Dee Forbes banging the RTE TV licence drum again 60m uncollected fee *poll not working - pl ignore*

Pa ElGrande

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118401215#Comment_118401215

There are a few reasons I got rid of my TV set over decade ago. I was watching less and less of it, it became a noise in the corner that produced less and less content that interested me and better options existed especially since I'm not really into sports watching. After watching the battle of Dalkey hill play out I came to the conclusion that I was working for them for free, they no longer worked for me. I got rid of the TV and binned the notices from An Post. I noticed having gotten out of the habit of watching TV that when I visit my parents I can't sit passively in front of it for long. I object to it being included in property tax and having to give away my labour to support such a non-essential content provider that I walked away from years ago.

Based in the complaints I see about the general poor quality of RTE programming, its frequent repeats to fill out the schedule, misery porn etc. I form the impression that's its no longer public service broadcasting it now exists to be served by the public while producing the minimum dross to justify it's existence. Giving it more resources does not fix the underlying problems that have gotten it to this stage, it just extends the failing business model.

Anyone arguing for public service broadcasting should really be pushing for a subscribers club model similar to the UK national trust. This gives the public much more say in the content that is provided and lends the organisation a bedrock of public support. If they want to to do free to air stuff then they can follow the journal.ie model and hire cheap university students to produce advertisement supported news and weather and pull content from press association when they need international coverage. For RTE Plus they can buy a subscription or pay one off for events they might be interested.

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118400528#Comment_118400528

But the test cards are vital and all those empty LCN's and Oireachtas (and News Now) couldn't be merged or bandwidth shared with RTE Junior or use the deadtime overnight on RTE1 for the non-live stuff.

Stick the Public Broadcasting Service channels on MUX 1 and let the rest split the costs of MUX 2 themselves.

garrettod

We really all need to start fighting this crap - enough is enough !

Everyone here needs to send an email to all of their local TDs, and Eamon Ryan (Minister for Communications), demanding that RTE be cut down to size, and that we finally see an end to the croniesm that erodes our licence fees every year.

While the politicans don't like having to do any work, they'll tackle this if they think enough people want it done, and it's not gulping to cost them anything.

Charles Babbage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118401525#Comment_118401525

The property tax presently supports things that I have no interest in. The point is that many people have interest in these things and they are available to all.

You seem to have made a leap with that leap being that RTE is for the common good which many people, with good reason, don't believe to be the case.

Trying to justify RTE as being something which is for the common good would have been the correct place to start.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118401525#Comment_118401525

That's the second time I've seen the National Trust mentioned in this discussion, I skipped over it the first time but now seeing it again I wonder what I am missing.

What exactly do you mean by "a subscribers model similar to the UK national trust" ?

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118402421#Comment_118402421

Trying to justify RTE when TG4 can provide Public Service Broadcasting for a fraction of the price is a wee bit difficult.

Pa ElGrande

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118402425#Comment_118402425

The complaints against RTE are consistent and have been for quite some time, As a government sponsored enterprise (GSE) the organisation has been stagnating in its current state and matters are going to come to a head (i.e. appoint a receiver). RTE is a content provider among several in the Irish market, their public service operating model is based on that of the 1930s BBC, the technology and marketplace has changed substantially and all content providers have been forced to adapt rapidly over the past 20 years.

In this new market the public recognises they are being served very bland fare and they realise they are being exploited by a monopoly in which they have with no say. They idea of RTE organised as a trust originates from Sir Alan Peacock, it's not the only idea floating around.

A feasible model for BBC ownership would involve turning the licence fee into a subscription, as proposed above. The BBC would be able to provide different packages for different service levels, both domestically and internationally. It would also be able to sell programmes on a pay-per-view basis and make some service available for free with or without advertising on appropriate platforms. There could be differences between the subscriptions for streamed, digital, and broadcast content and content viewed with a time delay. There could also be different subscription rates, for example for students and older people. Such differentiation of subscription levels helps promote welfare maximisation where the value of the service differs between groups and the marginal cost of providing the service is zero (Peacock Committee, 1986, pp. 29–30). Within this model, all individuals and commercial entities that subscribe to a certain level would become equal owners in a mutual structure for the BBC. Instead of the trustees of the BBC being appointed by representatives of the licence-fee payer (notionally the government), they would be elected by the subscribers in the same way as the trustees of a charity such as the National Trust are proposed and elected or in the same way as the board of a mutual building society is elected. The National Trust has 6 million members and so the scale of the BBC as a mutual organisation would be similar to that of the National Trust, though somewhat larger.

source

Potential-Monke

Nothing will ever happen because the RTE stars all join the circle jerk with politicians.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118403225#Comment_118403225

Thanks for that.

I'll have a look at the links.

10000maniacs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118400363#Comment_118400363

"RTE should have just bought out one MUX for themselves"

Yeah right.

Where did RTE get the money in the first place to run the MUX's?

RTE don't have to reach very far into their pockets for carriage. Only the viewers pockets.

RTE's job is to act as an agent for Irish license payer actually. That's where the money to run the MUX's comes from, i.e. the viewer.

The License fee money subsidizes the MUX's by payment of our €165 a year and as such we should demand/expect HD on every channel by default.

(Well HD for the Saorview channels that show movies and sport at the very least.)

The license fee should be reduced until every channel that requires HD is HD. Why the hell else are we paying the license fee?

To see Tubbs crucifying 'Singin' in the Rain' in HD in the name of a Toy Show?

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118402019#Comment_118402019

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118401525#Comment_118401525

Make sure the email is strongly worded; then they'll sit up and take notice...

TV licence fee? The fee for possessing something you don't possess should be added to the monthly cost of receiving another unrelated service? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Public Broadcasting fee? How about putting the Government and RTE on the backfoot and forcing them to make a convincing argument that public broadcasting as is or will be delivered is to the benefit of Society.

garrettod

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118403231#Comment_118403231

Nothing will ever happen with that attitude, that's for sure... People need to demand change.

Pa ElGrande

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118404741#Comment_118404741

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118404957#Comment_118404957

The problem "they" get to define what public service broadcasting is, you don't. The term public service broadcasting does not make much sense any more.

At their core broadcast services are linear media content providers and their terms of service are built around the limits of the technology available at the time they started decades ago, the economics of that model relied on a captive audience since they were the only permitted providers which access to content libraries and broadcast frequency bandwidth is regulated.  The technology at the time did not allow encryption, to solve the free rider problem they roped everyone in with an annual tax called a licence fee., initially for radio they extended it to television. Since radios became cheap, portable and widely available it was no longer feasible to collect radio licences (I think Germany still does).  

The internet as a broadcast medium and other technological developments have changed the economics of providing content, such that anyone with a smart phone and good presentation skills can setup their own channel for very small investment overhead, you will notice compared to when they started a decade ago many internet content providers have upped their audio and video quality.  The costs of production have come way down, the problem is the likes of RTE and Virgin media terms of service signed with the broadcast regulators restrict the parameters of what they can do and don't allow for innovation, these broadcasters are stuck showing stale content that lacks novelty and they stagnate.

For me an aspect public service content providers means being able to request content on demand on the topic I'm interested. You can certainly pique my interest on a subject like basket weaving if I have time to do so I might watch it, however if I'm not interested I'm not going to sit there passively just because that's the only thing on for the next 30 minutes. Thinking about it, the invention of the remote control started the phenomenon of channel surfing decades ago. In today's world the distinguishing factor is our access to information and entertainment.  For example specialist content providers like farmers journal can command a loyal subscription base, because the farmers can put a value on knowing the prices of their inputs and end products. Sports channels can also command a premium for people interested in that subject.  

Then you come to crap drama series like "fair city", apologies in advance maybe it's gotten better since I stopped watching, I have my doubts. How do you price that? The whole rationale for soap operas is commercial advertising to a captive female audience. How doe sit fall within the remit of public service broadcasting, It is meant to be a money spinner, isn't it? Maybe the commercial revenue from fair city allows them to fund other less commercial content.

Anyway, We need to switch away from using the term public service broadcasting and move to the term public service content provider. A 21st century RTE would act as a host library and allow anyone to provide their content to their fellow citizens.

rolling boh

I would think a lot of RTE ardent watchers get the free licence so it will be left to rest of us to foot the bill for the tripe they dish up .

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118406140#Comment_118406140

Even among that demographic, I'm not sure RTE has all that many "ardent watchers" any more. I can't imagine OAPs having much time for the endless reality TV crap.

For my demographic, there is simply nothing at all

Archeron

I used to regard Rte as a quaint little thing, an Oirish TV station that existed in a space somewhere between misery and mundanity but that served a purpose for those who were fans and that it was an important thing for them, so I thought OK, that's worth paying for, people I know like it so there's that.

Over the last two years, their behavior during the pandemic has absolutely shown them for what they are, money hungry self serving scumbags who couldn't give a damn about their loyal viewers as long as there's money to be made.

How many elderly people, our mums and dads and loved ones, Rte loyal lifetime viewers who trusted them, will never step outside again and who will miss shine of the golden years of life because of the absolute relentless nonstop fear and death that has been pumped down our throats since 2020? How many people have not seen a news report that doesn't include death and doom in our own back yard, much of it made up or actively sought out just to keep the misery money flowing from #holdfirm style advertising?

I know of three older people who have become shells of their former selves from the fear Rte have pumped out during covid and who will never enjoy life again the way they previously did.

I used to have a passing dislike for them, but that's become a passionate hatred for what they have done the past two years. If Rte burnt to the ground in the morning I would have celebratory Margueritas for breakfast. Scumbags.

Hotblack Desiato

Never step outside again?

Made up?

Ah here, I'm no fan of RTE but get a grip.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118435421#Comment_118435421

I wouldn't go so far as to say you made that up but I'll just add a few observations of my own for the sake of balance.

I'm not taking away from your contribution and I'm sure there are people like your friends who need some extra help.

I know quite a few older people 70+ age range, neighbours, relations etc. and they seem to be handling this Covid hardship fairly well.

They certainly know a lot more about the detail of the situation we are in than me and are practical about the steps they need to take to protect their health.

Some of them are out hill walking, some are visiting and sitting in porches to stay in touch and have a chat.

I know a few who are in touch with children and grand children via WhatsApp etc.

They seem to like to keep up with the news and in general I'd say they prefer to get the facts rather than have information held back from them.

I know one woman who suffers from Post Polio Syndrome and another who lost a brother to TB.

It's not their first rodeo they know what an epidemic can do.

So in conclusion try to help your friends and cheer them up, they got this far so they are tougher than you might think.

fritzelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118437109#Comment_118437109

RTE did kinda go full on end of the world with it, omitting the real facts and concentrating on the deaths. Quite a contrast to the UK channels at the time

satguy

After the next GE, RTE will have Mary Lou to deal with,, and maybe, just maybe, Mary Lou will save us from these Montrose shysters. 

We have put up with their snake oil for far too long.

fritzelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118437187#Comment_118437187

SF can't even agree on their policies both sides of the border, no chance they will even touch RTE

vriesmays

RTE is for people who qualify for the free TV licence.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118437141#Comment_118437141

"The real facts"? WTF is that supposed to mean? Deaths were real facts.

The UK approach would have meant thousands more deaths here.

jippo nolan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118406140#Comment_118406140

I’m nearly in that group, RTÉ is pure shi_e that I refuse to pay for,I might as well make my way out to one of the gated communities in Dublin 4 & slash it up against the protective wall!

rolling boh

I have no issue with people only watching RTE it is their choice and i do know some people mainly older folk that only watch it because it is irish and they generally very parochial about things .I rarely watch it apart from the news or sport my main gripe is the huge money on people who we are told we have to pay them big money to hold onto them but nobody else seems interested in poaching them so for me that argument is total rubbish .

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118437187#Comment_118437187

I very much doubt they are going to 'save us' in the sense you mean but I wonder could they embrace the direct exchequer funding model. It would seem broadly in line with their statist policy platform and if they want to 'leave their mark' from their anticipated time in government...

RandomViewer

Government has decided that your electricity bill is where they'll put all these charges, can see a €500 levy being applied and then taxed on top of it

PieOhMy

Great value for the licence fee payer who also had to sit through commercials there in the first part of "dancing with the stars". Audio totally out of sync with the visual. Is it that much to ask for the very basics? Seemingly so.

Then a very long introduction of each dancer, a bit of a dance, then Nicky Byrne telling us that this week's public votes AND last votes weeks are all going to be combined with NEXT WEEKS votes to finally arrive to some conclusion.

Then a promotion for another of RTEs phone-in contests. Just to make sure every single cent possible is enticed from the audience. Don't mind informing or entertaining the nation. A more accurate reflection of RTEs mission would be "to milk the nation of every cent."