RTE

BuilderPlumber

Recent reports of many behind the scenes people who run RTE leaving it have given rise yet again to the debate about as to whether RTE is in decline or not. Admittedly 2015/2016 may be the poorest season in years for RTE. One word seems to define that period and that is tame.

There were many problems with RTE over the past 12 months. Some always there some not. The usual uninspired Late Late Shows, Ray D'Arcy's show being a big disimprovement on Brendan O'Connor's one that it replaced, no season 6 of Love/Hate, tame dramas instead of Love/Hate, the usual obsession with jaded talent shows, a new obsession with awful modern country music sung by ex boyband singers, the same old faces showing up everywhere on chatshows and doing their own programmes, the list goes on and on.

Sure we have been here before. Perhaps in 2009 with all that awful political programming as well as the usual uninspired Late Late Show. Perhaps in 2004 when tame dramas were once more the norm especially the one named after a dog sound. Perhaps in 2002 when boybands, reality TV and Six were the norm. Perhaps good programmes like Love/Hate are the exceptions to the rule. Taking that and a few other programmes out of the equation, all we seem to have is poor chat shows, the worst music, even worse reality TV and the same old people doing everything. On the positive side of things, the awful political programmes have been toned down with some of the worst of them being axed.

Some speak of the demise of RTE's dominance and point to TV3 or UTV Ireland as alternatives. Unless these 2 stations dramatically improve, I cannot see them gaining ground either. Those who have turned away from RTE have turned away from the poor fare on it that also dominates these other 2 channels. Unless one wants more of the same old reality TV, poor music and cliched reality TV, these stations have little to offer. Perhaps someone who is nostalgic for the torture that was The Frontline, Tonight With Vincent Browne is there. Perhaps those who miss Pat Kenny's Late Late Show can live in hope UTV Ireland will revive it under a new name.

RTE essentially had no reason to try any harder and TV3 and UTV Ireland the same. RTE's decision to end Love/Hate could easily have seen that show been picked up by the other 2 who did not take advantage. RTE ended poor talent shows and reality shows like The Restaurant I noticed and TV3 was quick to take this poor fare up. That is because they are cheap to make.

dublinman1990

If you must know; Pat Kenny's chat show on UTV Ireland was scrapped months ago if you had read the papers during that time. Also it is looking very likely that UTV Ireland will being closed down by TV3 in the coming weeks or months.

RTE had some changes to senior management roles as well very recently. Dee Forbes is now the new DG. I have no idea how she is going to bring in new content during her time at RTE. Kevin Bakhurst is also leaving RTE in October for a content directors job in Ofcom.

Also RTE is also due to release it's new Autumn/Winter Schedule for the upcoming season very soon. We, the viewers, don't know what is going to be in it because a lot of money was spent this year on major broadcast events like 1916, the Euros in France & even now for the Olympics in Rio. A lot of financial priorities has happened all at once for RTE this year alone. It was some achievement for them to bring most of the coverage from these events to our TV screens even though some of the Euros matches for this year went to TV3.

There is no denying that Tubridy & Darcy for their chat shows in September. Other regulars will be back like The Champions League, Horse Racing, Prime Time, The Weeks in Politics and all that other regular stuff will be there as usual. Brendan O'Connors topics show Cutting Edge could be back on RTE some time this season.

RTE2 also has the perfect opportunity to reform it's morning to afternoon schedule by getting rid of all of the kids programmes & put them on the RTEjr channel. That would allow RTE2 to show a new mix of drama & entertainment programmes. RTE2 has six hours a day of no adverts at all becuase of RTEjr programmes being there for the kids already which is basically a waste of money being spent there in the first place.

Maybe it's just me but I definitely feel RTE alienate a huge demographic between 8-11pm ok if you want to watch news current affairs but if not then there isn't really anything of interest on RTE 2 for me and I'm only in my 30's.

Just feels to me like they are aiming for under 30 on 2 and over 50 on 1, I can't be along in having that feeling about it ?

squonk

You're right I think. I'm in my 40's and have given up regular TV at this point However, RTE don't really cater for me. When I get home I want to spend the evening watching big TV series. I'm not interested in home produced stuff at that stage. If I do want to see anyting that's on my menu on RTE I'd have to record it as they show the US shows overnight.

BuilderPlumber

Deleted User wrote: »

Maybe it's just me but I definitely feel RTE alienate a huge demographic between 8-11pm ok if you want to watch news current affairs but if not then there isn't really anything of interest on RTE 2 for me and I'm only in my 30's.

Just feels to me like they are aiming for under 30 on 2 and over 50 on 1, I can't be along in having that feeling about it ?

That is true and I would also add that they have a cliched/perceived view of what people over or under a certain age would be interested in.

Duggie2012

there is basically no talent in RTE. thats the whole problem. you don't have a young Gay Byrne or a young Mike Murphy. Guys with character and talent and who you would want to watch. If tubs left the Late Late tomorrow there's not one good up and coming presenter to take it over. Zero. Same on the radio, no talent atal.

BuilderPlumber

squonk wrote: »

You're right I think. I'm in my 40's and have given up regular TV at this point However, RTE don't really cater for me. When I get home I want to spend the evening watching big TV series. I'm not interested in home produced stuff at that stage. If I do want to see anyting that's on my menu on RTE I'd have to record it as they show the US shows overnight.

RTE push/force too many individuals on us all the time. The same old people get everything and no one else gets a look in more often than not. They set their sights on certain handpicked individuals and push them to the limit. They do this rather than finding programmes that will entertain all audiences. At present there is an awful obsession with poor modern so-called country music and with all things Mrs Brown for instance.


Also programmes are made especially to cater for the 'talents' of certain presenters. Some of these were costly mistakes. The Frontline by Pat Kenny is an obvious example of a very poor programme that was only designed to give Kenny something.

BuilderPlumber

Duggie2012 wrote: »

there is basically no talent in RTE. thats the whole problem. you don't have a young Gay Byrne or a young Mike Murphy. Guys with character and talent and who you would want to watch. If tubs left the Late Late tomorrow there's not one good up and coming presenter to take it over. Zero. Same on the radio, no talent atal.

Unfortunately this is the sad truth. This is because of the who you know rather than what you can do culture that has come about because of the cronyism in RTE. Nicky Byrne presenting The Late Late Show heaven forbid is most likely the future!

gerogerigegege

must be 10 plus hours of the Olympics daily on RTE 2.
do they really need to show so much of it?

lertsnim

Yes.

gerogerigegege

lertsnim wrote: »

Yes.

have to disagree.
not everyone is a fan of sports.
rte are just lazy.

lertsnim

gerogerigegege wrote: »

have to disagree.
not everyone is a fan of sports.
rte are just lazy.

Not everyone is a sports fan, that's true. However everyone also has more than just RTÉ Two to look at. The tv schedules won't suit everyone and why begrudge athletes from smaller sports representing their country the chance of being seen and supported just so you can watch another repeat of Friends.

If it was every day you might have a point but the olympics is once every 4 years.

What else would RTÉ Two be showing instead of it anyway?

CINCLANTFLT

2FM is on in the background in a cafe I am sitting in... just heard something along the lines of "Lotty Ryan" stepping in to present tonight... I assume she got the gig because of who her old man was...

Meanwhile there are probably plenty of young people who would deserve a chance and are very talented... but nepotism rules at RTE I guess...

CINCLANTFLT

CINCLANTFLT wrote: »

2FM is on in the background in a cafe I am sitting in... just heard something along the lines of "Lotty Ryan" stepping in to present tonight... I assume she got the gig because of who her old man was...

Meanwhile there are probably plenty of young people who would deserve a chance and are very talented... but nepotism rules at RTE I guess...

Opps... just realised that this is the TV forum, but I guess these issues run through all of RTE...

gerogerigegege

lertsnim wrote: »

Not everyone is a sports fan, that's true. However everyone also has more than just RTÉ Two to look at. The tv schedules won't suit everyone and why begrudge athletes from smaller sports representing their country the chance of being seen and supported just so you can watch another repeat of Friends.

If it was every day you might have a point but the olympics is once every 4 years.

What else would RTÉ Two be showing instead of it anyway?

no one is begrudging anyone.
I pay my tv licence, stupidly, and I've no interest seeing 10 plus hours of sport for weeks on end.
btw. with recent big names caught out doping I have a pretty cynical view of all things sports related.

gerogerigegege

CINCLANTFLT wrote: »

2FM is on in the background in a cafe I am sitting in... just heard something along the lines of "Lotty Ryan" stepping in to present tonight... I assume she got the gig because of who her old man was...

Meanwhile there are probably plenty of young people who would deserve a chance and are very talented... but nepotism rules at RTE I guess...

very true.
there are graduates, unemployed, those in media training out there that would kill for a chance like this.
in fact the last poster asked what should be on instead of the Olympics. hows about a competition giving those that would like the chance to present on RTE a shot at a job.
Lotti fecking Ryan my backside

lertsnim

gerogerigegege wrote: »

no one is begrudging anyone.
I pay my tv licence, stupidly, and I've no interest seeing 10 plus hours of sport for weeks on end.
btw. with recent big names caught out doping I have a pretty cynical view of all things sports related.

You aren't the only one who pays it though. There is many who pay it that enjoy the Olympics too.

What programming have you missed out on by having the Olympics on during the summer?

Zaph

gerogerigegege wrote: »

must be 10 plus hours of the Olympics daily on RTE 2.
do they really need to show so much of it?

Two weeks, once every four years, and there's no Olympics on RTE1. I pay my licence and have zero interest in soap operas, yet I'm subjected to countless hours of them every week of the year, not just every four years. That's just the way it is, there's no way any broadcaster can please all of the people all of the time.

brian_t

Zaph wrote: »

Two weeks, once every four years,

I'm not a big sports fan but I do like to watch the Olympics.

It is of course on once every two years - lets not forget the Winter ones.

gerogerigegege

lertsnim wrote: »

You aren't the only one who pays it though. There is many who pay it that enjoy the Olympics too.

What programming have you missed out on by having the Olympics on during the summer?

very little RTE is a very poor TV station. I've missed very little. it is rubbish.

gerogerigegege

part of RTEs new season

– Kenny, a landmark two-part documentary charting the rise, fall and rise again of Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

flushing your licence fee down the toilet

lertsnim

gerogerigegege wrote: »

very little RTE is a very poor TV station. I've missed very little. it is rubbish.

I see. You would have complained either way so and would have complained if they didn't show enough Olympics.

gerogerigegege

lertsnim wrote: »

I see. You would have complained either way so and would have complained if they didn't show enough Olympics.

I love to complain about RTE.

lertsnim

gerogerigegege wrote: »

I love to complain about RTE.

That's obvious.

BuilderPlumber

gerogerigegege wrote: »

very true.
there are graduates, unemployed, those in media training out there that would kill for a chance like this.
in fact the last poster asked what should be on instead of the Olympics. hows about a competition giving those that would like the chance to present on RTE a shot at a job.
Lotti fecking Ryan my backside

This is the most sickening aspect of how things are done within RTE. The likes of Gerry Ryan's children no doubt will get all the breaks and Ryan's career is passed on like a family business.

Speaking of the Olympics and Pat Hickey: I am sure this goes on in Ireland's very closed and corrupt media circles too. The same old people are forced on us from all angles and something different is never given the opportunity.

gerogerigegege

the speech I see being repeated.
how lazy can rte get?

lertsnim

As lazy as everyone else if showing a repeat is lazy.