RTE Gold discussion thread

Elmo · 27-07-2020 5:52pm

Former Former wrote: »

It's not supposed to.

It was part of a wider cost-cutting package including salary cuts to on-air presenters, job losses, shutting the Limerick studio and something to do with the orchestra that I can't remember now.

This is RTÉ’s 2024 strategy

1. Sell RTÉ Guide
2. Move Lyric from Limerick to Dublin & Cork
3. Close Digital Radio & DAB

1. Not done, not worth it, may as well close
2. Political outrage resulting in €10m increase in funding from Government
3. Close DAB but not yet? Why not? Close Digital Radio Stations but fail to put in a proposal to the minister

And the NSO’s move to the NCH wasn’t part of the strategy it had been agreed to by Minister for Arts and due to move this year, nothing about that move stated by the current minister.

I worked out that really RTÉ had only saved 7.5m at best with 1-3 and a further 7.5 with the move of the NSO, that’s 15m not 20m.

No pay cuts for presenters were mention in the strategy

4. Move sports from RTÉ2 to RTÉ One

(Not sure if that even saves money)

Former Former · 27-07-2020 8:08pm

Elmo wrote: »

This is RTÉ’s 2024 strategy

1. Sell RTÉ Guide
2. Move Lyric from Limerick to Dublin & Cork
3. Close Digital Radio & DAB

1. Not done, not worth it, may as well close
2. Political outrage resulting in €10m increase in funding from Government
3. Close DAB but not yet? Why not? Close Digital Radio Stations but fail to put in a proposal to the minister

And the NSO’s move to the NCH wasn’t part of the strategy it had been agreed to by Minister for Arts and due to move this year, nothing about that move stated by the current minister.

I worked out that really RTÉ had only saved 7.5m at best with 1-3 and a further 7.5 with the move of the NSO, that’s 15m not 20m.

No pay cuts for presenters were mention in the strategy

4. Move sports from RTÉ2 to RTÉ One

(Not sure if that even saves money)

Sooo... We're agreed that closing DAB was never meant to save 30 million? Good.

alzer100 · 27-07-2020 8:46pm

Dee Forbes seems to be determined to shut down the DAB network AND all of its channels including RTE Gold.

I don't think it matters to her how much money it will save in the long term even if she closes DAB, she said that she would do it sometime in 2020. Come November, questions will be asked of her of exactly how much of the cost saving measures has she actually executed. I don't think it's about saving money for her for now, it's probably more likely about saving atleast some of her reputation with regards to announcing something and then actually doing it. A lot depends on whether she can do it without the current minister's approval.

In reality, RTE will probably see a new DG at the helm when the financial s**t really hits the fan.

Elmo · 27-07-2020 8:54pm

Former Former wrote: »

Sooo... We're agreed that closing DAB was never meant to save 30 million? Good.

Yes but the cost savings that your suggesting and that RTÉ are suggesting across the board doesn't come close to the 20m required. RTÉ did no work on the strategy.

1. Anyone could have told them that selling the RTÉ Guide wasn't going to bring in much money. And before announcing it in the strategy they should have investigated to see if it would be worthwhile.
2. Again the move from Limerick of LyricFM as part of this €20m strategy wasn't going to be a major part of cost savings needed.
3. RTÉ seem not to have know they they need to submit the closure of the Digital stations to the minister, this is 8 months ago that it was announced.
4. Where are savings to be made by putting sport on RTÉ ONE, your not going to increase viewership for big sporting events just because you have moved them to ONE, the only thing you are going to do is see RTÉ2's audience drop.

So while you might turn around and say we agree its only part of the cost cutting measures, the measure haven't stacked up, so much so that the Executive board in the Dail failed to answer exactly how much they planned to save.

Sorry for going off topic but defending RTÉ's closure of DAB and Digital Stations as part of a major cost cutting exercise at the company doesn't stack up because these services aren't costing them that much.

Remember RTÉ have failed in the last 10 years to cut money going to imports or to 2fm. Yet RTÉ has seen a 25% reduction in income, while 2FM income has dropped by 50%.

Rant rant rant rant

alzer100 · 27-07-2020 9:17pm

In fairness I think you both have valid points.

Moon_shoes · 28-07-2020 3:43am

A load of djs were recently made redundant from spin south west and the station has become almost completely a relay of the Dublin spin, all announced pre Covid btw. Anyway the point is, these young spin sw djs didn't have the luxury of getting a meeting with TDs and senators at Leinster House the way the Limerick based lyric fm djs did last December. The then taoiseach even intervened on behalf of the Limerick lyric crew. Not a word from even any local politician on the spin sw redundancys

Moon_shoes · 28-07-2020 3:55am

Is it morally right for Will leahy to be a full time employee of RTE while already having another full time job in his family law firm ?

Elmo · 28-07-2020 8:38am

Moon_shoes wrote: »

A load of djs were recently made redundant from spin south west and the station has become almost completely a relay of the Dublin spin, all announced pre Covid btw. Anyway the point is, these young spin sw djs didn't have the luxury of getting a meeting with TDs and senators at Leinster House the way the Limerick based lyric fm djs did last December. The then taoiseach even intervened on behalf of the Limerick lyric crew. Not a word from even any local politician on the spin sw redundancys

This is where the BAI should regulate. Spin is owned by communicorp and if it did not have a sister Dublin station would not be able to do this, how did Beat & iRadio react?

KildareP · 28-07-2020 8:47am

Elmo wrote: »

This is where the BAI should regulate. Spin is owned by communicorp and if it did not have a sister Dublin station would not be able to do this, how did Beat & iRadio react?

iRadio effectively did the exact same during the merger of the i102-104 and i105-107 franchises.

Beat are owned by the same consortium as WLR FM, share the same building and broadcast facilities and have shared off-air operations so they're able to realise savings there.

If anything, Spin SW was the outlier in that it is (or was) run as two completely separate stations (from Spin 1038) with two standalone studios and broadcast facilities and associated operations.

end of the road · 28-07-2020 9:54am

Moon_shoes wrote: »

A load of djs were recently made redundant from spin south west and the station has become almost completely a relay of the Dublin spin, all announced pre Covid btw. Anyway the point is, these young spin sw djs didn't have the luxury of getting a meeting with TDs and senators at Leinster House the way the Limerick based lyric fm djs did last December. The then taoiseach even intervened on behalf of the Limerick lyric crew. Not a word from even any local politician on the spin sw redundancys

because it wouldn't have changed the outcome.
the only way it would have been stopped is if the BAI said no, however that was never going to happen as they want to keep stations on air, at any cost, granted pop and prattle can be done from anywhere.
in saying that though, on principal stations who apply for a particular license and who know what they are getting in to should be let fail if they cannot make it work.

Moon_shoes wrote: »

Is it morally right for Will leahy to be a full time employee of RTE while already having another full time job in his family law firm ?

of course it is .
as long as he is able to do what is required of him then there is no issue.
there is no conflict of interest either also as he is just a presenter at rte.

ford fiesta · 15-08-2020 5:51pm

Listening to RTE Gold / Radio 1 simulcast today..
I've been thinking for many years, it just me or are Michael Cahill's playlists really bland and predictable?

I thought the idea of the Covid simulcasts was for more listeners to tune IN to Gold, not tune OUT !!

thesandeman · 15-08-2020 6:25pm

Rick O'Shea used to do the Saturdays. He was much better.

Mr Snow · 15-08-2020 6:44pm

thesandeman wrote: »

Rick O'Shea used to do the Saturdays. He was much better.

Rick is not back till the 31st of august

amlinopta · 15-08-2020 9:58pm

Mr Snow wrote: »

Rick is not back till the 31st of august

How many weeks holidays is that for Rick? Great place to work

alzer100 · 16-08-2020 11:04am

According to Aidan Leonard, it looks like it's no presenters next week, for one week anyway.

RTE don't seem to be interested in getting a stand-in presenter for the breakfast show.

Mickey Mike · 16-08-2020 10:18pm

alzer100 wrote: »

According to Aidan Leonard, it looks like it's no presenters next week, for one week anyway.

RTE don't seem to be interested in getting a stand-in presenter for the breakfast show.

No Presenters for breakfast radio, is this the start of the wind down? A commission report is due in the autumn to clarify the future direction of these cuts. DAB is only carrying one channel that people are interested in "RTE Gold" not much fuss about the others, so let's hope they keep it online and saorview platform.

Elmo · 16-08-2020 11:22pm

Mickey Mike wrote: »

No Presenters for breakfast radio, is this the start of the wind down? A commission report is due in the autumn to clarify the future direction of these cuts. DAB is only carrying one channel that people are interested in "RTE Gold" not much fuss about the others, so let's hope they keep it online and saorview platform.

A commission report? Again RTÉ have yet to seek approval from the Minister to axe their Digital Radio stations, she has the last word.

ford fiesta · 17-08-2020 1:36am

Bad move not having presenters on, even if its just for a week.

Plenty of full time radio presenters or continuity announcers available in RTE, to fill in for Will and Rick.

alzer100 · 17-08-2020 1:40am

It's quite obvious management have no commitment to the station.

ITV2 · 17-08-2020 12:40pm

via twitter -
It’s an All Music week here on @RTEGold
as we recharge a few batteries between now and Friday.

But Aidan & Michael will be on at the weekend and then Gold Breakfast & Daytime Gold return on Monday August 24th.

Enjoy the non-stop music & thanks for listening

washiskin · 17-08-2020 1:38pm

Is this the first time since they've had djs that they have not covered leave? Not a good indicator of things to come if so.....

alzer100 · 17-08-2020 2:15pm

washiskin wrote: »

Is this the first time since they've had djs that they have not covered leave? Not a good indicator of things to come if so.....

As far as I am aware, yes this is the first instance.
For example, Al Dunne was a regular stand-in for the breakfast show. Since December last, RTE have seemed to have cut ties with most if not all of the former weekend and potential stand-in presenters.

So yes, it doesn't sound too good...

channelsurfer2 · 17-08-2020 3:56pm

it does look like Aidan, Will, Michael and Rick (aka the old 2fm DJ RTE staffers) are keeping it going despite Senior Management not wanting anything to do with it.

ford fiesta · 24-08-2020 9:41am

Will is back on breakfast this morning

Aidan is on from 10am to 1pm instead of Rick.

Elmo · 24-08-2020 10:55am

alzer100 wrote: »

SENT TO info@rte.ie

To Whom It Concerns,

Has RTE made an official application to cease broadcasting of it's digital services - RTE Gold, RTE Pulse, RTE News extra etc. and when was the application submitted?
When does RTE expect to close those servicees?

Kind Regards

RESPONSE:

Thank you for contacting RTÉ Information.

Due to the large volume of mail received by RTɒs Information Office we are unable to respond to all correspondence received. If your comment is intended for one of our live programmes, please contact the programme directly using the contact details supplied on their webpage or on air.

We have included below some responses to common queries. All other queries and requests will be responded to as soon as possible.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE NOT RESPONDING TO THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION FOR NOW.

Did you ever get a reply? also @kenn0

Mickey Mike · 24-08-2020 1:18pm

I phoned RTE Information for a bit of info, asked about the future of the digital radio channels and they said they simply don't know, I asked about the future of LW 252 and they didn't know. What he said, "All of these things are under constant review" so thanks to RTE for the clarification.

alzer100 · 24-08-2020 2:16pm

Elmo wrote: »

Did you ever get a reply? also @kenn0

Not a word

alzer100 · 28-08-2020 1:16pm

Looks like the weekend simulcasts with RTE Radio 1 are being phased out altogether. I suppose it was inevitable and I think they were becoming pretty much irrelevant as they had become so short in duration.
Saturday 5 - 6:30pm
No more Sunday simulcasts.

ford fiesta · 28-08-2020 1:57pm

alzer100 wrote: »

Looks like the weekend simulcasts with RTE Radio 1 are being phased out altogether. I suppose it was inevitable and I think they were becoming pretty much irrelevant as they had become so short in duration.
Saturday 5 - 6:30pm
No more Sunday simulcasts.

What is your source? Think its different this weekend...with "Shine" performances airing on Sunday.

alzer100 · 28-08-2020 2:07pm

ford fiesta wrote: »

What is your source? Think its different this weekend...with "Shine" performances airing on Sunday.

Amanda Fennelly announced that the sport shows on Sunday were back to normal. Granted, the Saturday simulcast time slot maybe shortened by a half an hour for this weekend only but I don't think so.

RTE Gold discussion thread

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