Disgusting high wages at RTE Gold for unwanted ex 2fm djs

Don Duck · 17-12-2020 03:14PM #1

I put in a foi request and have found out that in 2019 Mr William Leahy earned 75k while Mr Paul Crossan earned 70k.

17-12-2020 03:17PM

What is a radio presenters actual job, out of curiousity?

I presume the 2 hours or so they spend 'on air' is only a part of their job?

70k doesn't seem too bad to me, as i assume they have to do a 'full time job' in the sense that they may only appear on the radio for a couple of hours, but will be doing research, scouting guests, doing PR and publicity work, etc. aswell?

Philip M5 · 17-12-2020 03:36PM

Disgusting in comparison to what?

17-12-2020 03:38PM

Wait til you hear what a certain other 2FM DJ who only does a 2 or 3 hour slot a week earns...

And their wages were halved several years back

ford fiesta · 17-12-2020 03:53PM

Don Duck wrote: »

I put in a foi request and have found out that in 2019 Mr William Leahy earned 75k while Mr Paul Crossan earned 70k.

It's not the presenters fault. They are good presenters. What difference does being on RTE Gold does it make anyway and why is it disgusting?
There are many people we know in the public sector who get paid much more for very little and nothing can be done about it.

I wonder what do prime time BBC Radio 6 music presenters earn?

Don Duck · 17-12-2020 04:22PM

Philip M5 wrote: »

Disgusting in comparison to what?

RTE Gold has no advertising income and no audience, it had no live presenters until 2018, nobody asked for live presenters. A full-time presenter on q102 would be earning less than half

Don Duck · 17-12-2020 04:24PM

Fieldog wrote: »

Wait til you hear what a certain other 2FM DJ who only does a 2 or 3 hour slot a week earns...

And their wages were halved several years back

Dave Fanning?

TheBMG · 17-12-2020 04:29PM

Don Duck wrote: »

A full-time presenter on q102 would be earning less than half

Not true.

TheBMG · 17-12-2020 04:32PM

Don Duck wrote: »

Dave Fanning?

Put in another FOI request and find out ðŸ€”

Dipole Keith · 17-12-2020 05:28PM

Very little to be doing looking to see what RTE Gold presenters earn, €70K is about right for a presenter on the national public broadcaster, the fact that you used Rick O’Shea’s real name just comes across as bitter to me.

Declan A Walsh · 17-12-2020 06:30PM

I see the OP joined today and all their posts so far are on this very thread!

Philip M5 · 17-12-2020 07:02PM

Don Duck wrote: »

RTE Gold has no advertising income and no audience, it had no live presenters until 2018, nobody asked for live presenters. A full-time presenter on q102 would be earning less than half

I don't see your point valid here. If anything people are now listening to traditional stations more via their apps and embracing online digital content which has better analytics for measure than the age old JNLRs.

A full time presenter on Q102 verus national experienced presenters.....apples and oranges comparison here

JoeA3 · 17-12-2020 07:10PM

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

I see the OP joined today and all their posts so far are on this very thread!

The radio industry seems to have its fair share of very bitter little individuals. I see it on this particular sub forum more than most! New reg’s / re-reg’s posting threads like this, often claiming to have some insider info and often with a bitter/nasty undertone. Best ignored. I doubt the OP will be back.

NIMAN · 17-12-2020 08:27PM

Don Duck wrote: »

I put in a foi request and have found out that in 2019 Mr William Leahy earned 75k while Mr Paul Crossan earned 70k.

Wondering why some journo or interested punter isn't putting in a foi request to see how much tubs, Darcy and Joe got paid in these years?

yosser hughes · 17-12-2020 08:44PM

Dipole Keith wrote: »

Very little to be doing looking to see what RTE Gold presenters earn, €70K is about right for a presenter on the national public broadcaster, the fact that you used Rick O’Shea’s really name just comes across a bitter to me.

Well the facts are that RTE is losing money every year and is seeking licence increases and regularly receives bail outs from the tax payer.
Questioning why they are paying disc jockeys over 70k is perfectly legitimate especially as RTE Gold functioned quite well without them before.
The same rationale can be applied to questioning the very existence of 2FM .There is no reason for it to exist, none.

Deeper Blue · 17-12-2020 08:46PM

Am I the only one that thought they'd be on way more than 70k?

lawrencesummers · 17-12-2020 08:48PM

Dipole Keith wrote: »

Very little to be doing looking to see what RTE Gold presenters earn, €70K is about right for a presenter on the national public broadcaster, the fact that you used Rick O’Shea’s real name just comes across a bitter to me.

The motivation of the OP isn’t as big an issue as this being another massive waste of money.

17-12-2020 08:55PM

One man’s waste of money is another man’s music station of choice. Personally I can’t abide Dave Fanning nor Ray Darcy, but I acknowledge that they have fans and deserve to be paid the going rate. I might think the op is an overpaid waste of space at his/her job, but the market might put a different value on it.

L1011 · 17-12-2020 08:57PM

Philip M5 wrote: »

A full time presenter on Q102 verus national experienced presenters.....apples and oranges comparison here

Q102s full-time presenters include Aidan Cooney, with nearly 20 years daily national TV experience and Andy Preston who's 30 years on-air in Dublin - its not some tiny regional station. And they would be on rather more than 35k too; you won't get a full-time presenter for a top tier independent for that; unless they're a kid who doesn't realise what can be got.

Tiercel Dave · 17-12-2020 09:03PM

Deleted User wrote: »

What is a radio presenters actual job, out of curiousity?

I presume the 2 hours or so they spend 'on air' is only a part of their job?

70k doesn't seem too bad to me, as i assume they have to do a 'full time job' in the sense that they may only appear on the radio for a couple of hours, but will be doing research, scouting guests, doing PR and publicity work, etc. aswell?

Will also "moonlights" as a solicitor in his spare time.....

17-12-2020 09:05PM

Tiercel Dave wrote: »

Will also "moonlights" as a solicitor in his spare time.....

Was he the guy who went back to school and sat his leaving cert a few years ago? If it was, fair dues.

Declan A Walsh · 17-12-2020 09:13PM

L1011 wrote: »

Q102s full-time presenters include Aidan Cooney, with nearly 20 years daily national TV experience and Andy Preston who's 30 years on-air in Dublin - its not some tiny regional station. And they would be on rather more than 35k too; you won't get a full-time presenter for a top tier independent for that; unless they're a kid who doesn't realise what can be got.

In Aidan Cooney's case, you should also factor in that he has legal radio experience going back to 1989, i.e. 31 years. If you include his pirate radio experience going back to 1979, that's 41 years!

In relation to Andy Preston, I think his legal radio experience goes back to 1996, which is 24 years. However, if you include his pirate radio experience it would indeed be 30 or more years - think he started in 1988.

generalgerry · 17-12-2020 09:14PM

I wouldn't have a massive problem with them earning 70/75K each. It's the ones that earn more than the President that I have a problem with.

How would that 70/75K compare with somebody in Newstalk, aren't we always told that they are on peanuts. Well except Pat of course.

Expunge · 17-12-2020 09:16PM

2 presenters - one on 75K, the other on 70K on a radio station available only online and on a limited, 'experimental' carrier - DAB which is only available in certain regions of the country.
Probably add to that a Producer who's in charge of it too on about 85,000 plus.

A station not (to the best of my knowledge) included in the JNLR, so the total listenership is unmeasured/unknown.

Gold exists on a platform with a suite of other stations where the programme makers/presenters work for NOTHING, until recently. The Trade Unions looked the other way for most of that time.

No reflection on the abilities of either of those gents but this kind of stinks.

channelsurfer2 · 17-12-2020 09:18PM

Don Duck wrote: »

I put in a foi request and have found out that in 2019 Mr William Leahy earned 75k while Mr Paul Crossan earned 70k.

You are probably only stating haLf the story
Both djs are rte employees not contractors and are over 15 years there so increments etc mean their salary is not outrageous at all...

yosser hughes · 17-12-2020 09:19PM

Dav010 wrote: »

One man’s waste of money is another man’s music station of choice. Personally I can’t abide Dave Fanning nor Ray Darcy, but I acknowledge that they have fans and deserve to be paid the going rate. I might think the op is an overpaid waste of space at his/her job, but the market might put a different value on it.

Well if you're going to cite the market, then there is even less justification for paying these salaries.
RTE is losing money; any organisation in the real world would have to cut its costs or go out of business, not increase its costs by creating salaried positions where none existed before.

Graham · 17-12-2020 09:20PM

Since when have individuals salaries been released in response to FOI requests?

Is this a new thing?

Harry Palmr · 17-12-2020 09:21PM

Rte gold is barely a station by any proper definition. Not national unless you count soarview and how many listen that way. If they have no official listening figures how do they calculate the rate card pricing?

channelsurfer2 · 17-12-2020 09:23PM

Expunge wrote: »

2 presenters - one on 75K, the other on 70K on a radio station available only online and on a limited, 'experimental' carrier - DAB which is only available in certain regions of the country.
Probably add to that a Producer who's in charge of it too on about 85,000 plus.

A station not (to the best of my knowledge) included in the JNLR, so the total listenership is unmeasured/unknown.

Gold exists on a platform with a suite of other stations where the programme makers/presenters work for NOTHING, until recently. The Trade Unions looked the other way for most of that time.

No reflection on the abilities of either of those gents but this kind of stinks.

Not really..they are rte employees who help rte gold by DJing on it..if they didn't rte would still pay them 70k until they retire but just do other work as producers etc..

17-12-2020 09:24PM

Dipole Keith wrote: »

Very little to be doing looking to see what RTE Gold presenters earn, €70K is about right for a presenter on the national public broadcaster, the fact that you used Rick O’Shea’s real name just comes across a bitter to me.

just googled the two names.
explain gofundme to me
Why is Rick O'Shea doing this for beneficiary Paul Crossan.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/ROSBCXmasAppeal2020

Smee_Again · 17-12-2020 09:28PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

just googled the two names.
explain gofundme to me
Why is Rick O'Shea doing this for beneficiary Paul Crossan.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/ROSBCXmasAppeal2020

Paul Cross is Rick O’Shea, I presume Gofundme require some KYC/AML in order to fundraise.

Disgusting high wages at RTE Gold for unwanted ex 2fm djs

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