Is RTE a real national gem?

Rabelais · 09-01-2014 12:17AM #1

I sat down this evening and decided I'd watch some television. Flicked through the channels and it was a continuous stream of repeats: Friends, Deadly Catch, QI, Top Gear and Bull's Eye (which I was tempted to watch out of nostalgia).

Watched The Summit on RTE. A magnificent documentary that would be confined to BBC2 or BBC3 across the water. Which brings me to my next point - why do we compare RTE to the BBC? The BBC is the largest publicly-funded broadcaster in the world, one of the last great Public Service Broadcasters in the world. RTE is a minnow compared to it. Yet most people are happy to pay for such a service.

I'm beginning to think RTE is a gem. From their sports coverage; through current affairs, the RTE Doc on One Series, The Hamilton Series on Lyric on a Saturday, Late Date.

Are you an overall fan of RTE? Or would you see it replaced? And what would you see it replaced with? How would that be funded? Public service broadcasting with a remit to entertain.

Mr. Incognito · 09-01-2014 12:19AM

With all their nonsense about talent being poached they are crap. Over paid nepotism. maybe one or two would make it in the UK or a larger market and the rest would wash out. The market gain Tv3 made so quickly showed that

LordSutch · 09-01-2014 12:20AM

RTE is like an acquired taste IMO.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 09-01-2014 12:20AM

most people are happy to pay for rte?

u wot m8?

Frosty McSnowballs · 09-01-2014 12:22AM

Really Terrible Entertainment

deadybai · 09-01-2014 12:22AM

i am a massive fan of rte.they have everything you want really. Ive feeling your going to get a lot of people saying its terrible somehow. But yeah my family has decided to get rid of sky digital completely because most of the stuff on it is pure rubbish. Like how many channels show Friends and CSI repeats? Have to say though was extremely dissapointed when they got rid of the Premiership

Banjo String · 09-01-2014 12:24AM

I say make them a subscriber only channel.

Let's see exactly How many would 'be happy to pay' to watch it.

It has been proven time and again, RTE are merely a mouthpiece for whatever shower of incompetent gombeens we have in Govt at the time.

The Glass Key · 09-01-2014 12:24AM

Whats RTE? Only have FTA satellite so don't watch it and don't miss it either.

The Backwards Man · 09-01-2014 12:24AM

Punch way above their weight in my opinion.

How many high end New Zealand TV productions can anyone here name off the top of their head, for example?

The Golden Miller · 09-01-2014 12:24AM

Some decent oversea imports, some sh!t. Their output is average. I have no time for their current affair shows since they became Eoghan Harris orientated

osarusan · 09-01-2014 12:26AM

I sat down to watch a programme on RTE on Christmas day about 2 years ago. It was billed as a compilation of some of the best of their 'candid camera' programmes, which had actually been pretty good.

Instead it was just the actors sitting round talking about the show, and some of the better set-ups they'd done. They'd talk for 5 minutes or more about a particular set-up, how well it had worked, and so on. "Do you remember how......?" "Oh, yes, that was gas."

They never even showed the episodes they were talking about FFS.

That, and their willingness to let their football pundits talk any old crap at all as long as it's controversial, under the guise of 'telling it like it is', are my memories of RTE from afar.

twowheelsonly · 09-01-2014 12:27AM

Overall they provide a decent enough service IMO with a fairly good spread of programmes and documentaries - far better than some of the commercial channels which feature repeats and rehashed shows day after day.

The big problem I have with them is their overpaid 'stars', both on Television and Radio. The wages that they command are absolutely ridiculous.

The major annoyance for me in their programming is the chat shows where they seem to spend half the time just interviewing other RTE personalities that are promoting their own shows. Drives me nuts!!

I'd hesitate to call it a national gem but it is in my opinion a good station, up there with some of the best.

Benteke · 09-01-2014 12:27AM

If you like it then pay for it, If not you don't pay, Sadly it's forced on us to pay because if given the choice the majority would be more than happy to leave it behind, Then you get told we live in a democracy :pac:

Banjo String · 09-01-2014 12:27AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Punch way above their weight in my opinion.

How many high end New Zealand TV productions can anyone here name off the top of their head, for example?

Passport control (i think it's called)
And I think there's a cop one (highway patrol or something)

Wonder if many kiwis could name any rte shows all the same?

tommyboy2222 · 09-01-2014 12:31AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Punch way above their weight in my opinion.

How many high end New Zealand TV productions can anyone here name off the top of their head, for example?

Shortland Street mutha****a !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Backwards Man · 09-01-2014 12:33AM

Banjo String wrote: »

Passport control (i think it's called)
And I think there's a cop one (highway patrol or something)

Wonder if many kiwis could name any rte shows all the same?

The Clinic, Love/Hate and Mrs. Brown's Boys, for starters.

The Backwards Man · 09-01-2014 12:35AM

tommyboy2222 wrote: »

Shortland Street mutha****a !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

High end?:pac:

murpho999 · 09-01-2014 12:35AM

RTE comes in for a lot of criticism.

Some deserved and some unwarranted in my opinion. Some may come from some who expect a BBC type service whist forgetting the massive budget differences.

Bad:

Showing English Soaps
RTE celebs on Late Late Show
Influence of religion on station, Angelus, interviewing priests on the news etc
Scheduling of good shows like Mad Men at crazy hours.

Good

Only station that you can get proper Irish news
Documentaries about Ireland, eg recent River Shannon documentary and Ronan O'Gara one was very good. Shows like Reality Bites are entertaining and show a side of Ireland that you won't get anywhere else.
Drama like Love/Hate.

I think people compare it to other stations with big budget dramas and American imports, whereas I would regard RTE as a station to inform me of stuff going on in Ireland.
Plenty of other stations can provide the "entertainment"

kneemos · 09-01-2014 12:36AM

Banjo String wrote: »

I say make them a subscriber only channel.

Let's see exactly How many would 'be happy to pay' to watch it.

It has been proven time and again, RTE are merely a mouthpiece for whatever shower of incompetent gombeens we have in Govt at the time.

Market is too small for a subscription service.

Always strikes me as old fashioned and scared of change.
Unlike TV3 and Newstalk who whatever you think of them can consistently find natural and comfortable presenters RTE insist on hiring and sticking with nervous types who are completely unsuited to the job.
Seldom watch it.Still pay the license though.

Mint Aero · 09-01-2014 12:38AM

Rabelais wrote: »

Watched The Summit on RTE. A magnificent documentary

:rolleyes: The first half decent programme on RTE in decades :rolleyes: calm your tits :rolleyes: RTE is still sh*t.

Benteke · 09-01-2014 12:40AM

Just because one person likes certain shows does not mean others like them, That's why people should have a choice but sadly that will never happen because they would lose so much money they would probably end up closing down, That pretty much sums up what people think of our national broadcaster

Courtesy Flush · 09-01-2014 12:45AM

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

With all their nonsense about talent being poached they are crap. Over paid nepotism. maybe one or two would make it in the UK or a larger market and the rest would wash out. The market gain Tv3 made so quickly showed that

Which is weird cause TV3 is trash of the worst kind

catallus · 09-01-2014 12:52AM

Agreed, TV3 is bad bad bad tv station and an indication that we should be grateful for RTE!

murpho999 · 09-01-2014 12:57AM

Mint Aero wrote: »

:rolleyes: The first half decent programme on RTE in decades :rolleyes: calm your tits :rolleyes: RTE is still sh*t.

Seriously what is with all the stupid :rolleyes:?

To say that "The Summit" is the only half decent programme broadcast on RTE in decades is ridiculous.
Wonder what you term to be a decent programme.

I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here, Top Gear and X Factor probably

Pretzill · 09-01-2014 12:58AM

It's our national broadcaster it has some good points and some bad ones. Bad points for me is the lack of promotion of quality drama, comedy and innovation - (I mean without mimicking other formats badly - which they do often) also their scheduling is all over the place. But that's just TV Rte radio across all it's dial can be really good and streets ahead of other commercial stations if the TV was half as good as the radio docs etc it would be a better set-up imo.

Btw it's the television licence fee not the RTE licence fee a percentage of that goes to indies et al who are responsible for some of the better content not just on RTE but TV3 aswell.

Rabelais · 09-01-2014 01:00AM

Mint Aero wrote: »

:rolleyes: The first half decent programme on RTE in decades :rolleyes: calm your tits :rolleyes: RTE is still sh*t.

I thought the Colm Connolly doc was lovely, sad and engaging. That was last year.

One day TV3 will decide to make a doc based on one of their most well-pronounced and exuberant sport presenters; as the presenter struggles through an illness that will eventually kill him. And do it in a most rational and engaging style.

Mint Aero · 09-01-2014 01:54AM

murpho999 wrote: »

Seriously what is with all the stupid :rolleyes:?

To say that "The Summit" is the only half decent programme broadcast on RTE in decades is ridiculous.
Wonder what you term to be a decent programme.

I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here, Top Gear and X Factor probably

No, Ireland's Next Top Model actually from few years ago. Yeah no seriously the summit is something you couldn't balls up making a documentary of....yet....they kinda did, didn't they.

Bit too long. Generic cinematography. Storyboard was a bit muddled and I'm not sure but I think they mixed up feet and metres in their opening graphics.

murpho999 · 09-01-2014 01:58AM

Mint Aero wrote: »

No, Ireland's Next Top Model actually from few years ago. Yeah no seriously the summit is something you couldn't balls up making a documentary of....yet....they kinda did, didn't they.

Bit too long. Generic cinematography. Storyboard was a bit muddled.

RTE didn't make it. They only broadcast it which is quite a coup seeing as it was only in the cinema before Christmas.

Storyboard was a bit muddled? It's a documentary you know?

http://thesummitfilm.com/

Mint Aero · 09-01-2014 02:02AM

murpho999 wrote: »

RTE didn't make it. They only broadcast it which is quite a coup seeing as it was only in the cinema before Christmas.

Storyboard was a bit muddled? It's a documentary you know?

http://thesummitfilm.com/

So why we discussing it then?

yea durh it's a documentary, delivery wasn't great.

Manach · 09-01-2014 02:02AM

A carbuncle.

Teyla Emmagan · 09-01-2014 02:19AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Punch way above their weight in my opinion.

How many high end New Zealand TV productions can anyone here name off the top of their head, for example?

Top of the lake?

I hate RTE and even thinking about having to pay good money to enable it continue making complete ****e brings me out in a rash. The only time I watch anything on it is when I'm in my granny's and I'm continually horrified by how rubbish it is. Lotto, up for the match, reality tv and talk show garbage.

Burn it with fire!!

Is RTE a real national gem?

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