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

19-05-2020 05:19AM

I have begun to notice how patchy the news offering online from RTE is. I’m not talking specifically about RTE News Now; I have a smart home thingy now which you can programme to tell you what the weather, commute time and news etc. So I get it to give me the news headlines on the Beeb and RTÉ

It’s noticeable that when I wake up, around 6 am, the BBC headlines are usually timed around 4.15 am (give or take) but the RTÉ one varies from, say, 6pm or 8pm the evening before. Monday morning was particularly lackadaisical: the report was from Sunday morning, 1140 IIRC.

I wonder why?

Brendan Bendar · 19-05-2020 07:22AM

Deleted User wrote: »

I have begun to notice how patchy the news offering online from RTE is. I’m not talking specifically about RTE News Now; I have a smart home thingy now which you can programme to tell you what the weather, commute time and news etc. So I get it to give me the news headlines on the Beeb and RTÉ

It’s noticeable that when I wake up, around 6 am, the BBC headlines are usually timed around 4.15 am (give or take) but the RTÉ one varies from, say, 6pm or 8pm the evening before. Monday morning was particularly lackadaisical: the report was from Sunday morning, 1140 IIRC.

I wonder why?

BBC world Service........in a nutshell

Much more oriented to world wide news than ,in fairness, RTE would be.

No excuse for sloppy stuff though.

Elmo · 19-05-2020 07:43AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I have begun to notice how patchy the news offering online from RTE is. I’m not talking specifically about RTE News Now; I have a smart home thingy now which you can programme to tell you what the weather, commute time and news etc. So I get it to give me the news headlines on the Beeb and RTÉ

Has this always been the case or just recently?

19-05-2020 11:57AM

Elmo wrote: »

Has this always been the case or just recently?

TBH I’m not sure, have only had the gizmo a few weeks.

19-05-2020 11:58AM

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

BBC world Service........in a nutshell

Much more oriented to world wide news than ,in fairness, RTE would be.

No excuse for sloppy stuff though.

Ah, maybe so, but the BBC news headlines are specifically about what’s going on in the UK (well, mostly)

Brendan Bendar · 19-05-2020 01:30PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Ah, maybe so, but the BBC news headlines are specifically about what’s going on in the UK (well, mostly)

Indeed but they have news rooms well staffed 24/7 .

BBC R4 operates up to midnight, switches to World Service and 4 comes back again around 0530.

RTE would have one or two and the station cat purring in a basket in the newsroom.

elperello · 19-05-2020 02:35PM

Nevin Parsnipp wrote: »

Don't quite "get" that post my friend ...I'm sure the fault is mine.

Nobody is disputing that the companies are state owned

Neither are they saying that they are not essential services .

Everybody agrees that it is up to the Government to decide on what subvention if any to award these companies ?

So I guess I am missing whatever point you were putting forward ?

The thrust of the recent posts was that these companies need to manage their finances to take into account "bumps in the road" and have contingency in place and not be bleating for tax payer bail out at the first opportunity.

In the case of RTE the level of salaries paid to their so called "Stars" is nothing short of scandalous and I am at loss to understand how this has been allowed to continue for so long.

That's ok not to worry.

My point was simply that the companies in question are state owned and essential services which we appear to be agreed on.

Where I would take issue with you is in describing the current situation as a "bump in the road". It would be hard for any organisation to respond to the C19 crisis without recourse to extra funding. Many organisations both public and private are currently looking for funding from the state coffers.

As the DAA and CIE are in the transport business it's probably best to confine ourselves to RTE for the purposes of this thread.

Unfortunately there is no pot of gold at the end of the "stars salaries" rainbow. Most of the high earners have contracts and until they are renewed savings will not be available there. Any cuts to staff salaries would be in the context of cuts in the broader public service if the Government decides to take that route.

In view of the forthcoming Broadcasting Commission which I hope will address all matters relating to RTE funding I think it would be best for the Government to supply emergency funding. This would allow RTE to continue to fulfill it's vital public service remit during the crisis and leave the final reckoning to calmer times.

Elmo · 19-05-2020 04:19PM

elperello wrote: »

Unfortunately there is no pot of gold at the end of the "stars salaries" rainbow. Most of the high earners have contracts and until they are renewed savings will not be available there. Any cuts to staff salaries would be in the context of cuts in the broader public service if the Government decides to take that route.

In view of the forthcoming Broadcasting Commission which I hope will address all matters relating to RTE funding I think it would be best for the Government to supply emergency funding. This would allow RTE to continue to fulfill it's vital public service remit during the crisis and leave the final reckoning to calmer times.

How many Commission have there been, there was one only 3 years ago and the government failed to act on it.

In relation to star salaries, RTÉ are in a crisis like the rest of us, I am sure those on excellent wages might consider them.

elperello · 19-05-2020 09:12PM

Elmo wrote: »

How many Commission have there been, there was one only 3 years ago and the government failed to act on it.

In relation to star salaries, RTÉ are in a crisis like the rest of us, I am sure those on excellent wages might consider them.

I don't know but I hope when things settle down that the incoming Minister gets on with it.

I have the first draft of my submission prepared. I believe Public Service Broadcasting is too important to be left to wither on the vine.

Regarding your point on stars salaries there is nothing to prevent employees taking voluntary cuts but I expect such altruism is unlikely to materialise

.

Elmo · 19-05-2020 10:15PM

elperello wrote: »

I have the first draft of my submission prepared. I believe Public Service Broadcasting is too important to be left to wither on the vine.

Might dust down my submission

elperello · 19-05-2020 10:34PM

Elmo wrote: »

Might dust down my submission

Never waste a crisis

iseegirls · 20-05-2020 09:07AM

DIY SOS moving to RTE2 next Thursday, from Virgin Media.

Excellent - now we're paying our Licence Fee to watch DIY SOS and The Great British Bake Off on Thursday evenings

RabbleRouser2k · 20-05-2020 10:19AM

iseegirls wrote: »

DIY SOS moving to RTE2 next Thursday, from Virgin Media.

Excellent - now we're paying our Licence Fee to watch DIY SOS and The Great British Bake Off on Thursday evenings

Is that not the Irish one-the one with Baz Ashmawy?

Elmo · 20-05-2020 10:33AM

RabbleRouser2k wrote: »

Is that not the Irish one-the one with Baz Ashmawy?

Most likely the Irish version will air on RTÉ ONE I can't imagine that RTÉ will show many original shows on RTÉ2 for the foreseeable future.

iseegirls · 20-05-2020 10:55AM

No, it's defensively the British DIY series.

RTE2 next Thursday:
7:00pm DIY SOS
Season 29 Episode 1 of 5

8:10pm The Great British Bake Off
Season 2016 Episode 1 of 11

Elmo · 20-05-2020 11:03AM

iseegirls wrote: »

defensively

RTÉ will definitely defend buying in home improvement shows from England!

iseegirls · 20-05-2020 11:14AM

Elmo wrote: »

RTÉ will definitely defend buying in home improvement shows from England!

Typo, or was it?

tallaghtfornia · 20-05-2020 11:29AM

It makes me sick paying this licence fee every year and with the exception of the Christmas show that my kids watch on RTE player (There usually board after a few mins) and we could live without it.

Myself or family do not watch RTE do not have an interest in RTE and do not have access to there service on my TV and I do not want my hard earned money going toward it or subsidizing people who want to watch it - if people want to watch it there should be some method to let them pay for it and leave the ones who have no interest in it not to pay.

For all its worth I will be lobbying my TD this year about this.

RabbleRouser2k · 20-05-2020 11:54AM

I remember Pat Rabbitte was one of the few politicians to call out RTE on their crap programming (home produced stuff, as well as certain services).

He went from 'media darling' to 'media outcast' very quickly after that.

Elmo · 20-05-2020 12:14PM

RabbleRouser2k wrote: »

I remember Pat Rabbitte was one of the few politicians to call out RTE on their crap programming (home produced stuff, as well as certain services).

He went from 'media darling' to 'media outcast' very quickly after that.

Worst Minister for comms. Seriously he couldn't even make a decision on removing children's programming from RTÉ2 (Yes under the act they have to ask). He over saw the slow role out of DTT which had started with Eamon Ryan (who might be the second worst).

Pat Rabbitte is media loved up in the SBP. A very angry man.

RabbleRouser2k · 20-05-2020 12:39PM

Elmo wrote: »

Worst Minister for comms. Seriously he couldn't even make a decision on removing children's programming from RTÉ2 (Yes under the act they have to ask). He over saw the slow role out of DTT which had started with Eamon Ryan (who might be the second worst).

Pat Rabbitte is media loved up in the SBP. A very angry man.

Oh Rabbitte was and is a terrible politician. For sure. Funny when the camera was pointed at him, useless when it wasn't.
He could spin an anecdote-but when he was put in charge of Labour, he was useless.

Nevin Parsnipp · 21-05-2020 07:47PM

elperello wrote: »

That's ok not to worry.

My point was simply that the companies in question are state owned and essential services which we appear to be agreed on.

Yes we are agreed on that ....

Where I would take issue with you is in describing the current situation as a "bump in the road". It would be hard for any organisation to respond to the C19 crisis without recourse to extra funding. Many organisations both public and private are currently looking for funding from the state coffers.

I wasn't describing only the current situation ..I was referring to the fact that a lot of these type of companies have Directors who live "high on the hog" and do not provide for minor downturns

As the DAA and CIE are in the transport business it's probably best to confine ourselves to RTE for the purposes of this thread.

Why so ? The DAA in particular have had at least 6 years of very rapid expansion.

Unfortunately there is no pot of gold at the end of the "stars salaries" rainbow. Most of the high earners have contracts and until they are renewed savings will not be available there. Any cuts to staff salaries would be in the context of cuts in the broader public service if the Government decides to take that route.

Agreed on the pot of gold bit..I know that in the overall scheme of things the stars salaries are a small percentage ...but what boils most peoples p1ss is that someone in RTE agreed these contracts and paying these ridiculous salaries while looking for more taxpayer money is just a no no.

In view of the forthcoming Broadcasting Commission which I hope will address all matters relating to RTE funding I think it would be best for the Government to supply emergency funding. This would allow RTE to continue to fulfill it's vital public service remit during the crisis and leave the final reckoning to calmer times.

Would be against ANY increase in subvention to RTE until a proper independent review is carried out.

Elmo · 22-05-2020 04:10PM

In relation to presenters wages. RTÉ will often defend this.

But take Tubrity as an example why did he earn so much from 2010 to 2015 when his Radio show on 2FM was doing really badly and he only return to an audience when getting back to work on Radio1, is he really that valuable if he can spend 5 years on 2fm with no listeners and then return to RTÉ Radio 1's audience level because he happens to be on Radio 1?

badabing106 · 22-05-2020 04:25PM

Elmo wrote: »

In relation to presenters wages. RTÉ will often defend this.

But take Tubrity as an example why did he earn so much from 2010 to 2015 when his Radio show on 2FM was doing really badly and he only return to an audience when getting back to work on Radio1, is he really that valuable if he can spend 5 years on 2fm with no listeners and then return to RTÉ Radio 1's audience level because he happens to be on Radio 1?

I think RTE feared he would be "poached". All of RTE "stars" were put on mount everest type peak summit salaries for fear they would be headhunted by rival stations? A tiny market like Ireland? The mind boggles.

Joe Duffy earned €408,889 in 2008.RTÉ's Director General said in 2009 that there was "no question that by today's standards" the salaries paid to its top presenters last year "were excessive. I have to repeat that they were set at a different time in a different competitive reality where some of this talent might be up for poaching by other organisations and in RTÉ's view at the time, they delivered value for money".

marieholmfan · 22-05-2020 04:26PM

I suspect that the money RTE makes from Normal People will equal the money they get from the license fee (for the next couple of years).

badabing106 · 22-05-2020 04:31PM

marieholmfan wrote: »

I suspect that the money RTE makes from Normal People will equal the money they get from the license fee (for the next couple of years).

RTE had absolutely nothing to do with this show as far as I'm aware. So, I presume RTE paid for the rights to broadcast it. It was produced by The BBC and an American company Hulu

RabbleRouser2k · 22-05-2020 04:49PM

marieholmfan wrote: »

I suspect that the money RTE makes from Normal People will equal the money they get from the license fee (for the next couple of years).

badabing106 wrote: »

RTE had absolutely nothing to do with this show as far as I'm aware. So, I presume RTE paid for the rights to broadcast it. It was produced by The BBC and an American company Hulu

Yup, it had zero help from RTE. That's why it's getting so much negative 'complaints' from Moral Minor... Moral Majority. RTE cater to the 'moral' crowd.

If it was made or produced or funded in any way by RTE, the whole thing would have been neutered and devoid of personality. (I don't watch it, mind. I just have seen enough RTE to know). In comparison, a lot of folks are discussing the show. Probably being helped by the whole Quarantine or lockdown.

marieholmfan · 22-05-2020 04:58PM

badabing106 wrote: »

RTE had absolutely nothing to do with this show as far as I'm aware. So, I presume RTE paid for the rights to broadcast it. It was produced by The BBC and an American company Hulu

Oh for effs sake!

ShamNNspace · 22-05-2020 06:15PM

They just don't give a s**t. They go to the whole trouble of making a programme where Des Cahill gets some celebs to chat an choose 3 songs desert island style an then they just play 2 bars of the last song when the announcer cuts in with the news.. If ya can't do the easy things......

Kivaro · 22-05-2020 06:27PM

ShamNNspace wrote: »

They just don't give a s**t. They go to the whole trouble of making a programme where Des Cahill gets some celebs to chat an choose 3 songs desert island style an then they just play 2 bars of the last song when the announcer cuts in with the news.. If ya can't do the easy things......

And they continue to make this tripe because they know that they can get away with it .............. as the money will continue to roll in; irrespective of the non-relevance or extremely poor quality of their programmes.
The word "accountability" does not exist at RTE.

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

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