RTE Gold discussion thread

Elmo · 30-09-2020 1:00pm

Double O Seven wrote: »

RTE are making fools out of the public by announcing "major cutbacks" and then not implementing a single one of them.

TBH it was a ploy from RTÉ

Step 1: Get Prime Time to report on a proposed axing of Lyric FM
Step 2: Cause outrage
Step 3: Deny that those plans are a foot, but the studio's in Limerick are in the firing line
Step 4: Cause more outrage
Step 5: Announce a 2020 - 2024 strategy with few details
Step 6: Provide no info the the Oireachtas
Step 7: Cause a debate
Step 8: Get 10 million and say your reviewing the plan
Step 9: See what happens
Step 10: Do not progress plans and hope for the best.

Have they even given a date for the closure of DAB?

ford fiesta · 30-09-2020 1:03pm

Double O Seven wrote: »

RTE are making fools out of the public by announcing "major cutbacks" and then not implementing a single one of them.

Who cares??
As long as RTE Gold (and some other RTE digital stations) remain on air for us to enjoy and get something back for us that pay our TV licence!!

alzer100 · 30-09-2020 2:08pm

As far as I am aware RTE's position on RTE Gold is that the station is still in wind down mode. RTE Radio 1 simulcasts will end in about 2 weeks time (reintroduction of sports)

I don't trust any minister to support RTE Gold as it does not generate any revenue as a service. I am still very skeptical leaning towards pessimistic about RTE Gold's future.

It could be just a long drawn out stay of execution IMHO

Elmo · 30-09-2020 2:24pm

alzer100 wrote: »

I don't trust any minister to support RTE Gold as it does not generate any revenue as a service. I am still very skeptical leaning towards pessimistic about RTE Gold's future.

It would be great if The Minister had an opportunity to have an opinion and to research that opinion as set out in the broadcasting act. RTÉ AFAIK have not yet provided a proposal to the Minister for decision.

It doesn't take a lot to write to the minister and officially say.

Under section 103 of the broadcasting act RTÉ proposes the following

RTÉ proposes to closes it digital set of radio stations (RTÉ Gold, RTÉ Pulse, RTÉjr/Chill and RTÉ 2XM).

RTÉ Gold provides a golden oldies service, RTÉ Pulse is a dance music station, RTÉjr provides programming for children, with RTÉ chill providing light music at night, and RTÉ 2XM alternative music.

These services are part of the Digital TV packages on Saorview and Virgin Media Cable TV and we propose to removed from these broadcasting services.

The stations will also be removed from our online services.

DAB will be closed on AN ACTUAL DATE HERE. This is a trial service that RTÉ has decided to drop, the digital set of channels will no long be available via DAB as it closes from AN ACTUAL DATE HERE.

RTÉ will retain RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, as it provides an alternative schedule to RTÉ Radio 1 and we plan to aim toward the Irish Diaspora.

None of these channel are returning any revenue and we will continue to provide similar services across our podcasting platforms. We are committed to providing Young People's, Documentary, drama, alternative music reviews and live music podcasting. We will retain classic hits, alternative music, live music, dance music, children's content on our other FM services.

We believe the audience is well serviced by this proposal, as we moved toward an online first proposition.

Though RTÉ will probably provide a 30 page outlay of the proposal and need contractors to make it for them.

kazoo106 · 30-09-2020 2:41pm

And why are they not allowed to carry adverts? Is this not part of the problem?

alzer100 · 30-09-2020 3:22pm

kazoo106 wrote: »

And why are they not allowed to carry adverts? Is this not part of the problem?

I don't think DAB/online streaming of RTE Gold produces the audience figures to justify itself to the advertiser. It's probably nowhere near FM at present

Elmo · 30-09-2020 3:22pm

kazoo106 wrote: »

And why are they not allowed to carry adverts? Is this not part of the problem?

I think the agreement for no ads was when the stations began as part of the trail DAB service, there was a fear that RTÉ would gain more ad revenue on DAB, so they are not covered by the JNLR listernship stats for this reason.

But nothing stopping the radio stations online being sponsored only on Broadcasting services.

The minister could make alternative decision on the proposal.

For example should could say if you close all of the above you must close extra also. Or should could say keep RTÉjr, or she could say keep RTÉ Gold but advertising will be allowed. But she must be given the ability to make a decision first.

end of the road · 30-09-2020 9:12pm

Double O Seven wrote: »

RTE are making fools out of the public by announcing "major cutbacks" and then not implementing a single one of them.

they aren't.

Elmo · 30-09-2020 9:34pm

end of the road wrote: »

they aren't.

How are they not? RTÉ raison d'etre is to suggest cuts and cause a lot of talk only for them not to carry through on any plans.

In 2013 they suggest cut their spend on imports by 10%, never happened.

end of the road · 30-09-2020 10:50pm

Elmo wrote: »

How are they not? RTÉ raison d'etre is to suggest cuts and cause a lot of talk only for them not to carry through on any plans.

In 2013 they suggest cut their spend on imports by 10%, never happened.

who cares.
if the services end up staying then that is a win.

Double O Seven · 30-09-2020 10:58pm

end of the road wrote: »

who cares.
if the services end up staying then that is a win.

Triple Facepalm

Pelvis Parsley · 01-10-2020 12:29am

Apologies if mentioned earlier, but am I the only one who preferred a bit of music and the odd shoutout on air on a weekend afternoon during the lockdown, as opposed to a relentless deluge of sports which could be readily found elsewhere?

I have a house full of radios. I restore them, and they generally don't receive FM. They never got so much use as they did while we sat down for the Sunday dinner for the last six months.

channelsurfer2 · 01-10-2020 11:58am

Pelvis Parsley wrote: »

Apologies if mentioned earlier, but am I the only one who preferred a bit of music and the odd shoutout on air on a weekend afternoon during the lockdown, as opposed to a relentless deluge of sports which could be readily found elsewhere?

I have a house full of radios. I restore them, and they generally don't receive FM. They never got so much use as they did while we sat down for the Sunday dinner for the last six months.

me too. the best part of rte one on a sunday was the rte gold but now sport is back it will be a distant memory soon.

Brian CivilEng · 01-10-2020 4:47pm

I used have RTÉ Gold on all day while working from home / living at work. When they cut back the schedule to only have live presenters until 1pm I've found I just work in silence for the afternoon. Afternoon RTÉ Gold just feels like I have an Ipod on random when there is no presenter, even down to the gaps between songs. FM radio sounds dystopian, with every ad break talking about COVID in a monotone voice, or trying to sell me a car.

I'd pay double the current license fee if we could get more Irish content on tv and radio while getting rid of ads. RTÉ Gold is one of the few things made by RTÉ I really enjoy.

amlinopta · 04-10-2020 6:13pm

Final shared broadcast with RTE1 is Will Leavy this evening, likely to be extra sport with the start of the GAA championships

amlinopta · 04-10-2020 6:14pm

Final shared broadcast with RTE1 is Will Leahy’s this evening. Presumably extra sports coverage when the GAA championships start

ford fiesta · 04-10-2020 6:25pm

amlinopta wrote: »

Final shared broadcast with RTE1 is Will Leavy this evening, likely to be extra sport with the start of the GAA championships

Is there a need to axe GOLD from 5pm to 7pm on Saturday and 6pm to 8pm on Sunday?
Does sport usually go on after 5 and 6pm anyway?

I normally during the Winter (pre Covid) hear stuff like Documentaries, Saturday Sounds with Neil "Mamma Mia" Doherty, or Mooney goes Wild???

channelsurfer2 · 04-10-2020 6:33pm

Apparently it's being replaced with an Irish language show on rte1

odyssey06 · 04-10-2020 6:45pm

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

Apparently it's being replaced with an Irish language show on rte1

That'll pull in the punters

ford fiesta · 04-10-2020 7:49pm

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

Apparently it's being replaced with an Irish language show on rte1

There already is an Irish show Beo ar Éigean on Saturdays

thesandeman · 05-10-2020 2:03am

amlinopta wrote: »

Final shared broadcast with RTE1 is Will Leahy’s this evening. Presumably extra sports coverage when the GAA championships start

They may have jumped the gun there a bit.

RINO87 · 05-10-2020 11:49am

ford fiesta wrote: »

Is there a need to axe GOLD from 5pm to 7pm on Saturday and 6pm to 8pm on Sunday?
Does sport usually go on after 5 and 6pm anyway?

I normally during the Winter (pre Covid) hear stuff like Documentaries, Saturday Sounds with Neil "Mamma Mia" Doherty, or Mooney goes Wild???

SSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..... Don't remind anyone that Saturday Sounds ever existed in case they go getting any ideas!

ford fiesta · 10-10-2020 6:09pm

Rick is on now 6pm to 8pm for the final time of Saturday's RTE Gold/Radio 1

Mickey Mike · 10-10-2020 6:34pm

ford fiesta wrote: »

Rick is on now 6pm to 8pm for the final time of Saturday's RTE Gold/Radio 1

You'd imagine with level 3 and no sporting events taking place that Gold will continue on Radio 1 for another bit.

odyssey06 · 10-10-2020 6:52pm

Mickey Mike wrote: »

You'd imagine with level 3 and no sporting events taking place that Gold will continue on Radio 1 for another bit.

Elite sport (including inter county, LOI) can still take place in Level 3 I think.

Pelvis Parsley · 10-10-2020 7:59pm

Best thing they have had on R1 on a weekend afternoon for years, and they've done away with it.

We have one radio and one TV channel as Gaeilge-the need or demand for an afternoon programme on the flagship station as well must be negligible.

But hey, it's RTE, they haven't made a habit of too many good calls.

Rick signing off now, so it's back to robojock.

Good job Rick over the last few months. He finished with this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFhTsunuXpY

Infoanon · 10-10-2020 8:35pm

Pelvis Parsley wrote: »

Best thing they have had on R1 on a weekend afternoon for years, and they've done away with it.

We have one radio and one TV channel as Gaeilge-the need or demand for an afternoon programme on the flagship station as well must be negligible.

But hey, it's RTE, they haven't made a habit of too many good calls.
]

In fairness that's not RTEs call and there would be uproar from certain quarters if RTE Radio One dropped this or any Irish language programming.

Additionally the mess that is DAB cannot be laid at RTEs door.

Pelvis Parsley · 10-10-2020 8:47pm

Infoanon wrote: »

In fairness that's not RTEs call and there would be uproar from certain quarters if RTE Radio One dropped this or any Irish language programming.

Additionally the mess that is DAB cannot be laid at RTEs door.

But they aren't dropping Irish language programming, they're putting a whole new show on after the sport slot, no?

DAB is one thing, but they could [edit] simulcast quality/popular programming on either channel from time to time-just as a thought, the Ronan slot during the week would fit nicely into Gold, as did the afternoon weekend slot on R1 in turn, the other way around.

I just think they're saving very little by consigning it to the scrapheap. I know it's now one of my favourites on TuneIn, and it wouldn't have been on my radar at all, but for the lockdown. Forget about DAB, there's surely some demand for it via online platforms.

Infoanon · 10-10-2020 8:55pm

Pelvis Parsley wrote: »

But they aren't dropping Irish language programming, they're putting a whole new show on after the sport slot, no?
. Forget about DAB, there's surely some demand for it via online platforms.

Vested interests will ensure that such a move would be judged outside of RTES public broadcasting remit and ensure such 'waste of taxpayers ' money would be highlighted.

The same group would have RTE Radio One broadcast 24 hours a day in Irish if they could get their way.

Pelvis Parsley · 10-10-2020 10:11pm

Very true!

kazoo106 · 05-11-2020 11:59am

Is it just me - or has the mid mornig music playlist on RTE Gold gone to pot. It has been my lone accompaniment since March while working from home, but over the last week or so have been tuning into Heart 80s on DAB after 10am (lucky to get stuff from across the border) and find myself staying there for the rest of the day

Mickey Mike · 14-11-2020 8:28pm

Was it around this time last year when RTE made the mayor cut backs, well nothing have happened since, the top presenters still paid big salaries which is one of the reasons why some people are not paying the TV licence fee.
RTE Gold and other digital channels are hanging on there, even after a year we still don't know what the future holds.
As long as the government keeps funding them with your money, RTE will just keep it going.

Elmo · 14-11-2020 10:27pm

Mickey Mike wrote: »

Was it around this time last year when RTE made the mayor cut backs, well nothing have happened since, the top presenters still paid big salaries which is one of the reasons why some people are not paying the TV licence fee.
RTE Gold and other digital channels are hanging on there, even after a year we still don't know what the future holds.
As long as the government keeps funding them with your money, RTE will just keep it going.

RTÉ have not released figures for their top stars. From my understanding of the statement made by the Director of Channels, Audiences and Marketing at RTÉ in the Oireachtas this week, RTÉ are postponing any decision on services until the Commission on the Future of Media reports back in 9 months time, however he was only taking about the move of Lyric FM back to Dublin and Cork, he may not have been talking about DAB, only in very in direct way.

ford fiesta · 15-12-2020 4:53pm

Micky Mac is back on RTE Gold this New Years Eve

thejuggler · 15-12-2020 10:12pm

ford fiesta wrote: »

Micky Mac is back on RTE Gold this New Years Eve

Larging it up. Welcome Welcome Welcome! Didn’t he do some work on lyric after his stint on 2fm ended? Also remember him doing oldies on 2fm at one stage. He’s done it all in music radio. Wonder if his NYE slot will be live.

Declan A Walsh · 15-12-2020 10:20pm

thejuggler wrote: »

Larging it up. Welcome Welcome Welcome! Didn’t he do some work on lyric after his stint on 2fm ended? Also remember him doing oldies on 2fm at one stage. He’s done it all in music radio. Wonder if his NYE slot will be live.

That's right. Michael McNamara played oldies for many years on 2FM (or Radio 2 as it was called most of that time) on weekends. Come the early '90s, he reinvented himself on 2FM as a dance deejay called Mickey Mac on Saturday nights! Michael reinvented himself again by joining the fledging classical arts station Lyric FM in his native Limerick in 1999 - now playing classical music! I think he did some kind of classical countdown on Saturday afternoons at one point!

Michael left radio for a while to concentrate on his involvement with a college in Limerick before returning to the airwaves with commercial station Clare FM.

ford fiesta · 16-12-2020 1:39am

Michael sure did the Lyric Countdown on Lyric FM Saturday lunchtimes until George Hamilton took over the Saturday and Sunday lunchtime slots in 2002.

His return to RTE after Lyric FM was RTE Gold in around 2014 when the weekend schedule was beginning to grow, first with a weekend Classic Dance Show and then a mainstream Saturday afternoon oldies show in 2017 until most of the weekend programmes (Al Dunne, Marian Farrell, Mike Moloney, Nails Mahoney, Eric Moore etc.) were cut in late 2019.
During this time Michael presented weekend and weekday shows with Clare FM and may have done a show or 2 with Limerick's Live 95.

His late mother ran the secretarial school which became HSI college in Limerick and Michael worked here while his long career with RTE continued.

I don't think he ever presented a weekday show on RTE radio, unless he covered for some weekday presenters in the 1980s??.

amlinopta · 16-12-2020 2:43pm

ford fiesta wrote: »

Michael sure did the Lyric Countdown on Lyric FM Saturday lunchtimes until George Hamilton took over the Saturday and Sunday lunchtime slots in 2002.

His return to RTE after Lyric FM was RTE Gold in around 2014 when the weekend schedule was beginning to grow, first with a weekend Classic Dance Show and then a mainstream Saturday afternoon oldies show in 2017 until most of the weekend programmes (Al Dunne, Marian Farrell, Mike Moloney, Nails Mahoney, Eric Moore etc.) were cut in late 2019.
During this time Michael presented weekend and weekday shows with Clare FM and may have done a show or 2 with Limerick's Live 95.

His late mother ran the secretarial school which became HSI college in Limerick and Michael worked here while his long career with RTE continued.

I don't think he ever presented a weekday show on RTE radio, unless he covered for some weekday presenters in the 1980s??.

Mickey Mac’s son is Conor, has made a good career out of sports commentary, mainly football, TV3, BBC five live and Virgin Media of late

channelsurfer2 · 16-12-2020 4:05pm

amlinopta wrote: »

Mickey Mac’s son is Conor, has made a good career out of sports commentary, mainly football, TV3, BBC five live and Virgin Media of late

oh wow.. didnt realise that. you learn something new every day. conor certainly hasnt the same voice.

ford fiesta · 17-12-2020 12:37pm

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

oh wow.. didnt realise that. you learn something new every day. conor certainly hasnt the same voice.

well it's not far from his father's radio voice in fairness!

RINO87 · 17-12-2020 1:55pm

ford fiesta wrote: »

well it's not far from his father's radio voice in fairness!

Yes! You DEFINATLEY can hear "Dance Era" Mickey Mac in Connor McNamara's commentary, very similar at times!

alzer100 · 22-12-2020 5:07pm

Al Dunne, Eric Moore and John Daly returning to RTE Gold during the coming week. Are these one off shows?

Christmas Day
Eric Moore 14:00 - 16:00 Golden Years

St Stephens Day
Al Dunne 10:00 - 13:00 Al Dunne on Saturday**

Sunday 27th
John Daly 18:00 - 19:00 Gold Country

**To call Al Dunne's show by this name may suggest something permanent??

odyssey06 · 22-12-2020 5:10pm

Bring back Dalys 80s!

CUCINA · 21-01-2021 9:17pm

Please, RTE Gold, can you give the likes of Phil Collins, Paul Young, and Billy Joel a rest? The station is still a good alternative to the other ad-drenched stations, but there seems to be a somewhat limited play list. You only you become aware of this when you listen to other "oldie" programmes, IMHO !

ford fiesta · 02-02-2021 2:07pm

Will Leahy said this morning there will be a new weekend schedule announced in the next week.

Mickey Mike · 02-02-2021 7:47pm

ford fiesta wrote: »

Will Leahy said this morning there will be a new weekend schedule announced in the next week.

It seems like RTE Gold is set to continue. What was all this closing the digital radio channels in November 2019, only upsetting us.

ford fiesta · 02-02-2021 9:31pm

Mickey Mike wrote: »

What was all this closing the digital radio channels in November 2019, only upsetting us.

Covid and it continuing much longer than expected

channelsurfer2 · 02-02-2021 10:31pm

ford fiesta wrote: »

Covid and it continuing much longer than expected

I'm happy it's continuing. I do enjoy Rick o Shea in the mornings as an alternative to the drivel on the main 2fm and d&d on todayfm

Elmo · 02-02-2021 11:44pm

Mickey Mike wrote: »

It seems like RTE Gold is set to continue. What was all this closing the digital radio channels in November 2019, only upsetting us.

It's called putting it on hold following the 10m increase it recieve from the government in 2020, along with the move of the NSO to the NCH in 2021. Plus COVID.

RTÉ had no intention they played the politicians on Lyric FM.

ford fiesta · 03-02-2021 12:04am

lots of listeners are using smart speakers.
Even if the RTE dab network closed, the station would cost very little to run.
apart from presenters who are already permenant

RTE Gold discussion thread

Comments