are the gob****es here? RTE, who pay a hell of a lot of TAX PAYERS MONEY, OR US, the taxpayers??

Benedict

Is it right or is it wrong that a radio presenter be handed 2 or even 3 thousand Euro per hour of public money when sick people are spending days on trolleys due to lack of funds?

These people may be very fine people and we would all wish them well - but this kind of abuse of public money is a national disgrace.

RATM

RTE has somewhere in the region of 2,500 staff and produces mediocre output that constantly needs to be subsidised by the taxpayer, despite their commercial revenue. A lot of RTE's home made TV is outsourced to various film production companies around Dublin & Wicklow. Which begs the question as to what exactly the 2,500 staff are actually doing in there if they are outsourcing the production of TV.

Channel 4 in the UK also outsources a lot of their programming and were the pioneers of it in Britain. They have a total of 200 staff who ensure that their partner firms produce award winning documentaries like Dispatches & films that are not mainstream but still very popular nonetheless. The 7pm Channel 4 news with Jonathon Snow is with out doubt the best news programme available across all channels. Their programming & films are sold across the world and frequently make the station very healthy profits from selling them on to other countries. The success of Channel 4, which only began in 1982, has meant that they were able to fund off shoots like Film4 and E4. They have grown their station over the last two decades by growing their viewship in a far more competitive market that what RTE faces.

The British people can be proud of what Channel 4 has achieved in less than 21 years of existence. They are a public broadcaster who have added to the social and cultural fabric of Great Britain whilst not being a major burden on the taxpayer. They have done this in a lean and efficient manner that is the hallmark of any successful business, all whilst staying true to their public broadcasting remit.

Can Irish people really really say hand on heart that they are proud of what RTE have achieved in 50 years ?


e2a- there is a common misperception that when the writers of Father Ted went to go make the show they pitched it to RTE first who turned them down. This is not true, at least not according to the writers themselves in Hot Press interviews. Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews pitched it straight to Channel 4, the reason being is that they said they felt Channel 4 had more experience and professionalism is making sitcoms than RTE did. The is the main reason RTE lost out on Father Ted was because they felt RTE didn't have the knowledge or experience to realise their vision for the show. Says a lot about RTE really and what the writers thought about working with them. Especially as Father Ted has been syndicated to over 50 countries and been consistently voted by British viewes as the best sitcom ever produced, as well as winning numerous BAFTA awards. In a nutshell RTE were never even invited onto the Father Ted boat because the writers knew too well that they would cock it up and the show would not have been the unmitigated success that it is today.