RTÉ Needs a proper 24 hour news channel

CuSO4

It's no secret that RTÉ's infrastructure has lagged behind the competition for years now, both due to poor management and underfunding. But the News Now channel is one of the most glaring issues. It started in 2010 and has stayed the same since. It's actually quite ridiculous that the national broadcaster's "news channel" is actually just a repeat of pre-recorded news bulletins. When the riots in Dublin back in October happened, the BBC and Sky News started covering it almost instantly, but RTÉ had to wait for the Nine O'Clock News. Isn't that embarrassing? People argue that news is moving online now but for big events people still tune in live to get live and up to date information. Plus for older people who don't know how to use the internet, it would be of great value, especially with the shut down of Aertel.

I know with the current state of RTE and the hostility towards it, securing funding for it would be hard, maybe not a full 24 hour broadcast but at least from 6am to 12pm would be much better, with another news channel such as BBC World filling in the 12 to 6 slot.

It would also give them more room to have longer more detailed reports longer than 5 minutes because they don't have to fit it into an our long bulletin.

Out of everything they are prioritising right now, this should be at the top of the list, along with the player and audio app.

drury..

Can't see the need for it

It'll presumably cost us money when we already have a rte news app

SteM

It's a poor service as is but I'd be in favour of just dropping it completely.

The cost to have a 24 hour or even 18 hour news channel like BBC News would be a huge financial drain for a country this size.

Tell me how

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058362914/rte-needs-a-proper-24-hour-news-channel

Absolutely no need for it. And in a time when all thoughts about RTE are from the perspective of it being more responsible with money, this would be a massive step in the wrong direction.

And even if money was not an issue, there is no paramount need for 24Hr coverage so that things can be broadcast immediately. There still is the option for Newsflash programming to interrupt normal programs as happened say in 2001 on 9/11.

All that aside, sometimes less is more when it comes to news broadcasting and it turns more in to entertainment rather than information with the journalists and producers desperately trying to find copy to fill the show and so can rush to giving misleading opinion as fact. Which can be problematic as we saw in the days after Oct 7th last year also.

It's a no for me.

icdg

About 20 years too late if they were going to do it OP. The value of 24 hour news channels are diminishing in the internet era, great still for events that are big enough to deserve rolling coverage but not big enough to warrant disrupting main channel schedules, but for day to day rolling news websites are now an easier and cheaper means of delivering coverage than a live linear channel.

For RTE, a full live 24 hour news channel was arguably a luxury they could never have afforded, and in the current climate when they’ve just gotten a massive taxpayer bailout, is certainly a luxury they don’t need now.

Trigger Happy

RTE needs to be cut massivley to get rid of the bloat and to get back to its primary focus as a national broadçaster. Spending money on a 24 hour news channel would be a waste.

Jim_Hodge

RTE already spend too much time and money on News programmes. It's painful to watch the six one news being stretched to an hour every day. We certainly don't need them repeating the same news stories all day every day. If anything they need to reduce news broadcasts.

Sheep Shagger

24 news channels have been and gone especially for a country the size of Ireland.

If I had my way with RTE there would only be one tv and radio station, I can never understand why it is running the likes of 2FM when there are plenty of commercial music stations, let the private sector battle that out.

RTE should only provide content that wouldn't normally be available by the commercial sector.

Delta2113

Occasionally they will carry a LIVE news conference from the U.S. for example not being covered by BBC or Sky or them cutting away from it. You could easily improve the channel with little or no extra cost.

And please stop calling it RTE News Now - it's just RTE News and has been for years.

icdg

When Virgin Media is still referring to “BBC News 24” sixteen years later, I fear you have no hope there…

flazio

Even the biggest 24 hour News channels are struggling. The BBC had 2 of them, BBC News 24 and BBC World, eventually after branding to BBC News and BBC World News respectfully, the World News channel was closed and the BBC News channel became more international.

CNN international is still going but there's much less unique content on the channel. It used to be simulcasts with CNN US were rare now it's normal.

RoTelly

No need, RTÉ need to think a bit about their News channel. They also need to consider bringing back axed programming.

For example TV NEWS BULLETINS on morning RTÉ ONE, late night news and NEWS on 2.

A quick restructure would help it massively by bring in each of the different areas of RTÉ.

The renaming of the channel is stupid RTÉ NEWS NOW makes sense and avoid having the news readers saying "Over on the RTÉ news channel"

It's no secret that RTÉ's infrastructure has lagged behind the competition for years now, both due to poor management and underfunding. 

Mainly due to poor management.

Out of everything they are prioritising right now, this should be at the top of the list, along with the player and audio app.

@CuSO4 They need to explain how having a 24 hour news service they still cut news in August.

StormForce13

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122465478#Comment_122465478

Oh I don't know!

I consider it essential that RTE's Ace, on the spot, reporters are able to tell me how local people "feel" about newsworthy things that have happened in their area.

Life just wouldn't be the same for RTE News viewers if they couldn't hear what the local County Councillor, Parish Priest and/or owner of the local supermarket think about the matter! And, if they can add a shocked neighbour or two into the mix, then all the better!

galtee boy

I actually use RTE News, when I come home from work, I often switch it on as I've missed all the bulletins earlier, it's handy to catch up, I know the bulletins are on the Player, but I would have the news read myself waiting to get through the adverts on the Player.

Sam Russell

I regularly read the Irish Times and the Guardian for news, and a significant amount of news is reprinted in the IT from sources from the FT, Guardian, and the NY Times. They also use Reuters and AFP as a source.

Now a RTE News channel could do the same using reputable news media, and fill a channel.

Sheep Shagger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122469059#Comment_122469059

But they have to pay those other news sources.…

seanin4711

RTE needs to be cut loose

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058362914/rte-needs-a-proper-24-hour-news-channel

What an odd proposal. Do you be working for the state broadcaster and maybe worried about job prospects?

Regardless, it should be an easy sell to the government, a dedicated channel to disseminate 'information' from the government press office and the various related ministers and back benchers.

Lewis_Benson

Do we have that much news?

Digifriendly

RTE News showing Olympic stream this morning different from RTE 2 coverage. Maybe use it as a kind of equivalent of BBC red button from time to time is the way forward.

Sam Russell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122469148#Comment_122469148

I have heard it said that the BBC radio in the 1930s used to announce 'The news will be at at 8 O'clock - if there is any.'

Newspapers fill their pages with news, 'news', gossip, and adverts - enough to fill the edition.

There is no shortage of news - and even Irish news. Court cases, business news, political news, sports, plus general stuff, and special reports.

Advertising will pay for it if the viewers watch it, and that requires quality content.

gossamerfabric

RTE should be providing proper briefings on streaming services to give the essentials without having enough time to propagandize.

Here I can just ask for a briefing update from my google or alexa device and it gives me a 100 second update of the keypoints of news in this country followed by a weather update. The news is up to date, not the previous day.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122469148#Comment_122469148

As much as any other country TBH.

Also if RTÉ haven't been bother to develop the channel as it now stand why would anyone think they would at this late stage. I am surprised they decided to ditch the +1s over News Now (the only thing RTÉ did in the last number of years to the service was to drop the NOW from the channel name).

Bellbottoms

I may be remember wrong. But didn't Sky have a 24 hour Irish news channel. It didn't really work well. There is not enough fresh Irish news to justify a 24 hour channel. Instead we got the UK Sky news station, with a few Irish centric subsitutions.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122476009#Comment_122476009

Just a six o’clock News opt out
there are other sources of News than just Ireland.

Montage of Feck

I find it strange that there's late night weather forecasts but no news on rte now.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122477047#Comment_122477047

sponsorship same for morning weather reports and sport bulletins on 2FM.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122477047#Comment_122477047

I find it strange that the OP @CuSO4 hasn't returned to discuss the matter.

Sam Russell

RTE have five TV channels and four FM radio channels, plus digital radio channels.

Two TV channels are given over to +1 channels plus a part time kids channel. The kids channel has no advertising, and the +1 elements cannot make much in advertising revenue. The RTE News channel has no advertising either.

RTE 2 also shows kids programmes without advertising.

So we have five TV channels carrying less than two channels worth of adverts, and very little of local content.

A proper news channel, funded by advertising, and linked to Radio One, could supply a good rich supply of news based content.

Some content could be of the Open University type programming - educational in nature, but of interest to many.

Instead, redundancy, sell offs, tinged with begrudgery, and yet another round of cut backs is the approach.

If RTE was starting up from scratch with five TV channels, four FM radio channels, and a talented staff and studios, what would they plan to do to fill those channels?

Worth asking?

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122486364#Comment_122486364

IMO, there is no begrudery towards RTÉ, RTÉ were given an opportunity to run a broadcaster and they mismanaged that.

RTÉ2's RTÉjr strand is the only part of RTÉ2 that does not carry adverts, the TRTÉ strand carries adverts.

RTÉ2 +1 is a part-time channel also, I am not sure why as it does not share any space with RTÉjr and AFAIK it never did as it starts earlier in the day on Sat and Sun.

If there was any idea of using RTÉ News by RTÉ in the "New Direction" and in their "Strategy 2024" they would have gone to the minister and department to ask to add adverts to the channel. They haven't done this. Meanwhile they have added nothing new to News on broadcast, over the last 7 years we have seen news content on broadcast TV slashed and not replace by content online. No news on RTÉ2, no morning bulletins on RTÉ ONE, no late night news on RTÉ ONE, no evening news on 2FM (but as I have pointed out Weather and Sport on both, respective due to sponsorship, or the potential for sponsorship). How could you run a 24 news channel when you are cutting news, along with the fact that RTÉ are now on a holiday from news during August with the usual excuses. The only thing they've done since the launch of "the RTÉ NEWS channel" is to rebrand away from "RTÉ NEWS NOW".

RTÉ really is starting from scratch because of their mismanagement, weather we like it or not this is a fact.

Rather RTÉ needs to be send a message and the broadcaster needs to be split apart so that we can have a proper public service broadcasters.

RTÉ TV - (rebrand as FÍS) - RTÉ ONE, RTÉ2, RTÉ NEWS, RTÉ GOLD (all rebranded as FÍS)

RTÉ Radio - 2RN - RTÉ NETWORKS, Montrose STUDIOS, Radio 1 (2RN), 2FM, GOLD, 2XM and Pulse

TnaG/RnaG - TG4, RnaG, Cula4, RTÉjr, Cine4

NCH - LyricFM and the RTÉ CO (Other music groups have already move the NCH proving the success of splitting RTÉ up)

ABOVE FUNDED BY EXCHEQUER (If TG4 are looking for extra money they need to take on other responsibilities, having Irish language content split between 2 broadcasts is not good policy)

RTÉ NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS - becomes the news provider for the channels above and is funded by the licence fee (which is reduce) it takes over the running of the NEWS CHANNEL.

RTÉ new direction is purely to provide us more of the same.

Sam Russell

RTE in its future plan is giving us less of the same with nothing new but more funding - not more of the same.

I would keep RTE as the name for the service.

RnaG should go to TG4 for sure.

Maybe, start with RTE News and Current Affairs as the central news provider for the whole of RTE. They would be content provider and not restricted to a single channel. They would supply both radio and TV, and be the backbone of a RTE News channel, and included in that channel would be educational as well as basic news. They could also provide the independent radio stations.

RTE Culture should provide content for music, theatre, and other cultural events - not just on TV, but in social arts events.

Content is the key and importing from low cost suppliers in the USA is not the way to go, nor is repeating ancient programmes from the early days of RTE. So they need to start a drama commissioning section - such that they can supply from in house, or from outside independents. They could also become aware of new talent and foster it - not a thing they have been good at in the past. They passed up Father Ted, and Dan and Becks was brilliant and cheap to make, but was left to wither. They battle on with Fair City - but reduced output. They have been terrible at comedy and proved that they are no joke at it.

Irish Rail has spent the last century closing lines and reducing staff numbers and services. They are getting the possibility to expand with Dart plus, and other expansions. With the passenger numbers responding, there is a future for rail.

Maybe RTE should lo look for the same possibility, not just more of the same - slash and burn.

RoTelly

@Sam Russell

RTE in its future plan is giving us less of the same with nothing new but more funding - not more of the same.

I though you were being soft :) I don't see how RTÉ can really do anything to the news channel under current management/strategy.

I would keep RTE as the name for the service.

Why for what nostalgia? Call it Network 1, 2 and Network Culture. The name doesn't really matter but I think again sometimes you have to look at the failure that RTÉ has been to this point and consider its name. Certainly the Radio Station could rebrand considering you rarely hear people say RTÉ Radio 1, or RTÉ 2FM or RTÉ Lyric or RTÉ RnaG, almost everyone calls them Radio 1, 2FM, Lyric and RnaG.

Maybe, start with RTE News and Current Affairs as the central news provider for the whole of RTE.

That's my Idea basically RTÉ News and Current Affairs is split out and provides news programming to RTÉ TV (FÍS/NETWORK), RTÉ Radio (under 2RN), TG4/RnaG and Lyric (Under NCH). All of this is funded via the Licence fee or some such fee, while RTÉ TV (FÍS) becomes more like TG4 in its output outside of News and Current Affairs with funding from the Exchequer and Ad revenue. Non news and current affair on Radio remains in House. The News Channel provides a second chance to view on TV. (Perhaps News and Current Affairs keeps the name of RTÉ).

Maybe RTE should lo look for the same possibility, not just more of the same - slash and burn.

As I say RTÉ have nothing planned really, and have left themselves in a terrible suitation, I don't see why we should feed them, when they have no new idea on how to reform in terms of Content.

I'd usual argue about the urban legend that the refused Fr Ted, but by not investing in Comedy prior to the arrival of Fr Ted they did exactly that.

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058362914/rte-needs-a-proper-24-hour-news-channel

The problem is that the hostility against the RTE is basically driven by poor management choices and lack of interesting content. The latter is often debated with strong oposing views but still controversial for all involved.

The 24 hour news channel is already dominated by either the BBC or Sky News. The RTE 24 hour news channel would come rather late to the market and would have it rather hard.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122486814#Comment_122486814

Is the poor management of RTÉ reflected in the lack of interesting content / simply lack of content?

BTW I did read one report way back when that but RTÉ NEWS NOW as the second most watch TV channel not report in the TAM ratings (I think Channel 5 was number 1 at the time).

RTÉ should at least add RTÉ NEWS NOW to the tam ratings, or provide some metric for audience for the channel. (Same for TG4 and its two channel +1 and Cula4).

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122486841#Comment_122486841

Yes, agreed, the one leads to the other.

Sam Russell

Why have RTE News dropped the 'What it says in the papers' on weekend morning newscasts?

Is this cost cutting (can they not afford the papers?) or is it just contempt for the listeners?

Discodog

I remember the Boxing Day Tsunami. Every news outlet in the World was reporting on the devastation & RTE was playing easy listening music.

jrmb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122516079#Comment_122516079

It's the kind of thing they usually do in August.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122518182#Comment_122518182

Like cutting the Six-One TV news to 30 minutes and still struggling to fill the time slot.

Sam Russell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122518255#Comment_122518255

I suppose that answers the topic.

They cannot fill a 24 min slot with news, so they will never manage a 24 hour slot.

They need a lot more talented journalists.

dhaughton99

24 hours of Govt propaganda!

There was an Italian tourist sexually assaulted on the way to the AC/DC concert the other day and only the Examiner reported it.

ednwireland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122518255#Comment_122518255

ah but we get a rerun of reeling in the years love the 60s and 70s ones

how they think they can fill an hour if news a day.....

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122520588#Comment_122520588

You can have reruns of RITY every night on RTÉ2 at 7pm every night, 52 weeks of the year. Or RTÉ could push the re-runs to 7pm on RTÉ ONE, you'd think RTÉ didn't ever repeat anything.

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122516079#Comment_122516079

who reads papers these days?

Irish times is estimated to be well under 35,000 physical copies a day.

"What it says in the papers" was good for the days when most people read physical newspapers and probably didn't have them until mid morning. These days most are reading the papers online before they roll out of bed. So a section on what it says in the papers is old news by 8am and of little interest to most.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122522689#Comment_122522689

Yeah always think it is strange that Sky News have a newspaper review at the end of the night, I think BBC NEWS 24 does the same.

Sam Russell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122522689#Comment_122522689

The format of 'WISITP' needs to be rethought, but it does point to some things not covered in the news bulletin and does save having to read the lesser titles and avoid the click bait.

They should concentrate only in the news items that are worth commenting on, and not mentioning all the titles that cover it.

thesandeman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122522720#Comment_122522720

The Sky News one is a preview of the next mornings papers.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122523498#Comment_122523498

RTÉ is a review of the week?

Infoanon

RTE News Now yesterday (Aug 20th) carried mass at 11am and later carried at 8pm carried a Donald Trump speech that no other network carried primarily due to the level of falsehoods. A relay of News at 9 followed with Nuacht later.

To transform this into a proper News channel would cost many millions and to what end in a market that Sky and CNN dominate. L

Sam Russell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122528082#Comment_122528082

So you want the Irish viewer to accept UK slanted news or USA slanted news, and just let those outlets at it. Both are outputting propaganda without any moderation.

Even the Czar of Russia had to worry about the Skibbereen Eagle that kept its beady eye on him. I guess he kept a careful watch on his behaviour as a result.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122528082#Comment_122528082

Free content on a channel not really looked at by RTÉ.

RTÉ NEWS NOW real simple need a tidy up. And someone to lead that change, of course RTÉ would want to spend millions on such changes rather then do something simple.

They can clear make things full screen as they do for sports and press conferences.

I assume that RTÉ NEWS's graphics came with a ticker (as it does during the business news)

Use the Business ticker, put the time in the top right hand corner, with the weather beneath it.

There are times when several tickers are saying the same thing. Mixing international news programming, I am sure they have access to EBU news programmes from other EBU news public service providers.

To me its just a case of RTÉ not being all that interested, it looks terrible for RTÉ, its a stain on a service which is under pressure to preform.