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

yabadabado wrote: »

Is there a reason why all the top earners who seem to be contractors rather than employees can't just be offered a much lower contract when it comes around for renegotiations ?

It works for both sides. The "talent" sells his/her services to the station via his/her company and they negotiate a rate for doing x hours per week and presenting a show, as well as other stuff like TV specials like election coverage and one-offs like going to the Ploughing Championships and soon. They also agree to "soft" interviews in the RTE Guide and other favourable promotional stuff. The "talent" pays himself/herself thru their company as directors so it's considerably cheaper than paying PAYE,etc. and they can write off stuff via the company. They can also "employ" their family members, even if they do **** all. It suits RTE because it's company-to-company and the talent is not on their books as an employee. It's also non-union,so there's no issue about strikes/work to rule,etc. Both sides understand that either side can dispense with the other if they no longer need them. If the talent wants to run a production company, it doesn't interfere with RTE's own operations,for practical,legal or tax purposes. So,the talent's production company can, if the person is held in good standing, get favourable nods to make programmes for RTE or host events for RTE. So,the talent can "work" for RTE and not any other station but can have a nixer running away in the background,such as a production company. It's not illegal or immoral,just convenience for all sides and you don't have to engage with troublesome unions or inconvenient things like actually serving the public.

Late Late has another Country music special tomorrow night, never had one of those before.
Yay for diversity!

when are they having another brendan grace special so he can tell us about florida.

RabbleRouser2k wrote: »

Remember that gawd awful show Tubridy presented, years back? All kinds of Everything?

He had Mario Rosenstock behind an image of a 'celeb', where Mario's mouth was super imposed over the photo as he did a terrible impression of them.

They could just do that-get a photo of Brendan, superimpose Mario's mouth over it.
Doesn't matter if it's in horrible taste-never stopped RTE before.

like a hologram ...like they did for Rob Orbison except we'd do it for brendan grace. Butler would be great as a hologram. We could do it for Gerry Ryan also. Bonnie and Lottie and Snottie would love it

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

I see RTÉ are already repeating the show about going to Iceland to watch the whales, first broadcast on Easter Sunday..... a whole 5 days ago....


#primetime

Repeated already!. Actually thought that program was excellent. The bit where they saw that other boat beside the whales and the engines on and them bitching under their breath. I love to have been on board. Woulda shouted over to them "hey bjork turn off the engine" . that would have been a nice opener for ten i think

Emmerdale, Corrie, Eastenders and many other shows are cancelled tonight, on account of Prince Phillip dying.

Wonder what RTE will repeat again? (As for Virgin Media One, I expect they'll repeat the Cube).

fritzelly wrote: »

Nothing can stop the LLS country special going ahead...alas

Always found this clip funny. Applies to Prince Charles, but it works every time a royal dies.

And yes... the country special HAS to go ahead... because its the only thing guaranteed to get Ryan an audience.

He can't do a Xmas Toy show in May, for example.

elperello wrote: »

I think we should decide the nature of the reform first.

As for DF and NC, it's a bit reductive to say that's all they did.

As I said there was some good new stuff on Nationwide lately that's not to disagree with your point about minority tastes.

So first we should decide the nature of the reform. Should this reform be dictated to RTÉ and if they don't carry out the reform then they should return the money provided?

Nationwide is a 3 day week show, I didn't say that nationwide does not have new content on a weekly basis. I am pointing out that the programmes have become dotted with repeat showings of reports.

Over the last 10 years not just Dee Forbes but also Noel Curran, little has been done to change RTÉ in any substantial way. Both continued to give out about the people not paying the license either from evasion or from avoidance. That about as much as either did over the last decade.

I don't know how reductive this is, RTÉ's management for the last 10 years have continually highlighted license fee evasion and avoidance. Dee Forbes actually pointed out this work by RTÉ in the last interview that she gave on The Business.

Their reforms have come as cuts in areas that should not be cut and the ringfencing of funding in areas that should have got cuts.

RTÉ over the last 10 years have given funding to 2FM to bring it back from losses and yet it has consistently failed to return it to profit or increase it popularity. At what point do you start cutting? 3 years? 4 years? a decade?

RTÉ over the last 10 years have continued to invest in ubiquitous imported programming, Dee Forbes had stated in an interview with Sinead Crowley (2 years ago) that everything is on the table as far as cuts are concerned, yet this area continues to get €25m in funding.

Then of course there is Young people's programming

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT%C3%89_Young_People's_Programming

In 2016 RTÉ's Two Tube (previously ID and TTV) was cancelled and did not return in the September of that year. RTÉ announced that it would move all production to independent producers. Under pressure the management team assured the public that RTÉ "is not reducing its commitment to younger people's programmes, nor its spend"[2], however they had already cut funding to children's content by 25%[3], this was then followed in 2017 with a further cut of 50% bring their total spend on Young People's content to just €3.9 million [4]. In 2018 RTÉ increased funding to €5.8 million but by 2019 had cut it back to €4.7m[5], this compares to support provided to children's content in 2010 and 2011 of €11m[6].

And of course Drama and Comedy, independent drama and comedy (including The Tommy Tiernan Show) RTÉ spent just €3.2m. Comedy, outside of TTTS, was a one of stand up show from Eyre Square in 2019. I estimate that on Drama RTÉ spend less than €2m.

So just explain what RTÉ have done over the last 10 years to combat these changes other than to consistently lobby the government and the public for more money? (As the title of this tread suggests).

And what effort is shown in putting on Only fools and horses during the week before the 1 oclock news . I mean is that all they have ffs. The shows are not even sequenced.

Absolute no interest.

jetfiremuck wrote: »

So having Amy Humermann driving arond Ireland with her kid in a camper all expenses paid is entertaining ?

Whats Daithi O se job sitting on a chair while Ray busts a nut for 15 mins......lazy bolix.

The have to keep their big stars happy otherwise the likes of Netflix or the BBC would snap them up,
I thought everyone knew that.

jmcc wrote: »

After finding out that BBC4's blank screen had an audience of 35,000 people, RTE is planning its own version with Ryan Tubridy. After all, it had knocked off the Portillo idea for the Enda Kenny digout and train tour show.

Regards...jmcc

So just because it was Enda, you took ‘umbrage’ .........good lad.... kind of figures you out.

Stay classy dude.

elperello wrote: »

I think I may have taken you up wrongly when you mentioned the performance of DF & NC over the last decade and you didn't mean in relation to actually doing the job of running RTE but were referring to reform.

Their job of running RTÉ has also been dire, as part of reform comes from running the broadcaster/company.

Under the DG there are 9 executives. They report to and advise the DG. In fairness to both DGs they are reliant on their directors to advise them correctly, while also considering that their advise may not be in RTÉ interests. That's a balancing act that the DG/CEO must weigh up.

However the DG must also ask question when strategies are put in place that are not working.

NC as a former director of TV would have had a good idea of what this involved.

When his head of Radio suggested that Ryan T should replace Gerry R they should had had an idea of what type of audience would have be expectable for one of their highest earns, this is due to the fact that the Board of RTÉ oversee the payments to the top earners.

During those 5 years on 2fm neither the board, executive board nor the DG questioned why Ryan T was under preforming. After a year or even 2 the Head of Radio should have said, its time to move Ryan T back to R1 as he is not working out on 2FM. This should have been a pressing issue for both the board and the executive board as they have to defend such wages.

This is just one example of the day-to-day running of the organization.

There are then other issues that are beyond the reach of RTÉ. Such as reform of the license fee.

I'm in danger of the broken record jibe but I'll say again that I want to see a sustainable Public Broadcasting Service paid for out of general taxation.

Funding is one of those areas. I have no problem with RTÉ banging on about the amount of money it receives however even their own advise the the current Future of Media Commission is hypocritical of their previous view (though things do change).

This idea that all funding coming from the exchequer resolves the problem of avoidance and evasion is correct. However it does not set the funding to public broadcasting on a stable basis.

This was outline in RTÉ's independent report into the NSO and NCO. It clearly pointed out that such funding to the NSO or NCO would be at the whim of the government, for example budget 2021 gave €8m to the NSO.... Budget 2022 could reduce this to €4m! it possibly won't but this is with in the power of the Cabinet.

Thus for RTÉ it becomes political.

... RTÉ have changed their mind, opting to suggest that such funding should now come from the exchequer. They point to.... TG4's ability to retain funding due to it coming from the exchequer ......

However, between 2011 and 2018 TG4's "grant-in-aid" was reduced and the governments choose to fill the gap in that funding from.... the license fee. In 2019 it was return to RTÉ. So RTÉ actually felt the effects of a government budget cut to TG4's exchequer funding.

I have said repeatedly that it should come from some from of VAT or Culture charge that would be set by the BAI and Comreg. This would solve those problems.

However none of this bring us to the reality that neither DG in the last 10 years was able to reform the broadcaster from within.

Dee Forbes list is an endless one from ONE RTÉ to a revised strategy 2024.

Noel Curran's implemented cuts to Drama, comedy and Children's television.

These are what they as DG/CEO choose to change over the course of the last 10 years.

Corp HQ retained its funding of €5m per year (now entirely funding by the license fee)
2FM was give a bailout while children's TV was cut
Drama was put on the long finger, you could see RTÉ looking at the announcement that €10m was going to the IFB/BSÉ to fund TV drama, their escape from Drama while riding on the back of more and more co-productions.

This is the day to day running of the broadcaster, these are the decision that RTÉ make on a daily basis.

Elmo wrote: »

Their job of running RTÉ has also been dire, as part of reform comes from running the broadcaster/company.

Under the DG there are 9 executives. They report to and advise the DG. In fairness to both DGs they are reliant on their directors to advise them correctly, while also considering that their advise may not be in RTÉ interests. That's a balancing act that the DG/CEO must weigh up.

However the DG must also ask question when strategies are put in place that are not working.

NC as a former director of TV would have had a good idea of what this involved.

When his head of Radio suggested that Ryan T should replace Gerry R they should had had an idea of what type of audience would have be expectable for one of their highest earns, this is due to the fact that the Board of RTÉ oversee the payments to the top earners.

During those 5 years on 2fm neither the board, executive board nor the DG questioned why Ryan T was under preforming. After a year or even 2 the Head of Radio should have said, its time to move Ryan T back to R1 as he is not working out on 2FM. This should have been a pressing issue for both the board and the executive board as they have to defend such wages.

This is just one example of the day-to-day running of the organization.

There are then other issues that are beyond the reach of RTÉ. Such as reform of the license fee.



Funding is one of those areas. I have no problem with RTÉ banging on about the amount of money it receives however even their own advise the the current Future of Media Commission is hypocritical of their previous view (though things do change).

This idea that all funding coming from the exchequer resolves the problem of avoidance and evasion is correct. However it does not set the funding to public broadcasting on a stable basis.

This was outline in RTÉ's independent report into the NSO and NCO. It clearly pointed out that such funding to the NSO or NCO would be at the whim of the government, for example budget 2021 gave €8m to the NSO.... Budget 2022 could reduce this to €4m! it possibly won't but this is with in the power of the Cabinet.

Thus for RTÉ it becomes political.

... RTÉ have changed their mind, opting to suggest that such funding should now come from the exchequer. They point to.... TG4's ability to retain funding due to it coming from the exchequer ......

However, between 2011 and 2018 TG4's "grant-in-aid" was reduced and the governments choose to fill the gap in that funding from.... the license fee. In 2019 it was return to RTÉ. So RTÉ actually felt the effects of a government budget cut to TG4's exchequer funding.

I have said repeatedly that it should come from some from of VAT or Culture charge that would be set by the BAI and Comreg. This would solve those problems.

However none of this bring us to the reality that neither DG in the last 10 years was able to reform the broadcaster from within.

Dee Forbes list is an endless one from ONE RTÉ to a revised strategy 2024.

Noel Curran's implemented cuts to Drama, comedy and Children's television.

These are what they as DG/CEO choose to change over the course of the last 10 years.

Corp HQ retained its funding of €5m per year (now entirely funding by the license fee)
2FM was give a bailout while children's TV was cut
Drama was put on the long finger, you could see RTÉ looking at the announcement that €10m was going to the IFB/BSÉ to fund TV drama, their escape from Drama while riding on the back of more and more co-productions.

This is the day to day running of the broadcaster, these are the decision that RTÉ make on a daily basis.

Easiest way to fund it is a line item on the ESB bill. Any one with an electric bill can pay. The caveat being thst thiogs cant coninue as they are.

jippo nolan wrote: »

So we put all the loss makers on our ESB bill, just like the PMPA, various insurance companies, sounds great!

Well if you look at the bigger picture, rather than keep screwing the payers who pay and the gougers who will never pay and wasting money on useless and fruitless collection efforts/staff etc ads and the sort, then it starts to make sense. the rate could stay the same if everyone who had an esb paid 14euro same as now. Ring fenced just for RTE.