RTE 1: 'Today' with Claire Byrne

hotmail.com

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123766542#Comment_123766542

I doubt it. As said above it's probably around 200k but she gets to work outside of her deal with Newstalk.

I don't see her lasting long there once ratings plummet. With 3 hours, the programme can expect even longer segments on the weather and diseases.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123766982#Comment_123766982

A funny thing for Newstalk to do , they will lose listeners.

I'd be thinking PK is driving this? I'd say he told them a few years ago he was looking to move to weekends but gave them time to line up a bigshot replacement…

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123766684#Comment_123766684

Lots of reasons why she would make the jump.

Not really seeing them tbh. She always gave the impression R1 morning show was the pinnacle she had been working towards

For Petes Sake

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767138#Comment_123767138

Yes, but now her salary is private and she doesn't have to declare any side gigs to her employer unless its something that directly conflicts with her job.

Plus the feeling that RTÉ is very much stuck in its ways while Newstalk is trying to do something different.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767144#Comment_123767144

Yes, but now her salary is private and she doesn't have to declare any side gigs to her employer

Maybe, but I haven't heard her raising any public qualms about these issues or that they have been a big sticking point for many of RTE's top earners over the years.

Plus the feeling that RTÉ is very much stuck in its ways while Newstalk is trying to do something different.

And this is necessarily a bad thing? My impression young mothers tend to prize stability over all else in their careers. Part of why so many women become teachers IMO.

Burt Renaults

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123765898#Comment_123765898

I don't even know anything about their politics. They could be left-wing, right-wing, centrists, it's impossible to tell, and I've no interest. That's one of the reasons why I'd be far more likely to listen to RTE current affairs. Not perfect, but by far the most balanced and professional.

For Petes Sake

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767168#Comment_123767168

It probably didn't bother her much, but the changes that came in a result of the Tubridy scandal would make everyone consider their options if an opportunity arises. Wouldn't be surprised if this was the case here.

Don't know what the last paragraph is about.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767254#Comment_123767254

Don't know what the last paragraph is about.

You seem to be suggesting CB feels somehow constrained in the work she is being offered at RTE and NT will offer her the opportunity to 'spread her wings' but I reckon her NT show will be close to a carbon copy of her RTE one.

For Petes Sake

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123765898#Comment_123765898

One of the reasons I've made the switch back over to Morning Ireland in the last 12 months. No text-ins, no competitions or weekly slots - just the news of the day.

There's far too much of an obsession in some sections with presenters having to have an opinion on something. Feck that. Give me the news, have experts on and challenge them but I really couldn't care what their opinion is.

Also, Newstalk gives far too much credence to columnists. Someone writes something a little edgy and every single show is doing something on it for the whole day. Sometimes its a good talking point and worth exploring, but more often than not its obvious rage-baiting. Especially when its 'the UK does this, should Ireland do it to?' Ireland spent 800 years getting out from UK rule and it wasn't so we could go back into it.

They clearly rattle off the same stuff too - I fully expect the whole 'should grandparents be paid to mind the grandchildren?' argument to be rolled out again soon.

I don't dislike all of Newstalk to be honest. There is still nobody better than Pat at taking on a Minister (Mary Wilson not too far off), Moncrieff is something completely different, I do like when Kieran cuts through the nonsense of a major government news story but he's also capable of inserting himself into everything and Anton is very good on the weekend. Their strategy clearly works too because for the most part they've only improved year-on-year.

For Petes Sake

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767269#Comment_123767269

If Claire Byrne wanted to, for example, MC something that has zero impact on her show, then she has to run everything by RTÉ.

In Newstalk she won't have to deal with that. Coupled with the fact that Newstalk will probably pay her around the same as her next RTÉ contract anyway, it gives her a lot more freedom outside of her working hours.

I really don't understand how you're struggling with this.

Brendan Bendar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767302#Comment_123767302

Will she be doing three hours like PK?

For Petes Sake

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767309#Comment_123767309

Her show will be 3 hours I assume. What they do either side of that in the offices I'm not sure.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767312#Comment_123767312

It says in this link that it will be "a mid-morning" show so the exact timing is unclear.

McCullagh moves to Today programme as Byrne to leave RTÉ https://share.google/Me901ctrltCso9nGz

For Petes Sake

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767322#Comment_123767322

'mid morning' is generally 9am and after. Some local radio stations have their mid-morning current affairs shows from 9-11 and others from 10-12.

squonk

Seems like a step backwards to me. Were she eyeing up retirenent like PK was when he jumped I’d say something. As is RTE was good exposure wise and she had a name. Outside gigs aren’t much good if she’ll disappear into obscurity over time. She’s not that talented and not that big of a draw either. I can see her NT ratings dropping over time. Seems like she did all the work to get an RTE gig then gave it all up and jumped back to square one.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767302#Comment_123767302

from what I know of Claire’s public persona I’m not seeing her as another mark little, bursting with revolutionary new ideas but held back by rtes civil service mentality.
im expecting her to do a very similar show on news talk to what she has been doing on rte and that’ll be more or less all we hear of her professionally….

For Petes Sake

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767382#Comment_123767382

You haven't addressed anything I have said at all, you're just rabbiting your own opinions which have nothing to do with what I have said.

Let's make it as simple as possible for you, because you're clearly either not getting it or you're ignoring it.

Your choices are:

200k-250k, salary is public, can't do any work outside of RTÉ without RTÉ saying so.

Or

200k-250k, salary is nobody's business but yours, and you are free to pursue outside interests if you wish to do so.

Which one are you taking?

SPDUB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767396#Comment_123767396

According to a report in the Sunday Times today declaring outside work was a major reason for her leaving RTE

For Petes Sake

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123771720#Comment_123771720

Who knew having more freedom to undertake outside work/nixers would be something that would appeal to her.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767396#Comment_123767396

One of the papers today reports that she'll be getting €2 million over three years, which is about double what she was getting at RTE. Willie O'Reilly said that, even before the RTE cap, he never had any problems with substantially beating RTE salaries when poaching their presenters.

hamburgham

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123771771#Comment_123771771

That is absolutely insane. Newstalk have lost their minds. I don’t know anyone who thinks she’s anything other than mediocre. I can guarantee. That guy who used do the Sunday show on Newstalk, Gavin O’Reilly ?- he would have been a good replacement, even Anton Savage would be better.

myfreespirit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123772673#Comment_123772673

Completely agree with your assessment of Claire Byrne, she's at best, a mediocre radio journalist. Several years ago I had to endure her as a host in a company 'away-day', taking rubbish with the CEO of the company.

She would put you to sleep.

I have no idea what Newstalk were thinking when they hired her.

squonk

What I really don’t get at all is that the a fairly young woman with kids, she seems to have no interest in anything outside of news and maybe some fashion. I don’t expect her to have knowledge of every social or cultural issue but you’d expect some personality. I always imagine her conversation with the kids round the dinner table at home being like “So little Johnnie, how was school?” “Indeed, and tell me about the effects of the school secretaries strike on the ground. Shoukd the government respond to the strikers demands?”