RTE live tv - back up plan/contingency plan?

amdublin

Something I read about The Voice of ireland and Kathryn Thomas saying "it's live tv" got me thinking.

Do RTE have back up presenters standing by??

Like if a presenter got ill very quickly (I don't know - say desperate stomach pain and diarrhoea during an ad break) do they have a back up presenter ready?
For example would they have someone ready every Friday and Saturday for the LLs and the SNS?
Or for one off shows like the eurovision?
Or weekly like the voice?

Or would they just apologise and put a film on???

Anyone work in tv/rte and know what would happen?

Ps. I know they have stand ins when they get prior notice e.g Fiona Looney when Gerry Ryan called in sick (and later passed away) but do they have people who can mobilise within three minutes??!! A tv presenter "flying squad" :pac:

amdublin

Ps. Applies for tV3 as well e.g. Vincent Browne

Lisha

Marty Whealan seemed to fit the bill for rte at times.
On radio the presenter would stay on for an hour.
As for last minute stand ins I think the attitude might be you're paid so much to be here so be here.

amdublin

Lisha wrote: »

As for last minute stand ins I think the attitude might be you're paid so much to be here so be here.

Yeah completely agree - and at the end of the day they (Ryan, Brendan, Vincent, Kathryn) tend to be are there 100% of the time.

But what about if it is just completely unexpected/unavoidable e.g. The diarrhoea example I gave (which can sometimes come on very fast and unexpected) or even worse a heart attack or something. I wonder what their plans are for something like this?

amdublin

Maybe they have other presenters "on call" who live near the studio and can be there in 20 minutes or something.

So e.g. they might apologise, stick a filler on for 20 minutes and someone like Pat, Miriam or Claire or that brown haired lady from the consumer show zips to the studio??

FloatingVoter

There's normally at least one or two well known faces in the RTE canteen during the day at any time. Assuming the brief is simple enough - eg. talk to author about new book, ask a hurling star about hurling it would be simple enough to wing it. You wouldn't need a "big star" to do daytime TV stuff - any of the news reporters could do a simple interview.
I know during the Gaybo years on the Late Late that Dave Fanning was often "bumped into on the corridor" when guests failed to show up (or were late/ sobering up in the green room). The fact is his show was on radio just before the LLS and himself and Gaybo can talk for Ireland.
As for "Voice of Ireland" a boiled egg could introduce the acts on that.

Skid X

amdublin wrote: »

Yeah completely agree - and at the end of the day they (Ryan, Brendan, Vincent, Kathryn) tend to be are there 100% of the time.

But what about if it is just completely unexpected/unavoidable e.g. The diarrhoea example I gave (which can sometimes come on very fast and unexpected) or even worse a heart attack or something. I wonder what their plans are for something like this?

To be fair, if a Presenter had a heart attack on a live show I don't think it would be appropriate to bring a Sub and carry on! But I see your point. As far as I know, they don't have permanent substitute ready and togged out backstage. It would be tough to just walk on to a live show, and continue on with a bemused audience and guests. It would be time to break out the emergency recorded tape. - On RTE that would be an old Father Ted, on TV3 it might be the best of Xpose.:rolleyes:

evilivor

Skid X wrote: »

To be fair, if a Presenter had a heart attack on a live show I don't think it would be appropriate to bring a Sub and carry on! But I see your point. As far as I know, they don't have permanent substitute ready and togged out backstage. It would be tough to just walk on to a live show, and continue on with a bemused audience and guests. It would be time to break out the emergency recorded tape. - On RTE that would be an old Father Ted, on TV3 it might be the best of Xpose.:rolleyes:

At worst, Continuity would do it. They are there, trained and safe pair of hands,. It would be most unusual though for them to not just put on an alternate show.

Skid X

evilivor wrote: »

At worst, Continuity would do it. They are there, trained and safe pair of hands,. It would be most unusual though for them to not just put on an alternate show.

A lot of stations don't have Live Continuity anymore. It would be a bit much asking a Continuity Announcer to come on and present a live programme like Tonight with Vincent Browne. Maybe they would have a Producer or someone who could takeover and do a reasonable job. I suppose it depends on the show and the circumstances.

evilivor

Skid X wrote: »

A lot of stations don't have Live Continuity anymore. It would be a bit much asking a Continuity Announcer to come on and present a live programme like Tonight with Vincent Browne. Maybe they would have a Producer or someone who could takeover and do a reasonable job. I suppose it depends on the show and the circumstances.

My substantive point remains - it would be unusual for them to keep going unless it was something like election coverage where theer are many people who can fill in

FloatingVoter

A real example was when Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990. Barry Lang was hosting the Beatbox on RTE 2 on Sunday morning. He had to wing it with various political corresspondents until Brian Farrell and Pat Kenny etc. could make it to the studio. As I recall he did a pretty decent job for an hour or so.