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RTE Gold discussion thread

Joe Duffy.

With the news yesterday that Will Leahy and Rick O Shea are joining rte gold on weekdays, is there actually a plan for the station or is it just the new dumping ground for jocks too old for 2fm ? What type of service is RTE Gold offering that isn't already available from Classic Hits 4fm, Q102, East coast Radio ? It seems to play an awful lot of generic 80s stuff.

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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.

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.

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.

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

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: »

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.

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.

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.

radioguru02

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

tv3tg4

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

Eg. They managed it in the UK -

alzer100

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

un5byh7sqpd2x0

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

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

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.

Kilboor

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

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.

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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...

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.

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?

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.