Dee's 7 year term is up this year and the post of DG has been advertised. According to the newspapers David McRedmond of Anpost(ex TV3) and Jim Jennings are favourite. Dark Horses are Dan Healy and Kevin Bakhurst
I doubt this thread will go far.
David McRedmond has set him self up for the role as DG of An Post. He might be seen as someone to shake things up, but its unlikely he will.
Jim Jennings, I don't see it.
Dan Healy unlikely and too many issues with 2FM IMO.
Kevin Bakhurst can't see him coming back to Ireland.
I could imagine Geraldine O'Leary getting it. Though government may want to stay clear of current or former RTÉ Executive Board members.
It won't make a whole load of difference TBH. And it hard to say considering Forbes' appointment 7 years ago which came out of no where.
Glen Killane missed out last time. His experience in European broadcasting as head of EBU sport would certainly be in his favour if he thought of moving home
David McRedmond was not shortlisted for the role according to the Sunday Business post, I wonder if he actually applied.
My money is on Geraldine O'Leary.
Kevin Bakhurst looks more and more likely according to the Business Post.
Iirc, Bakhurst was extremely wooden anytime he give interviews the last time he was at RTE
Backlash against Bakhurst from within the RTÉ Board, front page of tomorrow’s Business Post.
Shocking that the board and chair would overrule the Selection committee.
Really leaves the next DG in a difficult position WRT board confidence in their abilities.
Seems to be nothing to do with KB's credentials but more to do with them rubber stamping the role. I don't think he will have much of an issue at RTÉ when he takes on the position. I'd be very surprised if anyone on the board as any real issue with him, but rather the process. Which IMO is a pity.
Is it? That depends on the remit of the selection committee.
It would be normal for a Management Board to set up a sub-group to vet the applicants for CEO and come up with a shortlist of suitable candidates. The Board would then choose from that shortlist.
Instead, the RTÉ Board was being asked to rubber stamp Bakhurst as DG. If that’s how thing are supposed to work at RTÉ, let’s replace the entire Board with this wonderful subcommittee.
This is the DG role, not the LLS role.
Being brilliant at TV interviews would not be top of the requirements.
Siún Ní Raghallaigh will be questioned by the Oireachtas media committee next Wednesday but a “new director general could be in place before the committee hearing”. Sounds like Bakhurst is a done deal.
Front page of tomorrow’s Business Post says McRedmond was “too entrepreneurial” for RTÉ.
Sounds like some on the Board want a DG who will get more public money, not increase commercial revenues or cut costs.
In fairness to McRedmond, he did an excellent job bringing parcel delivery back to an post. For some reason they basically walked away from parcel delivery back in the 00s, absolutely insane
McRedmond also never stopped complaining about RTE when he ran a pretty poor TV3.
He complained that RTÉ monopolised the licence fee while TV3 had to compete with them for advertising revenues. That is still a key issue but I wonder what McRedmond would have to say about it if he became RTÉ DG.
Ultimately, he got a very good deal for TV3 when selling to VirginMedia. He also deserves credit for running a full service in An Post throughout the pandemic and bringing it back to profitability last year.
Did Kevin Bakhurst achieve anything comparable?
McRedmond has withdrawn from the race which was doing him no favours. The status quo will be maintained in RTÉ.
Lesson for Board members: if you ask for a shortlist, you will get one acceptable candidate plus as many duds as you can shake a stick at.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/david-mcredmond-breaks-silence-about-rte-dg-role-42434741.html
Kevin Bakhurst has been appointed.
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2023/0418/1377659-rte-kevin-bakhurst/
So you are telling me the new head of RTE is British.
I was reading he wants to get real tough with licence evaders.
No further discussion of his nationality please, UK nationals are entitled to work here under CTA rules.
largely nothing will change. But their is another thread in CA/IMHO.
Maybe he might consider bringing back DAB Radio channels. In fairness RTE have a load of digital channels that must have very low listener figures. Thousands of people bought DAB radios based on this technology coming in here, but heh no, we think it is better to keep the FM system whereby every channel has to be tuned in and named manually than a system where you just press one button and all the channels load up!
New cars have DAB radios! These digital channels would get thousands of new listeners. As of now, those RTE digital channels are a total waste of tax payers money. In fairness how often does the average punter get in their car, switch on a radio player on their phone select a channel and wait for it to connect via the blue tooth?
Anyway, I won't hold my breath!
Don't be talking rubbish. DAB was available for 15 years to over 1.5 million people and had a grand total listenership in q1 21 of 1600
won’t waste any more of my time here! Let’s stay in the dark ages on FM👍
Not sure why would you describe FM as the 'dark ages'. Yes it's analogue but apart from offering less channels than DAB in the UK is there any other advantages of DAB over FM? I live near the RoI/NI border and have an FM/DAB car radio so can receive both formats. On FM you get RDS, automatic frequency tuning and radio text. Even the station's logo is displayed. DAB doesn't seem to offer anything more that that (well not on my unit anyway).
RTE appoint an RTÉ-lifer (basically) to maintain the status quo and not rock any boats. Expect minimal change over the next few years….again, and as usual. Disastrous decision, but hardly surprising.
Yes, unlikely. 2FM should be sold off/shut down as a matter of urgency IMO. Playing loads of commercially orientated pop music is not a public service obligation.
Excuse me!!!! 2FM exists for the sole purpose of keeping Lottie Ryan in a job, and that is the most important thing it can do, and that needs to be enshrined in law to protect this world class broadcasting talent from leaving our shores!
Ex-BBC so might bring some fresh ideas as well as re instate DAB 😜
Also Ex-RTÉ. He'll do as he did during his time as Deputy DG.
....
Can you say why its a disastrous decision?
How is he an RTE lifer? Wasn't he there for only 5/6 years
Beware of what the BP says about Redmond - he is very pally with senior editorial staff there and owners. In reality he did well in TV3 by literally piggy backing on ITV programmes. When they lost the soaps, it just went downhill and very quickly became loss making
Time will tell on Backhurst. Possibly will be more news / current affairs oriented
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