RTE and the Licence FEE

mikom · 13-11-2011 12:52PM

120_Minutes wrote: »

You still seem unable to answer this question, yet you can answer all others.

Is your inability to answer an admission that you work for rte?

I am reminded of a certain interview given by a mr. Paxman .... I can ask it all day.

Good luck getting a waffle-free answer.
I've tried....... see below.
So until proven otherwise personally I will take it that HugoBradyBrown is an RTE insider and does not speak for viewers.
Readers take note.

mikom wrote: »

Once again.....

You are/have been connected to RTE in some form so, other than being a listener/watcher Hugo?

Be careful with your answer.

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

My intuition is that the reason all of us are here is that we are connected with RTE in one way or another, whether as TV tax payers, or as tax evaders with a date with destiny before the District Judge!

Indeed, my experience is that some outsiders have more of an obsession than the insiders; less knowledge, of course, but, I suppose, that tends to fortify their opinions!

Allow me to be your Guide! Your RTE Guide!

With great care,

Hugo Brady Brown

mikom wrote: »

You are not doing yourself any favors here.
Sidestep as predicted by Wertz.

Once again.....

I have never been connected to RTE in any form, other than being a listener/watcher on occasion.

You are/have been connected to RTE in some form so, other than being a listener/watcher Hugo?

Again be careful with your answer.

mikom wrote: »

The silence speaks volumes.

I'll take it as given so that you are connected to RTE in some form.
I'll be sure to alert others.

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

I wonder if it is envisaged to place full-page ads in the national press for this purpose! This sounds almost as energetic as wanting to invade Poland before tea. I am glad that the equanimity within Radio Centre I spoke of recently extends to my good self. If it did not, I should be inclined to interpret the quoted post as a warning bordering on the menacing.

I tend to find that when my views becomes unanswerable, some people find that they become simultaneously unbearable, and they begin to rummage about for some incidental or collateral aspect of them in an effort to harry me or to muddy the waters in some way.

As Gay used to tell us from time to time, there's always the 'Off' button!

Hugo Brady Brown

mikom wrote: »

More waffle..... and still my query sits unanswered

Be seeing you round, Mr insider.

James T Kirk · 13-11-2011 01:13PM

Freddie59 wrote: »

Should RTE be relieved of their dual income (advertising and the licence fee)?

I believe so. 100%.

They should be relieved of their right to broadcast.

Unless of course, Sharon Ni Whateverthe**** releases her inner Nazi, dons suspenders and whips Brian Dobson's bare ass on the six o'clock news.

Freddie59 · 13-11-2011 01:13PM

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

Well, no, not really; we all gather round in the drawing room as a group, talking to each other about it and talking back at it: old-fashioned interactive television, I might call it, with a wry smile!

Come on Hugs. You've been winding up across two threads all weekend. Give it a rest!:D

stephendevlin · 13-11-2011 01:13PM

Why dont RTE encrypt thier stations and whoever wants to pay to view let them pay. We are being forced to pay for something that not all of us desire.

Even if its impossible for you to recieve a signal you still have to cough up.

Freddie59 · 13-11-2011 01:14PM

James T Kirk wrote: »

They should be relieved of their right to broadcast.

Unless of course, Sharon Ni Whateverthe**** releases her inner Nazi, dons suspenders and whips Brian Dobson's bare ass on the six o'clock news.

That would make the licence fee worth it! But maybe one of the weather girls instead of Dobbo...........:p:D

HugoBradyBrown · 13-11-2011 01:32PM

James T Kirk wrote: »

They should be relieved of their right to broadcast.

Unless of course, Sharon Ni Whateverthe**** releases her inner Nazi, dons suspenders and whips Brian Dobson's bare ass on the six o'clock news.

Withdraw this disgraceful post, sir! It is offensive on several fronts.

HugoBradyBrown · 13-11-2011 01:39PM

stephendevlin wrote: »

Why dont RTE encrypt thier stations and whoever wants to pay to view let them pay. We are being forced to pay for something that not all of us desire.

Even if its impossible for you to recieve a signal you still have to cough up.

This post contains more implied wisdom than the poster may realise.I would not recommend such a complex solution, but I think we need to look at other options.

I have argued for years that linking the TV tax to possession of a receiving apparatus is self-defeating, due to the difficulties involved in collection, and to the advance of technology.

My proposed solutions have included incorporating the TV tax into a property tax, or having it as a standard deduction from every PPS account (with the usual exceptions of pensioners and others); having a hypothecated indirect tax on certain luxury goods such as alcohol; imposing an excise duty on audiovisual goods sales, goods rentals and cinema tickets; the list of possibilities for exacting the revenue painlessly can be added to.

We are wasting effort and exposing ourselves to ill-informed criticisms by continuing to apply a 1920's Post Office model to funding and sustaining one of our greatest national resources. The funding should be painless and invisible.

Jesus Wept · 13-11-2011 01:45PM

It is massively inflated, not for purpose and should be stripped down to the essentials of which there are few.

stephendevlin · 13-11-2011 01:49PM

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

stephendevlin wrote: »

Why dont RTE encrypt thier stations and whoever wants to pay to view let them pay. We are being forced to pay for something that not all of us desire.

Even if its impossible for you to recieve a signal you still have to cough up.

This post contains more implied wisdom than the poster may realise.I would not recommend such a complex solution, but I think we need to look at other options.

I have argued for years that linking the TV tax to possession of a receiving apparatus is self-defeating, due to the difficulties involved in collection, and to the advance of technology.

My proposed solutions have included incorporating the TV tax into a property tax, or having it as a standard deduction from every PPS account (with the usual exceptions of pensioners and others); having a hypothecated indirect tax on certain luxury goods such as alcohol; imposing an excise duty on audiovisual goods sales, goods rentals and cinema tickets; the list of possibilities for exacting the revenue painlessly can be added to.

We are wasting effort and exposing ourselves to ill-informed criticisms by continuing to apply a 1920's Post Office model to funding and sustaining one of our greatest national resources. The funding should be painless and invisible.

Your missing the point. I don't want to pay for RTE as I don't watch it. If I didn't have to pay for it then it would be painless but as you are a spokesperson for the RTE I wouldn't expect you to understand that.

stephendevlin · 13-11-2011 01:51PM

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

stephendevlin wrote: »

Why dont RTE encrypt thier stations and whoever wants to pay to view let them pay. We are being forced to pay for something that not all of us desire.

Even if its impossible for you to recieve a signal you still have to cough up.

This post contains more implied wisdom than the poster may realise.I would not recommend such a complex solution, but I think we need to look at other options.

I have argued for years that linking the TV tax to possession of a receiving apparatus is self-defeating, due to the difficulties involved in collection, and to the advance of technology.

My proposed solutions have included incorporating the TV tax into a property tax, or having it as a standard deduction from every PPS account (with the usual exceptions of pensioners and others); having a hypothecated indirect tax on certain luxury goods such as alcohol; imposing an excise duty on audiovisual goods sales, goods rentals and cinema tickets; the list of possibilities for exacting the revenue painlessly can be added to.

We are wasting effort and exposing ourselves to ill-informed criticisms by continuing to apply a 1920's Post Office model to funding and sustaining one of our greatest national resources. The funding should be painless and invisible.

Your missing the point. I don't want to pay for RTE as I don't watch it. If I didn't have to pay for it then it would be painless but as you are a spokesperson for the RTE I wouldn't expect you to understand that.

And trust me RTE is not a luxury good.
Greater good =. RTEs wages

Overature · 13-11-2011 01:51PM

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

(I find it hard to believe that this is not simply provocative posting calculated to get under the skin of patriotic listeners and viewers, but I cannot resist correcting the record.)

Derek is, as it happens, a highly gifted broadcaster, who has adapted to a dead time of day to enliven life for us. He is equally capable of much more serious broadcasting, as his scientific background would lead one to suspect.

We have Joe, we have Marty on RTE Lyric FM, we have Ronan on the senior service, we have Frank McNamara on RTE Lyric FM, we have John Murray making the nation laugh, RTE Lyric FM is where people go to hear Gay on a Sunday afternoon, we have Ryan on RTE 2FM, we have Pat every morning, we have Marion at weekends, there's Andy many Saturday evenings, there is Miriam, Mike is back on RTE One, Pat is in his element on Frontline: this is the talent that the competition tries and fails to poach. Patriotism and loyalty keep the on-air talent here; the viewers and listeners should demonstrate the same cordial loyalty to their national station.

Behind the mics and behind the cameras, RTE is also awash with talent that is the envy of broadcasters the world over.

Stick with what you know and value what you have and pay the modest tax to allow us to continue to enjoy the crème de la crème.

they might have the people but they sure as hell dont have the shows, its all pure garbage, and mooney (although he is good) takes up two hours of primetime radio talking about birds FFS

120_Minutes · 13-11-2011 02:00PM

Mods please remove the rte shill.

HugoBradyBrown · 13-11-2011 02:01PM

Overature wrote: »

they might have the people but they sure as hell dont have the shows, its all pure garbage, and mooney (although he is good) takes up two hours of primetime radio talking about birds FFS

Derek's nature work goes back many years, to when he had gravy yard shifts and when he aired while people were on the shopping run on a Saturday, with young Éanna and Richard the swan man. Nature programmes have always proved a reliable way of capturing the more studious child, who was then hooked for life on the senior service.

And we are, at bottom, a rural people, close to nature and to the land. We should not forget our roots.

The BBC have had huge success with Springwatch and with Autumnwatch; One Man and his Dog has returned this year to great acclaim. Yet, when RTE does anything in a similar vein, metrosexual critics emerge from the woodwork to denounce it from a great height of sneering disdain.

And yet, the people in their hundreds of thousands have spoken. We must listen!

jimmynokia · 13-11-2011 02:09PM

120_Minutes wrote: »

Mods please remove the rte shill.

if you type in HBB and a certain few letters all is revealed..:D:D:D

gotcha hugo.. oh sorry hugo brandy brown:cool:

HugoBradyBrown · 13-11-2011 02:10PM

jimmynokia wrote: »

if you type in HBB and a certain few letters all is revealed..:D:D:D

gotcha hugo.. oh sorry hugo brandy brown:cool:

As so often before, I am at a loss to grasp your point, sir.

jimmynokia · 13-11-2011 02:12PM

then this appears in the paper today i nearly fell of the chair laughing

RTE stars struggle to pay mortgage is this a joke.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rte-stars-are-struggling-to-pay-their-mortgage-bills-2933380.html

Sunday November 13 2011
Some of RTE's well-known faces are struggling to pay mortgages and other bills, according to Ireland's biggest talent agent.

Noel Kelly has spoken out against the backlash RTE presenters are facing over their pay -- revealing that some of the personalities are struggling to make ends meet on their current salaries.

His comments come as RTE announced this weekend that the top 10 RTE presenters earned €4m between them in 2009.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Mr Kelly, who is Ireland's first showbiz superagent, said the fixation on stars' salaries is in stark contrast to the reality many TV personalities are facing.

"These figures are completely blown out of proportion," he explained.

"You forget that you have to take 51pc tax off, PRSI, PAYE and then health insurance, which gets more expensive as you get older. And then, of course, there's no guarantee of job security."

Mr Kelly, who represents some of Ireland's biggest names, said everyone had now played their part.

"Some of the talent on my books have taken a number of pay cuts since 2008. There is no doubt about it, they are stepping up to the plate time and time again."

And he revealed the financial pressures that some of Ireland's household names were now facing: "Some of the talent can't afford to pay their bills or bloody mortgages with what they earn and with work not being renewed. If a show is cancelled what can you do? You can't exactly force them [the RTE bosses] to keep it on.

"We have people struggling like everyone else, trying to get an interest-only mortgage and not being able to get one, having to sell their car. This idea of them living in this ivory tower on huge wages is simply not true.

"When you look at a footballer's career, they only get a certain amount of time and there's no certainty in it, and it's the same in the media.

"People contracted to RTE who are not permanent members of staff have no pension, no sick pay and no security."

Commenting on TV3 presenter's Mark Cagney's comments this week that RTE's biggest names "are living in a cocoon", Mr Kelly said: "It's easy to throw stones but it's not true. Commercial station rates aren't exactly small either. They are willing to pay for big names and big presenters too."

Meanwhile, Sean O'Rourke, who appeared on the list earning €214,084 in 2009, has spoken out this weekend about the latest figures.

"I've already taken three pay cuts since the start of the recession and that figure includes the amount RTE put towards my pension contribution.

"It's also worth pointing out that I believe there are several broadcasters in the private sector who are earning the same, if not more, than the people on RTE's top 10 list."

The only newcomer to the top 10 is 2fm presenter Colm Hayes, who joined the station from FM104 in 2007. He earned €213,954.

Speaking this weekend, he said: "That figure is two years old and does not reflect what I'm earning now.

"That reflects a figure that I was enticed out of commercial radio for. Then the recession hit and there were cutbacks and I have had two contracts since and taken a significant pay decrease in each. Noel Curran has made it clear that when new contracts come around, there will be a 30pc cut and that's the reality of where we are now and I'm delighted to play my part."

Remarking on the top 10 salaries, a long-serving producer in RTE said: "The biggest thing that jumped out at me was, despite being probably the hardest working presenter in the country with Prime Time, Miriam Meets and Saturday Night With Miriam and taking virtually no holidays ever, and constantly doing endless additional work like the presidential debate, all the weekend coverage of the presidential election count and this coming new year's eve special, it's clear Miriam gets a lot lot less than the other big names.

They added: "The fees are high but it's remarkably unfair how some are inexplicably much higher than others. It's also worth noting that only two of the top 10 are female, so there does seem to be a large degree of gender imbalance there."

Pat Kenny remains RTE's top-paid presenter, according to the latest salary figures which were released by the state broadcaster on Friday.

In what is the first time in two years that RTE has agreed to publish the fees it pays to its top 10 presenters, it was revealed that Kenny earned €729,604 in 2009, while the next highest earner in 2009 was the late Gerry Ryan, who earned €585,944.

Ryan Tubridy is in third place with €519,667, despite taking over the Late Late Show.

Marian Finucane's fee of €570,000 is seen as the most controversial because she only broadcasts four hours a week. The presenter saw a 10 per cent reduction to €513,270.

RTE's Liveline presenter Joe Duffy's fee was €389,314 in 2009, while Miriam O'Callaghan earned €290,625.

Derek Mooney is RTE's seventh highest-paid employee earning €268,985 in 2009, while Eamon Dunphy took home €225,485.

- NIAMH HORAN, Entertainment News Reporte

jimmynokia · 13-11-2011 02:48PM

and now this...

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/old-age-telly-licence-faces-cut-2933343.html

Sunday November 13 2011
Budgets for shows such as crime drama 'Love/Hate' could be further squeezed as RTE faces a possible €20m hit to revenues as payments to cover the free pensioner television licence may be slashed.

RTE received close to €60m per year from the State to cover the cost of free licences for people over the age of 65. However, the major overhaul of social welfare and benefits looming in the Budget means that this payment may be capped at closer to €40m. RTE will have to make up the shortfall from its own resources or free TV licences may have to be scrapped.

It is understood that limited discussions have taken place between Joan Burton's Department of Social Protection and RTE over the matter in recent weeks. Suggestions that up to €700m will be slashed off the €21bn social welfare bill have been downplayed by the department.

Earlier this year it emerged that RTE was forecast to report a €25m deficit weighed down by restructuring of the licence fee, weak advertising and the costs of digital television.

jimmynokia · 13-11-2011 02:55PM

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

As so often before, I am at a loss to grasp your point, sir.

oh dear hugo you will soon in the very much public eye trust me...;)

Hobbes · 13-11-2011 03:01PM

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

I have heard of the Internet, as it happens. However, what Teilifís offers that is distinctive is the possibility of Ireland's being a commmunity,...

The TV is push media. You don't have a say in what gets aired and when, certainly not in comparison to pull media.

looking together at the Late Show with Ryan, or whatever else we all enjoy, so that we have an immediate contemporary culture and common points of reference and a common popular culture.

I don't see how that offers any advantage over the internet. We can do that already on the Internet. The very website you are reading now has a better spread of what Ireland is like vs what you get on TV.

Everyone, in every rank, condition and station in life, can view and thoroughly enjoy the...

As long as they pay for the pleasure to do so.

In contrast, the Internet ....

Your comments are made up and have no basis in fact. I have a better chance of talking directly to a super star (manufactured or not) online then I do say trying to call into a show at a fixed time during the day.

hatrickpatrick · 13-11-2011 03:05PM

Based on the now infamous rumor of "SIX... HUNDRED... THOUSAND... POUND!!!!", it takes the full annual license fee of 3750 people just to pay Pat Kenny.

Just throwing that out there...

HugoBradyBrown · 13-11-2011 03:12PM

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

Based on the now infamous rumor of "SIX... HUNDRED... THOUSAND... POUND!!!!", it takes the full annual license fee of 3750 people just to pay Pat Kenny.

Just throwing that out there...

This is something I posted elsewhere recently, and I think it does clarify the position rather well.

Salaries are paid from advertising, not TV tax revenues

The self-employed creative staff and talent negotiate their contracts freely with the PSB. The talent have the option of going elsewhere either in Ireland or abroad. But RTE's own internal research shows, firstly, that the listeners appreciate the experienced broadcasters and what they do, and secondly, the advertisers appreciate the huge audiences that can be put their way. It is, as it were, a triple win, with no losers. The contracts are funded out of advertising revenue, not from the TX tax, the public gets the best possible radio and TV for the money, and the advertisers and wealth generators get an opportunity to address the housewife in primetime.

What's not to like?

Mike 1972 · 13-11-2011 03:18PM

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

and the advertisers and wealth generators get an opportunity to address the housewife in primetime.

Whats a housewife Grandad ?

HugoBradyBrown · 13-11-2011 03:19PM

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Whats a housewife Grandad ?

Point taken, sir! I apologise to any ladies present.

Badgermonkey · 13-11-2011 03:21PM

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

Derek's nature work goes back many years, to when he had gravy yard shifts

Presumably that's the gravy train terminus at Montrose?

A delightfully bounteous jaunt for all concerned.

HugoBradyBrown · 13-11-2011 03:25PM

Badgermonkey wrote: »

Presumably that's the gravy train terminus at Montrose?

A delightfully bounteous jaunt for all concerned.

Apologies again, this is the fault of my spellchecker. I shall speak to her later!

Jesus Wept · 13-11-2011 03:35PM

Indo wrote:

"there's no guarantee of job security."

:rolleyes:

Jesus that story would break your heart. Let's have a whip around.

Wertz · 13-11-2011 04:31PM

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

Thank you, Wertz, for dilating at such length on this issue. I have contributed to other threads on many other topics, but I do believe in a cobbler sticking to his (or her) last.

I rebut with indignation any suggestion that my carefully considered, consistent and reasonable posts meet in the smallest degree the definition of spamming.

Read up on what spamming means Hugo as regards the forum rules...we're not talking about an inbox full of penis enlargement tips or Nigerian princes' bank statements, we are talking about a clear policy on behalf of the poster (yourself in this case) to continually push one agenda, albeit in a verbose and lengthy manner. As I told you over in the Radio forum, you continually refuse to declare your interest and that is not fair to readers who may not be au fait with your tactics.
I have yet to see you discussing anything other than RTÉ and their various products in your 450 odd (some might say very odd) posts.

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

BBCNI / UTV current affairs in general (save when a tranche of funds is disbursed from central funds for 'specials' with 'mainland appeal') are studio-bound talking-heads TV, with participants drawn in on a buggins-turn basis and aired twice in a night at dead times; the end-credits taxi-driver segment is a voiceover on a piece of unchanging VT, for example. Good frugal stuff, but nothing like the quality from Montrose, which is prepared to spend appropriately on, for example, in-depth analysis and investigative work.

Please don't drag UTV in here...they are commercially funded. BBC NI news bulletins take much of their nightly output from a small range of regional reporters who travel the length of the province to report on the scene. Things being what they are in NI these days, it's not the hot bed of front page news it once was (although it still has it's days) but their output on the like of Spotlight frankly wipes the floor with the crowd in Primetime, who seem to delight in 10 minute OB pieces and then some studio talking heads with the usual faces...
Your allusion to Hearts & Minds (which I personally avoid) isn't fair either since RTÉ do The week in Politics, an altogther less droll affair and even more worthy of avoidance IMO.
Montrose sure do like spending on things...that aptness is highly debatable however...

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

Comedy: think Scrap Saturday, Hall's Pictorial, Green Tea, Mrs O'Brien: meeting the needs of different audiences at different times in different eras, i.e. sharply focussed agile broadcasting, turning on a sixpence to follow its audience in the vagaries of its taste.

Sport: who can even think of comparing the range of coverage on radio, TV and other platforms, down to, until recently, the Gaelic Games results on the senior service on a Sunday evening? "Seo agaibh anois príomh-thoraí an lae inniu", if we remember fondly, down to parish level. Diaspora and internal migrant PSB at its very finest, I should say.

Anything I missed?

Please...the comedy you mention probably goes over the heads of anyone under 30 on this form and to even call some of it comedy is probably some of the best humour to come out of RTÉ (via your post) in some years. You managed to completely ignore the few comedic efforts that have been to their fore in the past... but I'll leave you figure out what they might be...
I'd say a supertanker could maneuver in a tighter turning circle than your lot. Imported ideas loosely adapted a season or two behind their original inspirations on UK or US TV, usually when the hype surrounding them has moved on to the next shiny new fad... Master Chef, various DIY makeovers, Come dine with me...the list is a long one, but RTÉ sure know how to squeeze every drop from them, a la dead horse floggery

BBC NI sport cover more than you seem to know...regionally they do their local soccer, manage some GAA, have great motorsport coverage and once again, manage their remit with a small number of staff and to a level apropriate to the level of population.

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

I dispute the use of the term 'shill'. It is not dishonourable to mount a defense in the face of a torrent of ill-informed and misguided criticism.

See above. Nobody said it was dishonourable...what paying job is? However you once again fail to take on board what people here and in the wider public consider valid criticism from their perspective. You may see how things are from the inside...most of us do not...we see the resulting output and we see the like of Terry (*waves*) brought to court for failing to pay his share (something which I can completely see his point on) for that output.
If the funding of PSB in this country is so vital that we see fit to effectively hold people in contempt of court for failing to stump up, then the model for collection is flawed and should pass to some other method...personally I'd sooner see it entirely commercialised with a small levy drawn through direct taxation to ensure news output and the bare bones of PSB.

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

I find it hard to get a purchase on this post, but suffice it to say that if it agrees with my line, I am content with it and if it disagrees, I am sure I could answer it easily if I grasped the point.

Stop obfuscating Hugo...as flutterinbantam said to you some weeks back, don't come the old soldier. You're not an unitelligent person, and your level of comprehension I'm sure can stretch to garnering enough from the post to make an attemtpt to reply to it's point.
Mind you she is from Cork and we know how all you south Dublin types have this innate inabilty to understand anything said by those from anywhere beyond your own postcode...

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

I do not think it should ever be economics in the cultural domain, in fact.

And, for Washington, think Carol, think Mark, think Charlie; this is what you cannot get from agency reports, the distinctive Irish interpretation, the careful selection of the issues that will resonate with our viewers.

RTE is not deluded in any sense, and, indeed, with consultant and facilitator support, conducts extensive and ongoing self-examinations. Nobody is more self-critical as an organisation than RTE, let me assure you.

Please... Coleman was the only half decent one between them... little? FFS he came back with more of a yank accent than some of those girls on Fade st.
Bird, my god...poor Charlie had to come running home to diddums (a la George Lee when he too a dislike to Kildare St) when he couldn't hack being able to do a reporter's job outside of a country where his only means of doing the job were personal connections. Then we pay for him to go off on a folly to Mc Murdo?

Delusional isn't the word.

Consultant and facillitator reports...yeah that'd be right...just like your buddies in the Dáil, the HSE and the civil services...can't do squat without paying over small fortunes to private individuals for advice on how to do your feckin' jobs.
the only hint of self criticism you see in RTÉ is the occasional gag on Oliver Callan or in the past through Dermot Morgan. The only reason Callan is let away with it now is because of the times we're living in...
The criticism is always comedic and self effacing in this friendly "ah shure aren't we great altogether really, but we like to laugh at ourselves too" manner... I have NEVER seen RTÉ discuss their own failings or wage levels in a serious manner (again something you see on BBC, probably because it's such a huge beast that no inner clique can keep people in check)

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

An Post, actually, but all credit to them. Direct debits, quarterly payments; monthly payments. Excellent and painless!

Sure, painless. the licence fee to someone on social welfare (which more and more people will be on and which will be falling in terms of rate of payment) is a large outgoing ...it's €3.20 approx per week... that could be the difference in someone eating for half a day out of that week for instance. Some of these people don't even have a feckin' bank account...like a certain former taoiseach.
Oh aren't an post great! Another unionised inefficient mess IMO. The level of infrastructure and bureaucracy necessary to enforce collection of the TV tax creates a multitude of jobs for a plethora of publically paid staff...all that could be done away with and save us all a tidy sum. Economics have everything to do with it Mr Brown.
Another thing on the licence is An Post and RTÉ's output on the production and airing of the numerous scare campaigns across the airwaves and screens...the spongers, could you live with the shame? Mona and her fishcakes... if our fine broadcaster put half the effort into the penning of these ads into their domestic drama they'd be in line for some Emmy's.

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

I cannot argue with a position like this.

I have little regard for 'common knowledge', since, while it may be 'common', it is very rarely 'knowledge'.

Nepotism is a foreign word in Montrose, let me assure you.

Would you like a handkerchief to brush the commoner's spittle from your collar, good sir?

Nepotism in RTÉ is rife and for once I know this from a personal factual level that I won't go into here...
Mc Savage? Tubridy? Political favouritism at least... Duncan Stewart and his daughter, Gerry Ryan's attempt to have his daughter make an entry... plenty more examples there that don't spring immeadiately to mind...the return of Gay Byrne, Mike Murphy to the fold following their experience in the real world of business and property failings...the aforementioned George Lee...there's more to nepotism than giving your kid a summer job.
We live in a very small country, so it is to be expected somewhat...but when it's to the detriment of rivals in attaining a paying postion it's downright wrong and your assurance that it doesn't exist is simply not credulous.

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

This is an utterly pointless waste of my valuable time.

Ah now I'm sure someone will sign the overtime slips for you. You're on After hours BTW...I warned you about the vernacular earlier...you're fair game as far as the locals are concerned.

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

And RTE News & Current Affairs is emphatically entirely independent of government in editorial terms, and always has been; recall that the late great Kevin O'Kelly of this parish went to gaol in the early 1970's, rather than reveal his sources. That is the touchstone of N&CA, let me assure you.

Again Hugo, you speak of another time...in less archaic times, the national broadcaster has jumped into bed with the ruling party and are intriniscally intertwined with them on many levels, particularly the Fianna Fail party... no-one out there wanted to rock any boats when everything was going swimmingly, either economically or politically.
Winston Smith himself would be in awe... of course it's all done with the element of an illusion of balance...but it doesn't take much reading between the lines to see that he who pays the piper (or sets the licence fee) calls the tune...

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

This matter is not our issue, but, since it is frequently confused in the public mind, I shall address it authoritatively.

(Nor, I might add, are we talking about sentences being served in the 19th century Marshalsea Debtors' Prison, but in an open prison, where the presence of the national flag may be the only indicator that we are not looking at a Clarion Hotel!)

Please be assured that RTE is not pleased to see any citizen breaking the law, nor to see any citizen sent to gaol. Neither, I might add, is RTE the prosecuting authority.

I trust this disposes adequately of any concerns expressed on this matter.

RTÉ couldn't give a flying f*ck once Joe Duffy gets his wage of a weekend. Mountjoy was in the past used for failure to pay fines. People may only have went for a night but it wasn't some open prison (or Spa break) you purport it to being.

The only ones RTÉ don't want to see go to jail are the political and financial figures they gave substantial airtime to throughout the boom to peddle their brand of newspeak or cheerleading whoever was paying their bar bills...

jimmynokia wrote: »

How much are your employers (RTE) paying your per post?

I'd say he's paid per keystroke. I envy him in that regard :pac:

mike65 wrote: »

Irelands (read RTEs) top talent whore Noel Kelly has spoken out as his clients struggle to pay the mortgage

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rte-stars-are-struggling-to-pay-their-mortgage-bills-2933380.html

Aw is poor Adele in negative equity again? Welcome to the reality the rest of the country have been living in for 2-3 years.
Kelly eh? I'd say he's feeling the pinch himself...wouldn't surprise my cynical self at all if Mr Brown was on retainer from him either...

Keep up the brave fight sir Hugo. Tally ho.

jimmynokia · 13-11-2011 04:37PM

The-Rigger wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Jesus that story would break your heart. Let's have a whip around.

what are you waffling about ive never mentioned anything about job security anywhere ever...

MOH · 13-11-2011 04:47PM

HugoBradyBrown wrote: »

24 hour broadcasting, with the finest of production staff and of on-air talent,

You'd think with such a level of talent they'd manage to stick to a schedule. I'd love to know the last week in which the 9.00 news actually started at 9 every night. Or even the last day on which all programs started on time. Inability to manage basic issues like this annoys me nearly as much as the dross they regularly churn out.

mikom · 13-11-2011 04:58PM

Boards.ie charge for the Sub-Forums : Talk to...
Why are they not charging RTE, Talk to... HugoBradyBrown/RTE?

RTE and the Licence FEE

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