RTE Gold discussion thread

alzer100

leoXX wrote: »

It never made sense to me that RTE direct the Gold audience (aged 45+?) to digital platforms and have their youth station on old-fashioned FM. Moving Ireland's biggest jukebox from FM to digital made zero sense as most of it's target audience wouldn't really like fiddling around with apps while making the Sunday roast just to hear a radio show.

2FM, it's position on the FM platform and it's target audience will never change IMO. I think the way RTE see it is that they cater for the 15/25 - 45 year old demographic through 2FM and the older audience 45+ is catered for by RTE Radio 1. So I think in their view that after 45 you don't listen to popular music anymore, you now just have an appetite for talk radio and classical music! (Lyric FM).
RTE management consider music stations like Gold as "fringe" or "niche"

As a public service broadcaster they need to at least demonstrate that they are attempting to cater for all ages (whether we agree to how they do that is a different matter). There are many reasons, but one example of why they will not remove 2FM from the FM platform and replace it with Gold is because the organisation's radio output maybe then viewed as leaning towards a specific target audience and totally neglecting another.

As time goes on though, I think older audiences will be more tech savvy and will not be intimidated by technology and will explore alternatives. RTE should bare that in mind.

un5byh7sqpd2x0

Anyone know why RTE dropped the MP3 stream for Gold? It’s only available as a HLS stream now - since about last Wednesday - and can’t be played on Google Home devices as a result.

alzer100

Elyse Stocky Caviar wrote: »

Anyone know why RTE dropped the MP3 stream for Gold? It’s only available as a HLS stream now - since about last Wednesday - and can’t be played on Google Home devices as a result.

I maybe coming across as being a bit dim and for that I am truly sorry but does that mean you are unable to cast it lets say from a smartphone to let's say a TV using Chromecast?

un5byh7sqpd2x0

alzer100 wrote: »

I maybe coming across as being a bit dim and for that I am truly sorry but does that mean you are unable to cast it lets say from a smartphone to let's say a TV using Chromecast?

No, that much works. I mean from a Google Home speaker like a Home Mini, Google’s versions of Alexa speakers which you may be familiar with

channelsurfer2

leoXX wrote: »

Keeping these digital stations online and on Saorview would cost almost nothing, the DJs are all rte staff so they'll have to put them somewhere and pretty much every radio station these days has spin off online streams. Furthermore the radio lineup on Saorview would be extremely empty without the digital stations. DAB is the elephant in the room though, the problem with it is, RTE are never going to roll it out any further so why should licence fee payers in Dublin/Limerick/Cork get DAB but not licence fee payers in Donegal or Galway

this is the thing.. the only cost saving is closing DAB. the DJ's are not contract staff apparently they are all rte employees even Will Leahy. So they will still get paid one way or another.

lertsnim

Elyse Stocky Caviar wrote: »

Anyone know why RTE dropped the MP3 stream for Gold? It’s only available as a HLS stream now - since about last Wednesday - and can’t be played on Google Home devices as a result.

They're directing any queries towards TuneIn. It wasn't that long ago that Radio 1 wouldn't work on smart speakers, again a TuneIn problem. It's a pity they don't have their own streams on smart speakers like the BBC does.

alzer100

Well Keith Walsh is finishing up on RTE Gold this week.
Only reason sofar is because of the lockdown ending.
Is this the beginning of the end for Gold?
Has anyone heard anything more?

ford fiesta

alzer100 wrote: »

Well Keith Walsh is finishing up on RTE Gold this week.
Only reason sofar is because of the lockdown ending.
Is this the beginning of the end for Gold?
Has anyone heard anything more?

I doubt it is. remember before the lockdown it was just Will and Rick on the station.

CUCINA

I'd be a fan of RTE Gold...the absence of mind-numbing adds is a real plus, and even better when there is no DJ waffle. I notice, though, that they get great mileage from certain quarters, like Phil Collins and Paul Young.
Over time, you see a pattern of repetition and it's only when you tune into other "oldie" stations that you realise that there are many songs that you'd never hear on Gold (e.g., "There's a Ghost in my House" by R.Deane Taylor, "I don't like Spiders and Snakes","I love the Sound of Breaking Glass" etc.
That said, if the station was suddenly taken off the air, I'd definitely miss it...

channelsurfer2

so what now for rte gold. sports saturday and sunday will be back to full hours in the next few weeks meaning no gold on rte1 at those times. will this mean that they will slowly start to wind it down again.

alzer100

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

so what now for rte gold. sports saturday and sunday will be back to full hours in the next few weeks meaning no gold on rte1 at those times. will this mean that they will slowly start to wind it down again.

Unfortunately I think that is exactly what is going to happen eventually.

I think the only reason Aidan Leonard is on weekends is because they don't have any other job in RTE to allocate to him yet. If the weekday 7 to 7 schedule is phased back to Will Leahy and Rick O'Shea...
If this happens it's back to station wind down status as it was as of March/April this year.
Interesting to see what happens to the Michael Cahill slot from here on in.

BTW Aidan Leonard is scheduled for Keith Walsh's slot for this coming Friday anyway.

ford fiesta

Keith Walsh was not right for the usually positive sounding RTE GOLD in the afternoon....any time I tuned in, he seemed to be broadcasting from home, moaning or making us aware of his personal situations.

If Aidan Leonard is taking over his slot: Mon to Thur/Fri
..well that's just great!!!

un5byh7sqpd2x0

ford fiesta wrote: »

If Aidan Leonard is taking over his slot: Mon to Thur/Fri
..well that's just great!!!

It’s a one day only thing.

alzer100

Don't know if it was Keith Walsh's decision. More concerned for the reasoning behind it. No real clarification as to why.

I think it's really a case of uncertain times at RTE Gold.
Don't know for sure but the streaming numbers are probably dropping off with the lockdown essentially (nearly) finished.

Kilboor

Loved hearing RTE Gold lately. Wish it was on FM.

maxwell smart

I thought Keith Walsh was pretty good on the station. A few quirky items and some decent tunes. He's so much better than the majority on RTE2 but I'd say he is a victim of the gender balance equation they use. I mean Jennifer Zampadoodle is terrible.

ford fiesta

alzer100 wrote: »

Don't know for sure but the streaming numbers are probably dropping off with the lockdown essentially (nearly) finished.

I doubt listeners will stop listening to the statoon

un5byh7sqpd2x0

I’d say RTE breaking Google Home devices for 2 or 3 weeks drove away a lot of streaming listeners.

alzer100

Apparently it's back to just Will Leahy and Rick O'Shea from this Monday.

tv3tg4

A nationwide roll out of dab offering a wider range of stations

Eg. They managed it in the UK -

djemba djemba

maxwell smart wrote: »

I thought Keith Walsh was pretty good on the station. A few quirky items and some decent tunes. He's so much better than the majority on RTE2 but I'd say he is a victim of the gender balance equation they use. I mean Jennifer Zampadoodle is terrible.

I thought he was good too. I like his something borrowed, something new, something deacon blue. One thing did annoy me though was him joining in with the rte gold: the greatest jingle

alzer100

Unfortunately it looks like RTE are going ahead with their plans to close the station. And of course, I'm sure that they will get the backing from the current minister.

JDxtra

alzer100 wrote: »

Unfortunately it looks like RTE are going ahead with their plans to close the station. And of course, I'm sure that they will get the backing from the current minister.

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action, Environment and Power Naps.

Tork

It's an easy "win" to close it, isn't it? There'd be an outcry if they actually went ahead and closed Lyric FM. 2FM appears to be immune to any cutbacks. I find it hard to believe that RTE Gold costs much to run. My understanding is that an organisation like RTE pays an overall royalties fee every year, which means the amount of music played on the station is irrelevant. The people working on the station are RTE employees anyway - where will they be going when the station goes? Was online only ever considered once DAB goes?

I think the station not working on the Google Home smart speakers recently was a clear sign that it's on its way out. Whether it was deliberate or nobody noticed, we'll probably never know. Pity though.

alzer100

JDxtra wrote: »

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action, Environment and Power Naps.

Richard Bruton was quite happy to let the station go to the wall, I can't see this minister being any different. Really hope I'm wrong.

I understand that there is a process involved and RTE may not be able to just shut Gold down tomorrow irrespective of the DAB network. Unless RTE gets a replacement director general, (I'm sorry have to say it, that doesn't want to share the same brain cell that seems to be allocated to RTE upper management) then Gold is heading for the chop.

alzer100

Tork wrote: »

It's an easy "win" to close it, isn't it? There'd be an outcry if they actually went ahead and closed Lyric FM. 2FM appears to be immune to any cutbacks. I find it hard to believe that RTE Gold costs much to run. My understanding is that an organisation like RTE pays an overall royalties fee every year, which means the amount of music played on the station is irrelevant. The people working on the station are RTE employees anyway - where will they be going when the station goes? Was online only ever considered once DAB goes?

I think the station not working on the Google Home smart speakers recently was a clear sign that it's on its way out. Whether it was deliberate or nobody noticed, we'll probably never know. Pity though.

Deliberate, I would say. The less streaming figures would somehow justify their actions.

radioguru02

Is there any actual evidence that Gold is to be shut down?

alzer100

pirateradiohed wrote: »

Is there any actual evidence that Gold is to be shut down?

They have officially applied to minister to shut down the DAB network.

As RTE Gold is a "service", they can close the DAB carrier for RTE Gold but apparently the minister needs to approve the closure of the RTE Gold "service". This is something that RTE management are pursuing.

Tork

They have to be seen to do something. We all know RTE's in deep trouble and closing something like Gold is about as useful as asking Ryan Tubridy to take a pay cut.

Elmo

alzer100 wrote: »

They have officially applied to minister to shut down the DAB network.

As RTE Gold is a "service", they can close the DAB carrier for RTE Gold but apparently the minister needs to approve the closure of the RTE Gold "service". This is something that RTE management are pursuing.

So I am worried about this "officially" applied to the minister. I have been informed by RTÉ that they are "currently" applying, that is 2 months ago at this point. I wonder if they actually have. I think they'll just close and the Minister and BAI will ignore what needs to be done under the act.

Write to info@rte.ie and ask has RTÉ applied to the Minister for Media to close the RTÉ Digital Radio stations (RTÉ 1 EXTRA, RTÉ GOLD, RTÉ 2XM etc) and if so when was the application made.

alzer100

Elmo wrote: »

So I am worried about this "officially" applied to the minister. I have been informed by RTÉ that they are "currently" applying, that is 2 months ago at this point. I wonder if they actually have. I think they'll just close and the Minister and BAI will ignore what needs to be done under the act.

Write to info@rte.ie and ask has RTÉ applied to the Minister for Media to close the RTÉ Digital Radio stations (RTÉ 1 EXTRA, RTÉ GOLD, RTÉ 2XM etc) and if so when was the application made.

I have done and will post the response but I believe that they had RTE Gold scheduled to close at a specific date in April of this year (I think it was Easter Monday). So it looks like they may have had the green light to do so by Richard Bruton but then the lockdown took hold and all of RTE's streaming services saw a significant increase in listenership figures.

It would not have been a good move to close them at that time. However, I would have thought that the deal had already been done with the minister's department.

Elmo

alzer100 wrote: »

I have done and will post the response but I believe that they had RTE Gold scheduled to close at a specific date in April of this year (I think it was Easter Monday). So it looks like they may have had the green light to do so by Richard Bruton but then the lockdown took hold and all of RTE's streaming services saw a significant increase in listenership figures.

Minster can't just do that, they must ask the BAI to carry out an Strategic Impact assessment , the department must get input from relevant stakeholders and the minister may ask the public. Once the decision is made it is published by the Department. It's not an easy yes or no answer.

The minister could turn around and say, having looked at the submission from RTÉ I have decided that they may close RTÉ GOLD, 2XM and PULSE but they may not close RTÉ Radio 1 Extra or RTÉ Radio JR

alzer100

SENT TO info@rte.ie

To Whom It Concerns,

Has RTE made an official application to cease broadcasting of it's digital services - RTE Gold, RTE Pulse, RTE News extra etc. and when was the application submitted?
When does RTE expect to close those servicees?

Kind Regards

RESPONSE:

Thank you for contacting RTÉ Information.

Due to the large volume of mail received by RTÉ’s Information Office we are unable to respond to all correspondence received. If your comment is intended for one of our live programmes, please contact the programme directly using the contact details supplied on their webpage or on air.

We have included below some responses to common queries. All other queries and requests will be responded to as soon as possible.



IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE NOT RESPONDING TO THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION FOR NOW.

kenn0

My response

Thank you for contacting RTÉ Information.





Due to the large volume of mail received by RTÉ’s Information Office we are unable to respond to all correspondence received. If your comment is intended for one of our live programmes, please contact the programme directly using the contact details supplied on their webpage or on air.



We have included below some responses to common queries. All other queries and requests will be responded to as soon as possible.



If you wish to make a formal complaint, please see details regarding RTÉ’s Complaints process here<https://about.rte.ie/contact/complaints/>.



Please note that all negative comments which are not classified as formal complaints are treated as feedback.

JDxtra

They are just generic responses which they've had in place for years. Wait a few days to see if you get a reply.

silver2020

alzer100 wrote: »

SENT TO info@rte.ie

To Whom It Concerns,



IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE NOT RESPONDING TO THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION FOR NOW.

You sent it to "info@" - ah come on, every crackpot that wants to complain about anything from a tampax advert to someone kissing on Eastenders sends an email to this email address.

I'm in a relatively small company and the amount of sh1te that comes into the info@ email address is unbelievable. Most of it is ignored and much of it is spam. So you can imagine the generic RTE email address

Press office might be better Linda.pototzki@rte.ie

Elmo

silver2020 wrote: »

You sent it to "info@" - ah come on, every crackpot that wants to complain about anything from a tampax advert to someone kissing on Eastenders sends an email to this email address.

I'm in a relatively small company and the amount of sh1te that comes into the info@ email address is unbelievable. Most of it is ignored and much of it is spam. So you can imagine the generic RTE email address

Press office might be better Linda.pototzki@rte.ie

I am interested in see how info actually respond. Trust me I have gone above Linda, my info isn't from info.

alzer100

silver2020 wrote: »

You sent it to "info@" - ah come on, every crackpot that wants to complain about anything from a tampax advert to someone kissing on Eastenders sends an email to this email address.

I'm in a relatively small company and the amount of sh1te that comes into the info@ email address is unbelievable. Most of it is ignored and much of it is spam. So you can imagine the generic RTE email address

Press office might be better Linda.pototzki@rte.ie

info@rte.ie was suggested to me by a registered user of Boards.ie just this morning.

If you feel confident that the contact person you have highlighted is probably a better option - great.

I could also contact the director general directly as I have done before, but it's quite unlikely that I will get a response.

I don't think individuals within RTE are going to share this information (and that's assuming they know), I think if it is communicated, it's going to be through the media TBH.

ford fiesta

Unless you want RTE Gold and the other Digital stations to close, why would you write to RTE asking them???

Best to write and ask them NOT to close Gold and the other the stations!!

Elmo

ford fiesta wrote: »

Unless you want RTE Gold and the other Digital stations to close, why would you write to RTE asking them???

Best to write and ask them NOT to close Gold and the other the stations!!

There's a sense that RTÉ have the power just to close stations as they please. It's important to get RTÉ to make a proposal to the Minister, so that she can: -

1. Get a SIA made by the BAI
2. Get her department to get input from relevant Stakeholders
3. If she wants to ask the public for their thoughts on the closures of these services.

I would write to the minister asking for number 3.

But we need to know if RTÉ have put their proposal in.

Elmo

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2020-06-23/639/?highlight%5B0%5D=rt%C3%83%C2%89

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has received communication from the Director General of RTÉ regarding the future of its digital radio stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12093/20]


Section 103 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 requires that Ministerial consent shall be sought if RTÉ wishes to vary the number of television or sound broadcasting channels it operates. It also requires that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland be consulted as to the sectoral impact of such changes.

I have not, to date, received a proposal from RTÉ regarding the closure of digital stations.

Minister Richard Burton on 23rd of June 2020

alzer100

ford fiesta wrote: »

Unless you want RTE Gold and the other Digital stations to close, why would you write to RTE asking them???

Best to write and ask them NOT to close Gold and the other the stations!!

Unfortunately, this is what they are in the process of doing, whether anyone likes it or not.

With weekday live presenters being phased out and no real re-introduction of weekend programming, the station is effectively being wound down again.

Believe me, RTE's Director General has been made very aware of the unpopularity of her decision.

alzer100

Elmo wrote: »

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2020-06-23/639/?highlight%5B0%5D=rt%C3%83%C2%89

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has received communication from the Director General of RTÉ regarding the future of its digital radio stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12093/20]


Section 103 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 requires that Ministerial consent shall be sought if RTÉ wishes to vary the number of television or sound broadcasting channels it operates. It also requires that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland be consulted as to the sectoral impact of such changes.

I have not, to date, received a proposal from RTÉ regarding the closure of digital stations.

Minister Richard Burton on 23rd of June 2020

I don't understand why they were intent on an April 2020 closure when according to the response received they had not gotten the green light from the minister up to that point.

Unless as you have pointed out yourself, they have plans to just do it.

OR they are toying with the ideaa of possibly keeping some or all of the channels online.

The digital network as in the DAB transmitters are probably the most expensive cost (if any) of that operation. I understand that they can probably pull the plug on that at their discretion.

It's really hard to make out how they are going about all of this officially.

Elmo

alzer100 wrote: »

I don't understand why they were intent on an April 2020 closure when according to the response received they had not gotten the green light from the minister up to that point.

Unless as you have pointed out yourself, they have plans to just do it.

OR they are toying with the ideaa of possibly keeping some or all of the channels online.

The digital network as in the DAB transmitters are probably the most expensive cost (if any) of that operation. I understand that they can probably pull the plug on that at their discretion.

It's really hard to make out how they are going about all of this officially.

TBH I don't think they knew that they had to do this. I don't think RTÉ actually know what they are doing.

I mean a decision like this from an Irish Government can take up to a year and a half and even then you might not get a decision.

OTV on Saorview took 6 months
Eamon Ryan was sitting on RTÉ ONE +1 and new digital services when he left office in 2011, decision made very quickly by Carey.
while Pat Rabbitte refused to make a decision on RTÉjr on RTÉ2 in the end it remains on RTÉ2
Not sure how RTÉ2+1 went, think that was a bit quicker.

alzer100

I really have no confidence in Dee Forbes. She really can't see the woods for the trees. Seriously!!

crushproof

Have been tuning into Gold over the past few months while working from home. No ads, no waffling nonsense and best of all no headwrecking phone ins. Just music. Some repetition but always a couple of gems thrown in that I haven't heard in a long time.

Would be disappointing to see it go and seeing as everyone involved seem to be permanent RTE staff it's odd, what the heck are they going to be doing otherwise?

Max Headroom

"Until it sleeps" yesterday..in the middle of the day :eek:......class

channelsurfer2

crushproof wrote: »

Have been tuning into Gold over the past few months while working from home. No ads, no waffling nonsense and best of all no headwrecking phone ins. Just music. Some repetition but always a couple of gems thrown in that I haven't heard in a long time.

Would be disappointing to see it go and seeing as everyone involved seem to be permanent RTE staff it's odd, what the heck are they going to be doing otherwise?

in contrast to the awful noise they call music on 2fm....

Buford T. Justice XIX

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

in contrast to the awful noise they call music on 2fm....

The music can be good the odd time I used change over. I got clobbered with a female DJ one morning giving out about Justin Trudeau having gone blackfaced a while before and managed to shoehorn male patriarchy into it as well.

I'd get over poor music, tbh.

Tork

It's a sign that you're too old for 2FM when you think most of the music is awful noise. The problem is, there is nowhere in the RTE canon for people too old for 2FM to go for their music during the daytime (evening time is different). Radio 1 and Lyric FM are no substitutes for that. When you look across the water at the BBC, it's so different for them.