Ryan Tubridy - From Virgin to Youtube **Mod: Read OP**

The clip with the interview. I didn't listen to it yet.

https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22582449/

It's also worth repeating that we were always told that those high salaries were essential to prevent the galaxy of stars being snapped up by the competition.

Where is that competition now?

One outcome of this surely has to be that the remaining RTE personalities will be forced to be much more realistic in their negotiations from now on. Faced with the alternative of wandering in the TV wilderness like Tubs, they will be much more willing to accept more modest pay deals. Good news for those who pay for their TV license. (Not me, haven't had one in years!)

Here's the link you asked for. Listen to it and make up your own mind.

Sunday with Miriam | Sunday with Miriam - RTÉ Radio 1

It is neither good nor bad news for licence fee payers. Through all the increases and subsequent reductions in salaries since 2008, the licence fee has remained the same.

Negotiations will be done directly with the contractors (personalities), no agents involved. Claire Byrne negotiated her RTE contract, employing a solicitor to give it the once over. She was not happy with the terms offered when it came up for renewal, and got a much better deal from Newstalk. Pat Kenny was also motivated to move to Newstalk back in the day.

Not the way it works I think. RTE gets a fixed share, and they have to spend it whatever way seems best. If there was higher compliance, that would make a lot more cash available. The Broadcasting Fund gets a share, and that would also be more cash if there was higher compliance. That fund is often mentioned on non RTE stations as the provider of finance for some of their output.

OK, but that was my point. Even if it's only 1% of their costs, a smaller slice of their spending will be directed towards their 'stars', leaving more for production of actual TV. (Again, I know this is optimistic but the point stands.)

And to clarify, I haven't had a TV license in a long time because I haven't had a TV in a long time. If they try to bring in the 'broadcasting charge' I'll have to either take a stand or cough up but for now I'm fully above board.

I'm not really sure what we're arguing about. I said that the savings they might make on salaries might result in better TV. You said that's not the way it works, they have a fixed sum to spend. I said that the salaries come out of the fixed sum, leaving more to be spent on producing TV.

Are you asking me now to explain how even a very slightly more generous budget might improve the quality of RTE programming? More to spend on buying in better TV from the UK and abroad. More to spend on writing, sets, research and new talent for homegrown programming. More to spend on travel programmes, documentaries, quality kids' programming.

If I save money in one area I have a little more to spend in others. If I only buy secondhand clothes I can afford expensive shoes. If RTE isn't spunking wads of cash on inflated salaries for mediocre 'talent' they can afford better quality input elsewhere.

Although it is off topic for this thread, we are discussing the merits/demerits of high salaries for RTE contractors. And this is the Radio Forum, but you want to discuss TV. I will leave it there.

There's a RTÉ megathread, that would be more suited to a general discussion.

Mod - discussion of RT is fine, general discussion of all presenters and their pay should be taken to the dedicated thread.

Thanks, I had a listen and there was nothing about untruths to co-workers, NTM taxis and the use of RTE staff and equipment.

Instead of paying for 1 Ryan Subsidy you might get 5 or 6 competent people with a career or cv to make something generally interesting and productive