RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

Better not hold your breath. It is RTE and the liggers would have to be dragged kicking and screaming from the trough.

Regards...jmcc

It sounds as I expect it to be, what RTÉ plans to do if it doesn't get a bail out

Job losses, service reductions, part-privatisation and land sale all on the table

While

Government promising €40m bailout but wants definite plan

If the bail out is €40m then what are they cutting, unless people just completely stop paying the license.

I think it was be an unimaginative document with very little detail, much like strategy 2024.

If the sell 2fm they will need to have staff agreements to move them to who ever buys 2FM

Baure might be interested in having a national station. But it isn't going to raise much money.

I am not a fan of selling off RTÉ services but RTÉ have put themselves in this position.

I think if they come up with plans to sell this that and the other I think they are just back to playing the poor man, and forcing the politicians to pay up.

We are closing down Lyric... no your not!

Bauer will examine the numbers for 2FM very closely. It already has the ex-Communicorp stations and it doesn't really need another of the same type. Ironically, Lyric might be a more attractive sale though the RTE management changed it from being a Classical and Arts station to being a bit of a dumping ground. If it wants to compete with the RTE Radio 1 09:00 slot, Marty Whelan is a good option. It doesn't have much news but other than its main morning and afternoon programmes, it is a niche station. RTE management must not be allowed to sell 2RN in a repeat of the FF/PD fuckwittery that saw critical national infrastructure (Telecom Eireann's network) sold off to be plundered.

Regards...jmcc

Sell it altogether. Can be done from anywhere in the state and cheaper too.

Sorry I meant Wireless (aka UTV Radio), Baure wouldn't get it due to competition issues you'd hope.

Yeah I can see in terms of capital RTÉ perhaps selling sites that they own, and also if they own RTÉ Cork Studios that will be sold off.

And they will then suggest to the politicians if you want us to keep these things then you save us.

Politicians should state actually we were thinking of something else that does involve RTÉ as it now stands. If they were smart.

Starting from scratch would take a lot of money as the brand and the audience would have to be created. It was created as defence for RTE against the vastly more popular pirate radio stations. But things have moved on since then but 2FM and RTE have not. It does not seem to be certain about its target audience. This uncertainty, over the years, has allowed local radio stations to effectively edge it out of their markets. Local radio is local. 2FM is not. As the population in the local radio markets grew, 2FM became increasingly less relevant and more Dublin focused. Even in Dublin, it was competing with similar stations.

All takeovers are gambles. A prospective purchaser would have to be comfortable with losing money for the first few years at least. Unlike the clowns in RTE manangement, commercial broadcasters realise the importance of breaking even though most prefer to concentrate on making a profit. With RTE, there has always been another bailout. It is doubtful of 2FM could, much like RTE, survive commercially and without licence fee money and bailouts. As has been pointed out above. the national licence could be 2FM's most valuable asset but I'm not sure how deeply entwined it is with RTE. Gerry Ryan was 2FM for many people but then they replaced him with Tubridy. Tubridy lost 40% (I think) of the Gerry Ryan audience. Unfortunately for 2FM it became more Tubridy as it aged. And when it aged, its original audience drifted to other stations and media. That's why Lyric might be a far better purchase for a broadcaster wishing to acquire market share.

Regards...jmcc

It was Thursday morning 2nd November.

It is still available, This morning as I went to listen my internet connection went just as I got to that point and I thought they had cut it 😂