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Updated 2.20pm
VETERAN BROADCASTER PAT Kenny is leaving RTÉ to join Newstalk, both stations have confirmed this afternoon.
In a blow to the national broadcaster, Newstalk has confirmed the news in a tweet this afternoon saying that Kenny will be joining the independent radio station to host a mid-morning show that will run from 10am to 12.30pm from 2 September.
RTÉ said that Kenny’s contract with the State broadcaster expired earlier this year and said it had “been aware for some time that he had an offer from commercial radio”.
Director-General Noel Curran said: “Through lengthy negotiations every effort was made to retain Pat’s services but unfortunately we could not come to an agreement.”
A Newstalk spokesperson has confirmed that Tom Dunne will remain at the station despite his current 10am to 12pm slot being replaced, saying the former ‘Something Happens’ frontman “absolutely remains a key member of the Newstalk team”.
Kenny is currently on a five-week break from his regular mid-morning slot on RTÉ Radio One which is currently being hosted by Myles Dungan.
He has hosted the programme for 25 years, having previously worked as a continuity announcer when he joined the station in the mid-70s.
Kenny also regularly hosted the flagship current affairs programme Prime Time having previously fronted the Late Late Show, The Frontline, Today Tonight, and Kenny Live as well as RTÉ’s general election, referenda and other special events programmes.
He is widely regarded as one of the best current affairs broadcasters in the country.
In a statement this afternoon, Kenny said he was “delighted” to join Newstalk and is “relishing” the challenge.
“Like many of my colleagues, I have always regarded Newstalk as a valuable source of news and comment. I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the growth of Newstalk and to be part of a new team where, hopefully, my experience will also add value,” he said.
“I am relishing the challenge ahead and looking forward to a new chapter in my career, with the world of independent broadcasting, helping to develop Newstalk into the talk radio of choice for listeners countrywide.”
Newstalk station editor Garrett Harte said: “Pat is one of Ireland’s most respected broadcasters with an outstanding pedigree in quality journalism.”
RTÉ would not comment when initially contacted this afternoon but later confirmed the news in a tweet, saying Kenny “will take up employment with Newstalk”. A statement was released a short time later.
Curran added: “I would like to wish Pat the very best for the future and I would like to thank him, both personally and as Director General for his contribution to broadcasting on RTÉ.”
Newstalk has also announced that Gerard Whelan is the station’s new chief executive replacing Frank Cronin, who resigned from the role in February.
A spokesperson for Newstalk added that further schedule changes will be announced in September when we can also expect more details on Kenny’s new show.
First published 1.53pm
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I’m no Pat Kenny fan, but if a private company wishes to pay him enough that the licence payers won’t have to subsidise his lifestyle anymore, I can get on board with that.
Comment of the year. Until Newstalk go bust that is and figure out some way to be put under public ownership and get a guarantee or “bailout” paid for by you and me and keeping current management in situ and all pensions and benefits maintained through retirement.
You’ve gotten me worried. Either that scenario will happen, or they’ll decide that Newstalk is a “Pillar Radio Station” and raise the licence fee to an even €200 a year so it can be funded by it as well.
Agree. Having seen the man in action on the radio he’s very good. Clearly better on radio than on the tele.
Those lucky Newstalk staff!!
Time for Tubridy to folow him – but not to Newstalk, I would not wish that on any station
Tubridy should present an arts or a history programme. At least then, he wont have to be trying to be funny all the time.
I would rather listen to a nail on a blackboard then listen to Tubridy on the radio.
I heard his 40th birthday bash in Dawson Street was as much fun as prayer time in a convent
I bet that through his “production” companies, he continues to get a wage from RTE for many years to come
Ah feck! I’m no Kenny fan. I used to turn on newsralk to avoid his monotone drivel, now he’s gonna be over there.
Same here, Paul. Is there no escape???
Nooooooooooo. I like Newstalk !
Ha ha that sums it up perfectly Jasper
Yeeeeeeeeeesssssssss. Newstalk just got better.
If they could get tubridy to go to news talk too,I might actually think of tuning into rte
Newstalk was my favourite news station, I will never listen to it again now. Bad move, this idiot is a poodle for the political elite, steeped in the RTE cronyism culture. Expect to see your ratings plummet Newstalk :(
Tom Done?
LOL
Does this mean we won’t now have to pay the new Broadcasting Charge!!??
Good. He is shite.
Angie,
I bet you’ll be one of the first to post a comment when he comes on the air in Newstalk. You won’t be able to resist listening.
He is on a five week break, his work conditions in R.T.E. must have been terrible……
@Angie – So because Pat Kenny is on Newstalk for two and a half hours each day you won’t listen to any other programme on the station? Hmmm, perhaps just a little bit of an overreaction don’t you think?
Yeah, I have trouble seeing how Pat Kenny is a fit with Newstalk, he’s part of that old boys club I hoped was dying out, don’t like him as a person but his radio programmes are certainly better than his TV programmes.
Can’t see this working.
Don’t worry Pat
I’m sure RTE will keep a place open for you
Just like they did for George “The Brave” Lee
Imagine how much f*king money they must have offered him.
At least it’s their money.
They can offer him 2million a show for all I care, atleast its not my money they are using!
He’ll surely be on less now though given he won’t be doing Rte Primetime? I.E. On Newstalk it’ll “just” be the 1 job. He’s a Freelance/Contractor isn’t he though? Hence his’ reasoning for demanding extortionate salaries & RTEs’ insistence on paying them wages. Now that it’s Private Sector he won’t know what hit him regarding Pay/Terms & Conditions. The George Lee of Radio perhaps? Too big a change at his’ age?
Daithi if the private sector money is so low why did he move? You say he ‘won’t know what hit him’ money wise, do you not think he might have agreed terms before signing?
He’s very good
Commonsense – good name-to-post-content ratio.
His pay and conditions will be in his contract, what is their to surprise him since he negotiates his contract?
Plus he will more than likely bring some of his own staff with him, if possible. And he was unhappy with RTÉ over their subsuming of The Frontline into Prime Time. So this is possibly revenge. And unless he is exclusive with Newstalk, there is nothing stopping him working at TV3 or even doing the odd special with RTÉ if they can forgive and forget.
Most interesting of all will be to see who gets his slots on radio and television.
Why do you have an apostrophe after his?
Daithí’s comment is perhaps the most devoid of thought I’d seen in a while. Of course Pat Kenny knows what pay, terms and conditions he’s signed up to – it’s called a contract. And it’s not like he’s some semi-skilled tool getting laud off from the public sector. He’s a feally well-known big cheese in broadcasting so he’ll likely have been able to leverage that to negotiate fantastic pay etc.
Would be great to see 103 County Sound take Marion Finucane, Mayo 99.9 take Tubridy, Donegal South East 94.4 take Ronan Collins and Carlow 98.3 take Joe Duffy
You must really hate culchies.
Somebody please take Joe Duffy
Joe belongs on 98FM or FM104(or whatever the cloned Dublin-only stations are called), on one of those evening shows where they take calls from psycho’s.
I like him
Very good on the radio / current affairs
Best of luck to him
I like kenny – not on the late late but his radio and prime time stuff suits him. This could be a huge boost to newstalk – kenny currently has 328,000 listeners, with Tom dunne ( I presume he’s being replaced) brings in around 24,000. Huge boost.
Tom brought in 55,000 on last count.
Yeah my 24k there is wrong, it’s 49k for dunne in 2012.
Great news – Pat Kenny is great on radio [and awful on TV for some reason].
Tom Dunne is getting bumped and that’s no harm – absolutely insufferable at times – “let’s talk about Something Happens and after that I might talk about myself for a while..”.
Don’t forget Audrey!
Maybe we might now finally see a reduction in the extortionate TV license …then again pigs might fly
Mid morning? That’s Tom Dunne’s slot! Leave Tom alone.
RTE should use the money saved to create 20 new positions.
Do you not think the 2.500 staff RTE already has is more than enough to run 2 tv stations and a few radio stations ? Channel 4 only has 180 staff just to put it in perspective. Far better output too.
Source of 180 staff? This article quotes them as employing 763 people in 2012. I know it’s still less than RTE, but could someone at least get the facts right. We’re not Forbes journalists now are we?
Where did they pull those figures out off.
No where near 2000 in Rte
Interesting strategic play from Newstalk!
The key thing will be whether the ad revenues flow with him.
Newstalk going downhill.
Dumbing Down huh? :-)
Word on the street is Tubs has been offered a slot on Nickelodeon. Cos he’s not awkward at all on the Toy show. Best of luck, Ryan!
Hmm I actually like Kenny so this is bad news for me. In fairness he knows how to piss off his guests.
What will happen with the Frontline?
It will still continue to be shit.
How can it be bad news for you? Have you some objection to listening to him on Newstalk?
Huge boost for newstalk. I’d imagine he’ll be taking a bit of a pay cut.
Is it time for Tom to walk ‘the plank’?
OK, I’m leaving …
Oops, it’s even worse the second time.
Wonders never cease ! Some scoop for newstalk.
Lord noooooooooooooooooo!
Hang about; he’s on a 5 Week Break from RTE currently? He can forget about them sort of holidays in the Private Sector! :-) Has he really thought this through?
Massive loss to RTÉ. Today is one of my favourite radio shows.
I used to enjoy listening to Newstalk on the way to work in the mornings, not any more. Who would want to listen to that pontificating prat. Time to r
About 328,000 people apparently.
328,000 people over the age of 70.
what time do you go to work at ?
Ciaran, I leave home at about 7.15am.
So unless you are driving across country to get to work, you can still listen to newstalk!
John, my point was I won’t tune into it now because of Pat “boring” Kenny. I was delighted when Claire Byrne and Ivan Yates left but it feels like a vicious circle of annoying presenters.
So because somebody is on the station at a time you aren’t listening to it, you choose not to listen to the station at all? Can you please explain this logic?
Jim, who said I wasn’t listening to it during the day. It’s one of the stations I have on in the background during work. I listen to it in the morning going to work and every so often in the car during the day when I’m out and about. The end.
Sher God help the poor ole struggling independent broadcasters not able to match the national broadcaster in terms of bidding, oh wait! I’m slightly annoyed I’ll have to listen to Blue Shirt FM for more than the tonic of Moncrieff!
..damn, I’ll have to find a new radio station :,(
Are the off the ball team taking his slot on rte?
Has Pat Kenny actually listened to Newstalk?…there is no news on it. Just waffle and nostalgic whining.
Sounds like ‘hail fellow – well met’!
Hopefully he’s going to bring Paddy O’Gorman and Marie Louise O’Donnell with him.
that would be perfect,absolutely the top current affairs presenter in the country.i never listen to Newstalk but that’s going to change now.huge loss to RTE.
Kenny knows his stuff and his vast talent is a Hugh loss to rte,still he probably jumped before the ship sinks…
I used to enjoy listening to Newstalk on the way to work in the mornings, not any more. Who would want to listen to that pontificating prat. Time to r
* time to delete that station.
Should have put him in George hooks slot.
Denis O’Brien must be losing his marbles…First Trapattoni and now Kenny.
More power to him…suspect he was unhappy with frontline axe…and general dumbing down of prime time..even if he is possibly staying on for the latter.
RTE used to say the reason they gave him a massive rise every year or so was that they were afraid he’d jump ship. Then they cut it and look what happens. Funny ol world innit.
Any truth it’s a job bridge scheme
Comment of the day haha…Classic
You can complain all you like, but Pat is one of the foremost broadcasters in Ireland. Yes, he was paid too much at RTÉ ( as are many of them), but he is the closest we have to the likes of Paxman and Humphrys on the BBC, and his leaving is a big blow to RTÉ. Regardless, the money that you all seem so happy to be saving will instead fund wage increases for Tubridy et al. Best of luck with the new role, Pat.
Agreed Briain. He’s the best broadcast journo on national airwaves by a country mile. Every other major talk radio host has already publically acknowledged that at one time or another over the years. VB, Finnucane, Hook, Dunphy, Duffy, Cooper – all have them are on the record as stating Kenny is the King and best in the business.
I am very disappointed to hear that the Tom Dunne show is being axed. It’s like having your best mate over for coffee in the mornings.
yeah there was a reason we all listen to Newstalk at 10am. Because Pat Kenny is on RTE….
Newstalk will surely loose listeners, they must be calculating that they will gain quite a few from RTE.
Does Kenny really fit the Newstalk demographic ?
yes
The slot he is taking is hardly prime. His viewers will be right up his alley, housewives and retirees. Expect him to spend a lot of time talking to psychics and on topics like the best saints to pray to for fertility. That’s what we’ve come to expect from that particular timeslot on newstalk regardless of who is presenting.
First of all his timeslot on RTE was 10-12.30 so its exactly the same timeslot with just an extra half hour. ” That’s what we’ve come to expect from that particular timeslot on newstalk regardless of who is presenting.” Considering Tom Dunne has been presenting that show for the past few years im not sure you can say regardless who is presenting ?
Viewers?
I’d say it’s a case of rte telling him to take a major pay cut or else go elsewhere,as he is a greedy money hungry parasite,He used to defend his massive salary by saying it was low compared to premiereship footballers and that he could get more money from the BBC if he wanted,I wouldn’t call newstalk the Irish equivalent of the BBC,top show there has 100,000 Listeners .
I find your lack of logic disturbing. (No insult) kenny gets 328,000 people a day almost 7 times what dunne gets (49k, not 24k as I previously thought) and more than double newstalk breakie (133k) – you pay talent or it walks – rte might be ok but I think a large listener ship will follow pat. Also, I am not pat kenny.
thank god would he take another few with him
Doubtless he’ll get his nice RTE pension to make up any drop with his Newstalk fees. Smart move. I’d say he felt like a 3rd wheel on Prime Time anyway.
Overall though it shows how too much of Irish media hangs on the same old codgers to fill up its programming with little space (or money) for new talent to grow. Once they get in, they can’t get rid of them.
Kenny was very good on radio it has to be said and his departure shows up a lot of filler in the RTE1 schedule much like the loss of Gerry Ryan on 2FM showed up how little was actually on the station. RTE is chronically lazy when it comes to real content and new programming.
Perhaps RTE can take this opportunity to create 20 jobs for journalism grads?
Is it time for Tom to walk ‘the plank’?
OK, leaving now …
Who is making way?
He’s getting mid morning slot so that’s Tom Dunne show gone or moving.
Any luck the idiot Dunne will be kicked out..a useless wannabe
talking pure dung.
Sad to hear this, I won’t be bothering to listen to newstalk again, I liked Tom Dunne,
For his first job ever in the private sector, I hope he won’t be expecting earning anything like a public sector wage !!
Delighted to hear Pat Kenny will do mid morning @ newstalk /newstalk have a new listener in me :-)
Darcy,Dempsey jumped ship but couldn’t match half the listeners they had on Rte ,and Kenny won’t either,a lot of older folk will listen/watch Rte no matter who is on,or how many channels they have,it’s in their Genes.
That should bring the licence fee down, can we get rid of tubridy next?
RTE should have dumped him years ago, he’s just a condescending self-important commentator who thinks he has to “parse” or “interpret” everything for the listener – and then gets it totally wrong. RTE have unwittingly raised their professional standards by dumping him. Maybe this is the time and opportunity for them to dump Tubridy and Finnucane and get rid of the Dublin mafia.
I use to like newtalk not now
Deleting from my presets then. Back to TodayFm then
never while that sanctimonious D’arcy is there.
Are you for real? That whipped, metrosexual D’Arcy chap on Today FM? Used to listen to him for a few years in Early 00s. Then he just gave up any semblance of being a bloke! It’s like Midday on Tv3 except on the wireless! As Insufferable as Kenny ever was albeit for different reasons.
Good god d’arcys still at it is he? I hear Jenny had his nuts made into a garage door opener. Any truth in that?
Well wonders will never cease,never thought id see him leave his old employer,but i guess he needs the change,but he’s definitely news talks gain,welcome aboard,that said i never listen to Tom Dunne who i just concider to be a waffler.
Tune in to Radio Nova and forget the news…
And the same 20 songs repeated endlessly, might as well stick with the I pod
Yep Pat has his money made at this stage. I’m sure it’s just a case if looking for a nice handy job for his retirement.
Pat Kenny is 65 surely its time to retire.I hear he has squatters rights at RTE because he was there 41 years.
Newstalk was a great station…pity about that. I’ll now have to tune back to RTE again.
Sure Tom Dunne is an areshole,this can only be better for all the listeners even if it is an old has been presenter…now Fat Rabbite can save a few € from the Broadcast fee.
Wouldn’t you think he would retire now and give the younger generation a chance, he has made his money at this stage
Great news for RTE. There are other great hosts available.
Maybe Miriam O’Callaghan can take Pat’s “Today” slot. She seems to be filling-in for everyone else these days
Newstalk just got a shader blue…
I sincerely hope that Marty Whelan takes over Pat the Plank’s show so that I can listen to Lyric again in the mornings!
Sure doesn’t he operate as a plc and only pay corporation tax on all of his income.. He’s not an rte employee…
I don’t like pat but at least he didn’t take moncriefs slot, that would have been a sickener. Would still prefer tom Dunne personally but to be honest I won’t tune in for either.
Best news ever. Has made my week.
Bring back Questions and Answers & Today Tonight! Come back Brian Farrell & Jonathan Bowman!
Note to self: remove Newstalk from number 6 preset on my radio.
Farewell. Good reddens. My only fear is what they will replace him with from that cesspit :o
Thats the most expensive plank of wood ever
Chances of RTE growing a pair and giving someone with a backbone and a critical mind a shot? Or another bland young thing or conservative nag from the stable????? So many questions, so much certainty that we can rely on the National broadcaster to change nothing at all. . . . . . any chance they might ‘gift’ Tubridy t and Finucane to Newstalk to, throw in their pedestals as a added incentive and maybe use the saving to get get some able unholy cows, genuine investigative journalists, inquisitive minds to make RTE relevant to the shit-bucket that is Eire today?
Bring on OLIVIA O’LEARY
I like Pat, very good in current affairs, having listened to him on his radio show he seems to be increasingly frustrated working for the government propaganda machine. Hats off to him, to me kenny comes across as hard working and very informed. Going from the ivory tower of rte to newstalk won’t be easy though i’d imagine.
Jaasus, listening to the news on rte, you’d swear this story was of some significance to anyone other than Kenny and his bosses.
On the up side I’m glad to see thar rte are now recognising that he is simply not worth his price tag, and they are no longer going to be dictated ti by prima-donnas.
Does anyone know yet how much the transfer fee was?
Coming so close after Rabbitte’s change to the (RTE) TV licence fee and that PR interview that Kenny did with him, I smell a rat.
What? If he goes in there with aires and graces they’ll rip chew and spit him out..ask the many who have come an gone! Can’t see it workin for the long haul myself, but what do I know I’m only a licence payer!
It’s a pity that d–khead Moncrieff wouldn’t go along with Orla Barry 2 wastes of space
Has Newstalk got DAB organised yet?
I’m no fan of Kenny , but he is a big revenue earner for RTE , and while there are many talented broadcasters who can easily fit in there , it will affect the revenue from advertising . It will take a long time to get big advertisers on board. So maybe RTE will use it to get extra funding from government , i.e a rise in the ,yet to be ,broadcasting charge .
“in a blow to the state broadcaster”… I say good riddance.
Also, Tubbs et al must be terrified for their contract negotiations. I think it’s time to put a salary cap on RTE ‘talent’.
I will always remember his interview of the famous contemporary Irish modern artist on the late late. The guy grew up in Islington and was talking about the change of the neighborhood. You could tell he disliked Kenny but was polite. He said he went back to his old school gates and when he looked in he was amazed that it was full of (and Kenny jumped in with “black immigrants”) and the artist responded with “no, black children”.
You sold your soul Pat
Maybe vinny b will vacate tv3 and pops Kat penny I mean pat Kenny
Pat Kenny joins newstalk so be it. Whatever salary he gets won’t be paid for the taxpayers or licence fee payers so his entitled to whatever he can get in the private sector
Be interesting to see what happens to Tom Dunne, I enjoyed his show. Hard to see a weekday role for him at Newstalk. Prehaps a morning weekend slot that’s been a weak area for Newstalk
Pat Kenny nudie pen, eh no thanks
So happy he is gone. Can now turn on Prime Time. The man drives me nuts, he is so pompus and does not allow the interviewee the time to answer. Newstalk must have some money if they can pay Pat Kenny..
Great whose next to leave
Does that mean our TV licence fee will be reduced? ???
Give it a few years and he will be back. He is a clever man, regardless of his ridiculous wages, and he’ll surely have made a plan to stay on top, keep his high ratings, etc. That much is certain.
“He is widely regarded as one of the best current affairs broadcasters in the country” !
I think they mean ‘BEST PAID’ ;-)
Newstalk and Kenny,huh? The station’s right wing manifesto won’t be shaken or stirred by Killiney Scooter Boy. He’ll lick OBrien’s arse now with more sycophantic waffle that will satisfy only the plainest people of Ireland. Ciao, Newstalk, don’t call me, I’ll call you.
I’m gonna miss his theme tune on today
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