Should 2fm and RTE 2 be privatised

The Parish priest

I think they should because they don't give anything to the youth that isn't available from the commercial sector.

lertsnim

2FM yes. RTÉ 2 no.

5rtytry56

Not 2fm:

Look at the chronological trajectory of Phantom 105 / TXFM

not exactly aimed at the same audience but just to illustrate.:(

FRIENDO

No, definitely not.

Private companies are only interested in profit, they are not willing to provide a service for the public.

For example RTE2 and 2fm are available on the Saorsat platform, providing a service to the public who cannot get Saorview.
The private owned tv stations are not on Saorsat.

When driving the car I also rather listen to a radio station owned by the public rather than a number of stations owned by the same billionaire, who doesn't give a **** about the public.

lgs 4

The Parish priest wrote: »

I think they should because they don't give anything to the youth that isn't available from the commercial sector.

What commercial broadcasters are you talking about .If you're talking TV3 ,they don't do a thing for the young audience in Ireland .The only thing TV3 is good for is rebroadcast ITV 1 and not even in HD on Saorview .RTE as the public service has obligation is to cater for all aspects of Irish cultural values,which the commercial broadcaster don,t do .

bigroad

Yes every last bit of Rte should be or even better let them be pay per view first and see how it goes.

lgs 4

bigroad wrote: »

Yes every last bit of Rte should be or even better let them be pay per view first and see how it goes.

RTE,s rating in Europe as public service is 18th in Europe ,they must be doing something right.

AnthonyCny

One way of saving millions in wages at 2fm would be by putting" Now, that's what I call music 94" CD on and put it on repeat.

That's all that station is.

How much are those 3 Muppet's on Breakfast Republic getting? Lottie Ryan?

liam7831

I'd love to hear Larry back on the daytime, an auld pro is Larry

Elmo

No because by privatising them they would see advertising minutes increase which would in turn effect other independent broadcasters!

They need substantial changes.

Ursus Horribilis

What does 2FM give listeners that's different to the iRadios, Beats and other yoof radio stations out there?

The Parish priest

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

What does 2FM give listeners that's different to the iRadios, Beats and other yoof radio stations out there?

A 5 million euro per year lose of tv licence payers money

liam7831

Bring back Larry

Ursus Horribilis

The Parish priest wrote: »

A 5 million euro per year loss of tv licence payer's money

See, this is what I can't understand. Radio 1 has to incorporate uncommercial programming into its schedule. Stuff like plays, farming programs, seascapes... Likewise, Lyric FM and Radio na Gaeltachta are niche stations that would never exist in the commercial world. I think 2fm should be privatised or revamped as a younger version of Radio 1. Maybe one that plays music you'd not hear on Radio 1 (e.g. heavy metal, prog rock, anything recorded before 2000). 2fm as it stands seems to be no different to the yoof stations out there with one big difference - the DJs have bigger pay packets.

Kensington

2FM wouldn't last a wet week if it was privatised, it's a commercial failure as it is:
- significant accumulated losses that would presumably carry to the new owner
- continues losing €5mn+ a year
- listenership is at an all time low

Add then to the fact it:
- offers nothing of unique value either as a commercial station or a PSB
- is heavily influenced at every corner by nepotism rather than merit
- seems tied down with staff or practices it can't get rid of despite the fact they don't fit the station.

It seems RTE don't know how FM channel 2 should be used but are happy to squander millions of license fee money each year on trying. Just close the whole thing down, pull its funding to be used elsewhere and readvertise the FM spectrum in whole or in part for anyone who might want it.

FRIENDO

liam7831 wrote:

Bring back Larry

I listened to Larry on 2fm on Christmas day, while driving to work, very good.

Also good party/dance music on 2fm yesterday evening.

Elmo

Kensington wrote: »

2FM wouldn't last a wet week if it was privatised, it's a commercial failure as it is:
- significant accumulated losses that would presumably carry to the new owner
- continues losing €5mn+ a year
- listenership is at an all time low

It seems RTE don't know how FM channel 2 should be used but are happy to squander millions of license fee money each year on trying. Just close the whole thing down, pull its funding to be used elsewhere and readvertise the FM spectrum in whole or in part for anyone who might want it.

2FM would increase advertising minutes and much of its staff would be redeployed to other areas in RTÉ, by closing it those losses remain with RTÉ.

afatbollix

FRIENDO wrote: »

No, definitely not.

Private companies are only interested in profit, they are not willing to provide a service for the public.

For example RTE2 and 2fm are available on the Saorsat platform, providing a service to the public who cannot get Saorview.
The private owned tv stations are not on Saorsat.

When driving the car I also rather listen to a radio station owned by the public rather than a number of stations owned by the same billionaire, who doesn't give a **** about the public.

RTE got Saorsat for free, Why don't the private channels get on it too?

FRIENDO

afatbollix wrote:

RTE got Saorsat for free, Why don't the private channels get on it too?

It should have been made that Saorsat was a complete reflection of Saorview.

But that would mean having a Minister with a brain to make that decision.

Elmo

afatbollix wrote: »

RTE got Saorsat for free, Why don't the private channels get on it too?

How did they get it for free?

Stasi 2.0

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

What does 2FM give listeners that's different to the iRadios, Beats and other yoof radio stations out there?

liam7831 wrote: »

Bring back Larry

That's exactly the problem with 2FM it has never been able to make up its mind if its an youth or oldies station it tries to be both and succeeds at neither.

The Parish priest

2fm was always most successful when it was targeting a wider family audience, The rot started in the mid 00s when The full Irish, Gareth O Callaghan and Tony Fenton all left the schedule in a short space of time, those shows were getting close to 300k listeners

Stasi 2.0

The Parish priest wrote: »

2fm was always most successful when it was targeting a wider family audience,

The concept of a "family audience" might have been a thing when there were fewer stations on the dial but is well and truly dead in this day and age.

afatbollix

Elmo wrote: »

How did they get it for free?

As they were the first to take up KU band Eutelsat gave it to them for free to start the ball rolling.

They must have a few smart people at RTE as Sky also paid them to get it on sky where as the BBC had to pay for years.

FRIENDO

I don't believe we have enough smart people in RTE, Saorsat is a second class system.
And in relation to rights restrictions of sport on RTE2 HD Champions league - Saorsat has failed.

Elmo

afatbollix wrote: »

As they were the first to take up KU band Eutelsat gave it to them for free to start the ball rolling.

They must have a few smart people at RTE as Sky also paid them to get it on sky where as the BBC had to pay for years.

You'd definitely have to ask why all of the channels on Saorview wasn't offered the same. Did TG4 make a separate deal?

Stasi 2.0

afatbollix wrote: »

They must have a few smart people at RTE as Sky also paid them to get it on sky where as the BBC had to pay for years.

Whether entering into the deal they did with one of their biggest competitors was "smart" is pretty debatable.

Elmo

Stasi 2.0 wrote: »

Whether entering into the deal they did with one of their biggest competitors was "smart" is pretty debatable.

so you think they should pay the same as the deal drawn up by the Oireachtas with Sky?

Stasi 2.0

Did they have to deal with Sky at all ? Could they not have dealt directly with SES (the company which operates the satellites) ?

Elmo

Stasi 2.0 wrote: »

Did they have to deal with Sky at all ? Could they not have dealt directly with SES (the company which operates the satellites) ?

RTE got it for free (rights would be an issue with FTA sat), while The Oireachtas paid for an encrypted signal from sky for 250,000 euro, which is about the price of going FTA and dealing with SES, the oireachtas having no rights issues.

doc11

Elmo wrote: »

RTE got it for free (rights would be an issue with FTA sat), while The Oireachtas paid for an encrypted signal from sky for 250,000 euro, which is about the price of going FTA and dealing with SES, the oireachtas having no rights issues.

But the Oireachtas could have rights issues in the future with possible non Oireachtas programming

Stasi 2.0

Elmo wrote: »

RTE got it for free (rights would be an issue with FTA sat), while The Oireachtas paid for an encrypted signal from sky for 250,000 euro, which is about the price of going FTA and dealing with SES, the oireachtas having no rights issues.

I've always maintained this accepted wisdom about "rights" is a pile of hogwash but there's already 65,239 threads on that particular subject.

If as you rightly say the Oireachtas has no rights issues why on earth do they bother with an encrypted signal (are they the only national parliament in the world which does this and does it not completely defeat the purpose ?) and if they really insist on having their precious encryption why use Sky's videoguard ? Other systems are available and Sky boxes are required to have CI slots (a rare instance of regulators standing up to them)

Elmo

Stasi 2.0 wrote: »

I've always maintained this accepted wisdom about "rights" is a pile of hogwash but there's already 65,239 threads on that particular subject.

If as you rightly say the Oireachtas has no rights issues why on earth do they bother with an encrypted signal (are they the only national parliament in the world which does this and does it not completely defeat the purpose ?) and if they really insist on having their precious encryption why use Sky's videoguard ? Other systems are available and Sky boxes are required to have CI slots (a rare instance of regulators standing up to them)

Irish TV broadcasters all buy in programming from abroad. All also require music copy rights and most have a copy clearance department.

UK TV broadcasters usually have paid for rights covering both Britain and Ireland.

While it is unfortunate that English broadcasters can broadcast in the clear on Satellite and Irish broadcasters have to put up with it, English broadcasters don't really want to have to compete with Irish broadcasters in their territory considering an hour of US TV cost just 2000 per hour for Irish broadcasters or that their own shows air on Irish services.

On the other hand I can't see many outside northern Ireland turning to any Irish Broadcaster, English broadcasters shouldn't care that Irish Broadcasters can broadcast into that territory. E.g. no reason why home and away can't air first on RTE across the Island, how much would it really effect Channel 5's audience?