No current affairs show on RTE TV all august

icdg

RTE News programmes are back to their normal lengths today.

Elmo

icdg wrote: »

RTE News programmes are back to their normal lengths today.

but sure the dail doesn't re-open until the end of the month!

political analyst

Elmo wrote: »

but sure the dail doesn't re-open until the end of the month!

But the schools have. Because of that, TDs are unlikely to be on holidays now because some of them have children (TDs are still working in their constituency offices and on committees in Leinster House in September) and education stories are covered more in depth in September than in August.

Elmo

political analyst wrote: »

But the schools have. Because of that, TDs are unlikely to be on holidays now because some of them have children (TDs are still working in their constituency offices and on committees in Leinster House in September) and education stories are covered more in depth in September than in August.

And they say that its a job not suitable for a woman!

Firstly it remains the fact that RTE significantly reduce their main news output in August for no apparent reason.

1. its unlikely that all journalists are contract, majority are permanent RTE staff meaning either they are in work or on holiday either RTE are paying them.
2. RTE clearly reduce the number of hours outside Oireachtas proceeding.
3. news doesn't just revolve around the Dail even from a very, very Irish parochial viewpoint.
4. News exists outside current affairs.
5. They broadcast a supposed news channel, yet can't even provide a main news service on RTE ONE
6. Newsfeed and news bulletins aren't costing that much to save any money.

political analyst

Elmo wrote: »

Firstly it remains the fact that RTE significantly reduce their main news output in August for no apparent reason.

1. its unlikely that all journalists are contract, majority are permanent RTE staff meaning either they are in work or on holiday either RTE are paying them.
2. RTE clearly reduce the number of hours outside Oireachtas proceeding.
3. news doesn't just revolve around the Dail even from a very, very Irish parochial viewpoint.
4. News exists outside current affairs.
5. They broadcast a supposed news channel, yet can't even provide a main news service on RTE ONE
6. Newsfeed and news bulletins aren't costing that much to save any money.

When there are no political developments, it appears that they're just filling the time on Six-One after the first ad break. That's how it seemed in the interview of a local politician in the area where that tragedy took place today. The councillor didn't say anything we didn't already know.

Elmo

political analyst wrote: »

When there are no political developments, it appears that they're just filling the time on Six-One after the first ad break. That's how it seemed in the interview of a local politician in the area where that tragedy took place today. The councillor didn't say anything we didn't already know.

Just shows how little imagination or though RTE have. It could lead to a wide discussion on mental health and the effects of the austerity if any. obviously tactfully.

political analyst

Elmo wrote: »

Just shows how little imagination or though RTE have. It could lead to a wide discussion on mental health and the effects of the austerity if any. obviously tactfully.

If RTÉ let that discussion go as far as the effects of austerity then it would be accused of making excuses for a murderer.

Elmo

political analyst wrote: »

If RTÉ let that discussion go as far as the effects of austerity then it would be accused of making excuses for a murderer.

Ehh and I thought my post was uncaring. Not a reason for murder but the social effects caused by, murder/suicide by the looks of it.

In any case RTÉ find it difficult to find news, not a case of saving money.

Banjoxed

Elmo wrote: »

And they say that its a job not suitable for a woman!

Firstly it remains the fact that RTE significantly reduce their main news output in August for no apparent reason.

1. its unlikely that all journalists are contract, majority are permanent RTE staff meaning either they are in work or on holiday either RTE are paying them.
2. RTE clearly reduce the number of hours outside Oireachtas proceeding.
3. news doesn't just revolve around the Dail even from a very, very Irish parochial viewpoint.
4. News exists outside current affairs.
5. They broadcast a supposed news channel, yet can't even provide a main news service on RTE ONE
6. Newsfeed and news bulletins aren't costing that much to save any money.

Consider yourselves lucky kids, us children in the early 1970s dealt with no programmes at all until the Angelus at six during the summer. RTÉ going on holidays like the colleges is a long established thing.

Elmo

Banjoxed wrote: »

Consider yourselves lucky kids, us children in the early 1970s dealt with no programmes at all until the Angelus at six during the summer. RTÉ going on holidays like the colleges is a long established thing.

Time moves on you have to remember that even BBC had to use late night educational TV to increase its time on the air in 1970s.

political analyst

Elmo wrote: »

Ehh and I thought my post was uncaring. Not a reason for murder but the social effects caused by, murder/suicide by the looks of it.

In any case RTÉ find it difficult to find news, not a case of saving money.

We don't know what the motive was. It's not the national public broadcaster's place to speculate.

Anyway, going back to the topic, in August last year, RTÉ broadcast an hour-long Six-One and a special (probably pre-recorded) edition of Prime Time after Albert Reynolds' death was announced.

RTÉ changes it schedules if there is an exceptional event, e.g. on September 11, 2001, Fair City and other programmes were moved to RTÉ 2 to make way for rolling news coverage. That is what would happen in the event of such an atrocity, no matter what month of the year it took place in.

political analyst

Elmo wrote: »

Time moves on you have to remember that even BBC had to use late night educational TV to increase its time on the air in 1970s.

That was not the purpose of BBC educational programming. Otherwise, the programming wouldn't be educational. The point of broadcasting the strand of programmes known as The Learning Zone overnight was so that teachers could record it and use it to benefit students.

Banjoxed

political analyst wrote: »

That was not the purpose of BBC educational programming. Otherwise, the programming wouldn't be educational. The point of broadcasting the strand of programmes known as The Learning Zone overnight was so that teachers could record it and use it to benefit students.

Let's not forget that long before domestic VCRs The Open University was broadcasting programmes from six in the morning on BBC2. Now that was dedication.

icdg

Indeed while we are going fairly off topic for this thread, the now-defunct Learning Zone was of comparatively recent vintage - late 1990s rather than 1970s. Before that educational programmes were presented as the poster above states.

It also used to be the case that RTE's summer break was far longer than the strict four week period it has been in recent years.

Elmo

icdg wrote: »

It also used to be the case that RTE's summer break was far longer than the strict four week period it has been in recent years.

In general the last 4 years has seen RTE reduce it's programming from May onwards, not just news.

There is no reason for Today not to have a year round schedule nor for RTE to have a morning show. While I disagree with investing in daytime and morning TV RTE haven't shown themselves capable of providing prime time programming that hasn't been repeated ad nauseum. According to their own AR they don't need so many repeats with 5000+ hours of TV produced per year. even when you take daytime/children's TV away from that you still have plenty to prevent prime time repeats.

Cliff Walker

Since the Canadians took over the national lottery, winning streaks run has been substantially reduced

twinklerunner

Quite incredible that there wasn't a Prime Time special yesterday to cover the Apple/EU story.
Excellent coverage on Channel 4 News and Newsnight though.

STB.

All programming and scheduling is made on well researched viewing habits.

People are outside or on holidays during summer months.

Current Affairs programming tends to mirror the Dail recess period.

Elmo

STB. wrote: »

All programming and scheduling is made on well researched viewing habits.

People are outside or on holidays during summer months.

Current Affairs programming tends to mirror the Dail recess period.

News should not as pointed out Prime Time should have aired this week considering RTÉ new the EC would be making an announcement.

You'll have to give some good figures in terms of TV news during the month of August to prove audiences are down, in terms of %

political analyst

Elmo wrote: »

News should not as pointed out Prime Time should have aired this week considering RTÉ new the EC would be making an announcement.

The Apple tax case is still regarded as less serious than the death of a former Taoiseach or former President. In that respect, RTÉ is no different from public broadcasters in other countries, i.e. BBC has always devoted rolling coverage to the deaths of members of the royal family.

Elmo

political analyst wrote: »

The Apple tax case is still regarded as less serious than the death of a former Taoiseach or former President. In that respect, RTÉ is no different from public broadcasters in other countries, i.e. BBC has always devoted rolling coverage to the deaths of members of the royal family.

Come on we only suggested an episode of Prime Time. A an €18b tax bill is clearly a major story.

FRIENDO

I don't think RTE Radio had such a break, we always have RTE Morning Ireland on RTE NEWS NOW for catch-up on current affairs in the morning. The Olympics and Hickey etc was talked to death.

Saying that I can't be sure as we took a week holiday ourselves in August.

Also on a five minute unannounced/unadvertised poll on RTE Joe Duffy show yesterday, 5000 text votes over the apple issue.
(60% said "No" We shouldn't collect the money.)

icdg

We'll maybe keep our discussion to the broadcasting angle, there are other forums to debate the merits or otherwise

AwaitYourReply

political analyst wrote: »

The Apple tax case is still regarded as less serious than the death of a former Taoiseach or former President. In that respect, RTÉ is no different from public broadcasters in other countries, i.e. BBC has always devoted rolling coverage to the deaths of members of the royal family.

There have been at least TWO major international stories with very strong Ireland connections. Those stories were not just 24 hour news events as the stories have kept rolling and rolling so; one expects more comprehensive coverage of such events from our national public service broadcaster. RTÉ previously stated in a press release that they maintained the ability to go to air at short notice but these stories are huge for Ireland as they will have long lasting implications.

In their press release on the topic (shown earlier in this thread) RTÉ did not specify which stories would result in any special scheduling of Prime Time during it's usual month long break in August however; the jailing of the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland along with the ticketing scandal at the Rio Olympic Games not to mention the EU ruling that Apple must return billions in tax over it's arrangements in Ireland for many years are clearly stories that warrant going to air even during their official month long break.

The coverage of both these stories albeit with numerous reports from several correspondents/editors on RTÉ news bulletins has not been adequate due to the time constraints imposed. Of course, the reasons why broadcasters like RTÉ base these decisions are financial and on paper it makes perfect sense to schedule less political/current affairs coverage during the Summer period however; if you do have huge stories breaking during an inconvenient time, you have to be prepared to run with it at the national broadcaster as this forms part of their public service obligations remit and that does not run only from Sept/Oct to May but year round. Prime Time should have gone to air at short notice for these TWO stories when they broke, in my view.

AFAIK, there was no editions of "The Late Debate" specially scheduled to go to air at short notice either on RTÉ Radio 1 focusing on these major stories which one would have expected and perhaps it would have been wise especially if RTÉ were unable to afford to run Prime Time specials on tv. Looking back at the BREXIT referendum on 23 June, RTÉ were also caught on the hop and were not prepared for the unexpected result which is what any news/current affairs dept. should allow enough room for manoeuvre. The reacted too slowly on yet another story that has a major impact on Ireland and tv viewers who wanted to know would have to tune into UK channels without the Irish dimension in the discussion.

And just as I finish typing this post, a promo advert for Prime Time tonight at 9:35pm on RTÉ One TV - Oh I forgot, today is 01st September so more normal service resumes. News and hard news current affairs coverage costs money but it lacks credibility if you cannot go to air if and when big stories break at inconvenient times of the year.

political analyst

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

In their press release on the topic (shown earlier in this thread) RTÉ did not specify which stories would result in any special scheduling of Prime Time during it's usual month long break in August however; the jailing of the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland along with the ticketing scandal at the Rio Olympic Games not to mention the EU ruling that Apple must return billions in tax over it's arrangements in Ireland for many years are clearly stories that warrant going to air even during their official month long break.

It wasn't a press release; it was a reply to an e-mail I sent to the RTÉ feedback address.

RTÉ did not specify which stories would result in any special scheduling of Prime Time during it's usual month long break in August because it didn't need to - it can be assumed which stories merit a special edition of Prime Time. Here's a list of such scenarios that would merit that:

1. Death of a former Taoiseach
2. Death of a former President
3. Mass-casualty disaster in Ireland, the UK or the US, i.e. terrorist attack, airline crash
4. Assassination of a government minister, president or foreign head or government or head of state in Ireland or the UK

Elmo

political analyst wrote: »

It wasn't a press release; it was a reply to an e-mail I sent to the RTÉ feedback address.

RTÉ did not specify which stories would result in any special scheduling of Prime Time during it's usual month long break in August because it didn't need to - it can be assumed which stories merit a special edition of Prime Time. Here's a list of such scenarios that would merit that:

1. Death of a former Taoiseach
2. Death of a former President
3. Mass-casualty disaster in Ireland, the UK or the US, i.e. terrorist attack, airline crash
4. Assassination of a government minister, president or foreign head or government or head of state in Ireland or the UK

Even still two major stories broke in August relating to Ireland. Apple's tax and OCI ticket touts.

We can agree that we don't expect rolling services for either. But Prime Time should have air on each night or on a subsequent night.

Re: Radio doesn't Morning Ireland and Drivetime both reduce by 1 hour?

Very narrow just to take US, Irish and UK disasters regardless of the close relationships.

political analyst

Elmo wrote: »

Even still two major stories broke in August relating to Ireland. Apple's tax and OCI ticket touts.

Neither of those stories involves death or injury. Irish people were probably less worried by those cases than by 9/11.

Elmo

political analyst wrote: »

Neither of those stories involves death or injury. Irish people were probably less worried by those cases than by 9/11.

Let's be clear. We are not asking that either story be dealt with over the course of several hours but a 40 minute programme, given over to explaining a discussing events over the last few years.

political analyst

Elmo wrote: »

Let's be clear. We are not asking that either story be dealt with over the course of several hours but a 40 minute programme, given over to explaining a discussing events over the last few years.

Perhaps we should call it a day.

Let's agree to disagree.

twinklerunner

political analyst wrote: »

Neither of those stories involves death or injury. Irish people were probably less worried by those cases than by 9/11.

What a sophisticated country.