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Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Rte digital radio stations shut down

Comments

  • #2
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 75,476 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Definitely worth emphasising that this does not include Gold, which will continue,



  • #3
    Tork
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,769 ✭✭✭Tork


    I'm curious to know how much these stations actually cost to run. The closure of them feels more like a gesture from RTE, than an actual money saving exercise. It will be interesting to see how much of the following does happen, and how well executed it will be

    "Much of the specialised content from the closing stations will be integrated into existing services such as 2FM, podcasts, the RTÉ Player, and the new audio app.



  • #4
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 75,476 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124004867#Comment_124004867

    Music licencing and some computing costs, not huge but non zero. 2XM and Pulse have presented shows that, even if the presenter is doing it FOC, are putting wear and tear on equipment in a fairly run down studio complex.

    Radio 1 Extra will have some show licencing costs.



  • #5
    RoTelly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,742 ✭✭✭RoTelly


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124004867#Comment_124004867

    All costs for some reason in the minister's decision and other documents are all redacted.

    They only put the application in this time last year, they had planned to close them in 2024.

    ______

    In the end they were just greedy, they all knew one another and knew what to expect more money for no return, it was a secure cash flow, but in fairness they looked for what they wanted and fair dues to them for that, and wouldn't you be doing the same!

    Just one more thing .... when did they return that car

    Yesterday



  • #6
    end of the road
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,921 ✭✭✭✭end of the road


    surely they would want the public to know what they are so that there would be no criticism (if any is likely) of the closures? very very odd indeed.

    I'm very highly educated. I know words, i have the best words, nobody has better words then me.



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  • #7
    RoTelly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,742 ✭✭✭RoTelly


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124006388#Comment_124006388

    But sure there is low audience awareness of the stations… I wonder who is responsible for the promotion of the services that RTÉ have?

    ______

    In the end they were just greedy, they all knew one another and knew what to expect more money for no return, it was a secure cash flow, but in fairness they looked for what they wanted and fair dues to them for that, and wouldn't you be doing the same!

    Just one more thing .... when did they return that car

    Yesterday



  • #8
    thejuggler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 978 ✭✭✭thejuggler


    how many radio studios are there in Rte in Dublin ? Given that they run 4 24 hour stations plus the digital stations? Also considering that radio 1 has a lot of speech documentary and drama plus the orchestras etc. Add in commercial production, news and sport. I seem to remember hearing years ago that 2fm had three studios. Are the rest dedicated solely to a designated station or service? If not the switching setup for live broadcast must be complex. Admittedly a lot of the digital stations play out can probably fit into a rackspace. But even so the recording sessions and voice tracking takes up studio time even if it’s just a small voice booth.


    Wiki suggests that the answer is 13. R na g is in Casla and Lyric is partially in Limerick.


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTÉ_Radio_Centre



  • #9
    Ger Roe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,225 ✭✭✭Ger Roe


    An interesting quote in the reasons for closing, given by RTE :

    "These reasons include “financial and efficiency factors”, the minimal audience demand for digital radio services …"

    Is that a minimal demand for digital radio radio services generally, or specifically for the listed offerings from RTE? (Radio1 Extra, 2XM, Pulse and RTE Jnr)



  • #10
    RoTelly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,742 ✭✭✭RoTelly


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124008224#Comment_124008224

    Sure if Financial and Efficiency factors are reason then RTÉ would close down tomorrow.

    I think they are only talking about the 4 stations.

    1. It is up RTÉ to be financial and efficiency with the services that they provide
    2. It is up to RTÉ to promote those services so that audience know that they exist.

    Anyway they got what Dee Forbes wanted and IMO it looks like those 4 stations were costing a six figure sum to run, they are making little savings on this.

    ______

    In the end they were just greedy, they all knew one another and knew what to expect more money for no return, it was a secure cash flow, but in fairness they looked for what they wanted and fair dues to them for that, and wouldn't you be doing the same!

    Just one more thing .... when did they return that car

    Yesterday



  • #11
    ford fiesta
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,181 ✭✭✭ford fiesta


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124007835#Comment_124007835

    For about 2 years now, most of peak Radio 1 programming is sadly broadcast from newly converted studios in RTE's TV building in Donnybrook. These clinical looking studios do not look like radio studios at all. Just a video / picture backdrop such as a city scape, a panel desk with chairs, screens for the presenter and microphones, all driven by sound engineers in an adjoining room. This according to RTE makes it easier to create social media content and live video streaming.

    Looks like across RTE campus, the radio centre is only mainly used for broadcasting all 2FM shows and the odd Lyric / R Na G show, radio imaging / production, voiceovers, pre-recorded shows and "self op" Radio 1 shows such as Late Date and Rising Time.

    I find this quite sad as the radio centre is historic and has been existence since the mid 1970s … with a lack of use and production staff working from home, it has gone very quiet. it must have been a very active broadcast centre even up until Covid 5/6 years ago. Also, with digital radio closing the radio centre will be used much less from Jan 1st.

    I personally think the magic of radio is being killed by RTE and other radio operators taking radio content out of traditional radio studios and posting video content on-line. Aware that radio should evolve and compete with other media, but radio should remain a 'blind' medium.

    More about the transformation work here:

    CT Ireland SI Transforms RTÉ's Radio Studios with New Video Capabilities - Ireland



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  • #12
    RoTelly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,742 ✭✭✭RoTelly


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124014291#Comment_124014291

    If you are looking for those potted plants in that 100k ad for the news, well they'd be part of the backdrop, they only potted plants were not actually in the studio!

    But you are completely right, the idea seems to be to make TV Radio for the news channel, has Drivetime ended up on the channel?

    ______

    In the end they were just greedy, they all knew one another and knew what to expect more money for no return, it was a secure cash flow, but in fairness they looked for what they wanted and fair dues to them for that, and wouldn't you be doing the same!

    Just one more thing .... when did they return that car

    Yesterday



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