Joe Duffy leaving RTE

I have to say that whether you always agree with what is said on Liveline or whether or not you like Joe Duffy, I think the national reach of the show is pretty important. In today's media, there's very little that seemingly everyone listens to or looks at and I think we're the worse for that.

There's a thread on this very site that is dedicated to Liveline and it's filled with people who it's like they've never posted on another thread - the whole point of this site to them is just to post a snarky live commentary on what's going on on the show. Which is totally their right, but what other radio show gets that kind of traction.

And there's plenty of elbows in ribs about Joe Duffy's way of talking, i.e. "Oh, dat does be derrible, Mairead…", but that's because his way of speaking is so distinctive, for all its faults. Katie Hannon wouldn't have that, or Phillip Boucher Hayes. They just sound standard. Even the voiceover at the start wouldn't have the same gravitas if it went, "Talk to Phillip…" or some old weapon at a shop telling the cashier that, "I'm going to call Phillip Boucher Hayes on ya!"

So while it's probably time for JD to retire, my point is that I hope the show continues to be a cultural touchstone for the country.

People don't like the wages he's on, for one.

It's definitely a lot of money for the supposed hours he puts in, by anyone's estimation, but he could defend that by pointing out what Liveline makes RTE per year in ad revenue.

it’s a crime against society that he was getting 350k a year

He talks to Louise Duffy at 12.45 to tell her whats coming up at 1.45. Which might suggest he has just been in an editorial meeting until then and they have nailed down what they will be talking about that day. However, 50% of the time, what he told Louise was going to be on doesn't get a mention and he goes off on some other tangent, so I reckon he arrives in at about 12.30, rhymes off what might be on to Louise, has a browse on his iPad, reads some emails and if something else interests him, gets a researcher to ring someone connected to it and goes from there.

So 12.30 to 3pm? 2.5 hours work total?

Meanwhile Pat Kenny works on air from 9am to 12, and is always fully briefed on whatever topic is coming up and whenever a guest has a book, he has clearly read the book because he refers to it.

Who's the likely replacement?

I've read that it's Zamparelli, and she's being lined up.

Next best I've heard, Callan..

But he's not interested in taking it up.

I really don't think so. The reason his slot is so popular is because most people tune in for the 1pm news and leave the radio on.

A bit like how I only listen to Andrea Gilligan because she comes on straight after Pat Kenny. I usually last about 20 minutes and then switch over to Louise Duffy.

Be surprised if she's on a third of it.

Pat Kenny a top drawer broadcaster is rumoured to be on 400,000 for a three hour show daily. Nearly a million when he left RTE.

There's an obvious descripency there if Joe is nearly on as much. RTE just throw it about like confetti.

II'm not Saying Joe didn't like his but I get the impression people who do listen to the show that he seens able to actually listen and be interested sometimes.

No, he never listens. Often asking the same question to callers because he wasn't listening the first time.

Doubtful... he'd get paid more by the hour even on a reduced contract with RTE. Cant imagine him handling the schedule, travel.

This lad to replace Joe ??

https://youtu.be/FOJB26Dco4g?si=Kl_lKXhlpqEbULC9

Joe Duffy does not deserve to be paid 350k p.a. of public money. Another shocking waste that the tax payer pays for. Good riddance to him, and hopefully a few more on these outlandish salaries are forced out too.

He is paid from public money, RTÉ ran losses over the years, while had to sell public land, and write down at least 7m euro.

His TV show in particular is possibly loss making.

On top of this you can make the argument that RTÉ is a public body and any money it raises commercially is our money.

If he felt he wanted more money he should have moved to the UK or US and allowed another person to take on his role in RTÉ long ago.

We can see this from all of the so called talent in RTÉ, not one of their shows lost an audience when they left their roles.

The only one that you could possibly argue the case for is Jerry Ryan but honestly I think his show would be in the doll drums at this point.

That has absolutely nothing got to do with whether it is money well spent or not. It's a joke that he was on over 300k. Nobody in RTE shluld be anywhere near that, and if they feel they should be, let them go into the private workforce and earn it.