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GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE of public service broadcasting, Communications Minister Richard Bruton has said he does not intend to seek a moratorium on TV licence payments during the Covid-19 crisis.
Yesterday, the national broadcaster announced that it will be availing of the government’s wage subsidy scheme.
In a statement yesterday, the national broadcaster confirmed that like many national and local media outlets, it has been impacted by the public health emergency.
It stated that RTÉ is seeing significant declines in TV licence fee revenue as well as commercial income.
“RTÉ was already implementing cost-cutting measures as part of our revised strategy, so these declines have put further pressure on finances at a time when the need to provide vital news, information and entertainment to the public is more crucial than ever.
“RTÉ will avail of the Government’s Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme, and is engaged in a dialogue with Government on a range of issues at present including the public health crisis, additional emergency measures and longer term structural reforms necessary to sustain public broadcasting beyond this crisis.”
It is understood workers earning up to €78,000 in RTÉ received communication from management that they will be placed on the wage subsidy scheme. It is understood that up to 1,800 workers are impacted.
Director General Dee Forbes is understood to have told staff members that the national broadcaster has been very badly hit by a sharp reduction in advertising spend, particularly in television.
Advertising revenue is understood to have fallen by 25%-35%, which could account for €85-€118 million.
Moratorium
TD for Dublin West Paul Donnolly recently asked the minister in a parliamentary question if consideration had been given to asking An Post to provide a moratorium on the payments for the duration of the public health emergency.
Bruton said in response that the public health emergency “highlights more than ever the importance of public service broadcasting to our society”.
“It is vital that the Irish public have a readily available, reliable source of information on Covid-19 and the measures being put in place to tackle the crisis.
“Equally as important are the sources of funding that make it possible for public service
broadcasting to operate. At a time when advertising revenues are falling, the Covid-19
crisis is putting considerable strain on the resources of all broadcasters,” he said.
Last year, Director General of RTÉ Dee Forbes argued for reforms to the €160 annual licence fee and criticised the fact that 13% of households are evading the fee.
RTÉ was given an additional €10 million in funding per year after the Government announced the establishment of a Commission on the Future of Public Service Broadcasting at the end of last year.
“Licence fee receipts are therefore essential to maintaining the service provided by public service broadcasters such as RTÉ,” said Bruton.
He added that the Sound and Vision Fund will provide the funding for a special Covid-19 round of €2.5 million for commercial radio. The BAI will also run a special round under Sound and Vision for community radio of €750,000.
Fake news
In recent correspondence with the minister, chairman of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Professor Pauric Travers, said that in the current climate of disinformation and “fake news”’, stable and sustainable public service broadcasting is viewed as being more necessary than ever.
He recommended a funding increase of €5.557 million for TG4 and an increase of more than €12 million for RTÉ.
National and local media have been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis, with advertising revenue experiencing a significant downfall.
A number of pay cuts have rolled out in national and local newspapers and radio stations, as well as job losses and newspaper closures in some cases.
Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher suggested that social media platforms and other digital publishers must either voluntarily dip into their pockets or be required by the State to support local media and journalism.
“The Covid-19 crisis has really hit our local newspapers and radio stations. Many across the country have stopped printing as their print advertising has simply dried up and they can’t afford to print every week,” said Kelleher.
He added:
Yet, the level of digital advertising taking place across the internet has never been greater. In addition, more and more of us are now turning to sites such as Facebook and Twitter to get our news.
While there are great benefits to these instantaneous and global news updates, they do not go through the same rigorous, and expensive, fact checking that takes place in newsrooms across the country and cannot replace deep investigative journalism or the importance of truly local reporting.
Kelleher said the Australian government has introduced a new mandatory code for digital giants that will require them to share revenue with struggling newspapers and radio stations.
“The importance of quality journalism has never been more evident. Yet, unfortunately, it is getting harder and harder to sustain it based on traditional newspaper sales. Of course, digital subscriptions can help, but it is nowhere near what is needed to keep our local newspapers and radio stations operating,” he said.
While he said he would prefer to see the digital and social media companies voluntarily coming up with their own proposals to help their traditional media colleagues, if they don’t he said the next Irish government should develop mandatory requirements.
He said he has written to his party colleagues Michael McGrath and Jack Chambers to request that the issue be raised while negotiating the next Programme for Government.
“Independent journalism has never been needed as much as it is today. Independent journalism costs money, and here’s a way of levelling the playing field and mitigating the distortion created by the rise of digital media,” said Kelleher.
Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane and Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív recently asked Minister Bruton if the government plans to provide support to print and online media during the Covid-19 pandemic because of the reduction in commercial income.
Bruton said he has no statutory function in relation to non-broadcast media other than in relation to media mergers.
“My Department does not have any exchequer funding in respect of the media that could be extended to online or print media,” he said.
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No plans to ever pay it either.
@Tom Bombdadil: RTE2 is just embarrassing.
@rosetheone: you could have just stopped at E
@Tom Bombdadil:
the only way to stop the rte TV licence is if the whole country stops paying it but that will never happen because the majority of people fear the embarrassment of being up in court
@rosetheone:
the female stars of the the young offenders were on the late late they were lovely so i gave their show a chance i watched an episode.. there was a scene where they rubbed a toothbrush in dog excrement then later they urinated on a teachers trousers (and shoes)
This was paid for by my licence fee
@Tom Bombdadil:
see you in court !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Tom Bombdadil: tv licence is like having to pay a tithe to the established church
@KEN L: young offenders is a funny show.
@thomas patrick:
maybe if you like the Rubber bandits
@KEN L: lol
Since when did a TV station become too big to fail? What about the free market the government is always on about? If RTE can’t afford it’s own lifestyle why should taxpayers be forced to bail it out?
@Wade Wilson:
BBC covered up Jimmy Savile sex abuse
RTE covered up Gerry Ryan drug abuse
neither one deserves a cent of your money
@KEN L: surely I did not just read someone comparing taking cocaine to raping children?
@KEN L: seriously covering up a drug habit is nothing like covering up sex crimes
@NotMyIreland:
- both illegal
- both ignored to keep a cash cow
@KEN L: so double parking is also comparable to rape?
@David Clements: stupid comment
@Richard Russell: what? It was a response to a whopper stupid comment
@David Clements: he’s not comparing anything, simply listing they were complicit in covering up crimes
@Forest Hump: they are definitely not comparable but maybe if they had pushed for Gerry Ryan to go for treatment rather than just ignore the situation he might be alive today.
They will need to make some more property shows once this is all over in an attempt to get the prices up again. And to pay Tuby Tubridy half a million a year for being a terrible interviewer.
@Colm Mac Suibhne: and a cookery show.
@James Fox: and a travel show with some plebs in it
@Colm Mac Suibhne:
sunday night 9.30pm RTE ONE
a unique insight into a junkie hypocrite whose sudden death shocked Ireland and provoked an outpouring of public sympathy
@KEN L: I didn’t know Turbridy was dead
Sure I love paying for reruns.
@Lukevic101:
have you considered NETFLIX ?
it’s less than 20 euro a month
you get hundreds of tv shows and literally thousands of movies
@KEN L: you still have to have paid your license
@KEN L: Funny that. The TV licence is also less than 20 Euro a month, and for that you get factual news, weather, current affairs, entertainment, Irish content, movies, documentaries, soaps, comedy, kids’ programmes, schools content, a choice of TV and radio channels, a news and entertainment website, catch-up TV content and box sets. It’s a lot more than Netflix for a lot less and unlike Netflix it contributes to the Irish economy in jobs, taxes, and the creative industries. Be careful what you wish for….
@Jim Higgins: You are being a bit generous there Jim. I would rather go to the dentist than watching the tripe on RTE. I am not a huge fan of Netflix to be honest but it is light years ahead of what RTE try to do.
@Jim Higgins:
after 9/11 the only thing RTE gave you is what the USA wanted you to hear
is that what you call factual news ?
@KEN L: none of which have any Irish content. TV license is good value. But you’re a moron so I’m wasting my time here
@Jim Higgins: factual news… are you having a laugh?
@Jim Higgins: can someone please call a doctor for Jim.
@Jim Higgins: so make it subscription based then. If it has so much to offer then surely everybody will pay for it
@KEN L: Your evidence for that comment is precisely what? Does ‘The USA’ really tell Irish news outlets what to say?
Your comment shows why facts matter; unsupported sweeping statements like yours are not facts no matter how often you repeat them.
@Ger: At the comedy shows like Young Offenders, yes. I tend not to laugh at the news these days…
@Charles Alexander: Thankfully I don’t need a doctor, and I hope you don’t need one either – stay safe…
@David Corrigan: Your TV, your choice. But lots of people hold different views…
@Jim Higgins: are you for real??? Facts?? From the news
@seamus toomey: Yes. Facts. From the news.
@seamus toomey: Yes, the TV news (and this publication) contains actual, checked facts researched and reviewed by professional journalists. Not internet conspiracy theorists or trollbots. Not snake oil salesmen. Now as yourself; which would you trust more?
@Jim Higgins:
the irish knowingly helped the USA murder people via Shannon airport , They’re hardly going to question whatever “news” the USA regurgitates now are they?
Stories on Liveline and Sean o Rourke on people dying all over the place, job losses by the 1,000s etc. 1st ad on is for the licence. “Just part of the terms and conditions of living in Ireland”. Pompous beyond belief.
@Mike McGann:
i thought Sean O’Rourke was retiring
@Mike McGann: that add makes my blood boil.
Never paid never will.
@Richard:
the only way you’ve never paid the TV licence fee is if you don’t have a television
@KEN L: I’m in my forties and always a tv I have never paid it and will never do so.
@Richard: always had a TV
@Richard:
i knew what you meant , no need to retype LOL
@Richard: and no one has ever come to your door?
@Richard: that’s halve the problem with this country “free loaders” like yourself.
@Pád: @Minamin Absolutely right, and the first ones to complain and say ‘well I think you should (whatever fix they’ve just dreamed up for the issue they’ve suddenly become experts in)…
@Pád: On the contrary Pad you and your ilk are the problem with this country. I have no prob with Richard for not paying for something that is forced on him, no freedom of choice
As someone said earlier that add they have on pay because that’s one of the conditions of living in this country, that’s sickening.
The revenue from the TV licence should be given directly to the hse
Have RTE laid off all their sports commentators and reporters during the crises? What’s George Hamilton or Marty abd thexrest of them doing to earn their massive salaries for the past 2 months and the coming months?
@Connoroconner:
I’ve seen individuals involved with the GAA treat people like dirt and nothing done about it
I’m absolutely delighted corona is destroying whatever plans the GAA had for 2020 maybe 2021
@KEN L: well your the most positive person I’ve ever come across
@Joe Davis:
no all ireland tickets, no free dinners or drinks , no character references for me
Oh well …
How about reducing RTE TV to two stations, one in English and one in Gaelic with the mandate to further education, non partisan news and culture and pay it our of our taxes with no advertising.
There is no need for the gigantic RTE apparatus spending wast amount of money.
The TV license fee is nothing but a tax just stricter enforced. People not using RTE still have to pay it just like taxes so lets get ride of a separate collection and enforcement agency for it and lump it with the other taxes.
Than reduce RTE to a lean and meaningful organization providing fair and balanced programs.
These days there is enough choice for entertainment but not for fair and balanced news.
@Yggr of Asgard:
Absolutely, there’s no good reason for RTE to be showing reruns of home & away. Entertainment simply is not the role of the state, with some exception for supporting cultural arts within reason.
It’s a disgrace that anyone is forced to pay to see Ryan Tubberty’s inflated salary to let him chat with the Donnybrook clique or whichever media “personality” they feel like talking to.
They will need to make plenty more property shows when this is all over and to Turbridy half a million a year
@Colm Mac Suibhne: Lack of sleep showing…..
@Colm Mac Suibhne: am gonna take a stab & say you listen to him on the radio and tv though colm..
@Colm Mac Suibhne:
it was in lillies where i often saw you ryan
you never saw me with cocaine ..
i never SAW you with cocaine because you’re very clever ryan
you were sayin eamon ..
are you changing the subject ryan ?
@Noel Doherty: If you want to see his skills look for his audition tape for The Blizzard of Odd, Hilarious
It’s mainly a government mouthpiece. Should have been sold during the last recession with the rest of the states ‘assets.’
@The Irish Bull: Yes, and the National Children’s Hospital and maternity hospital should have been build on their then 32 acre site. RTE should have been dissolved, then reconstituted as a national broadcaster based in Athlone, without all the fat cats and their inflated salaries.
Since Chanel 4 moved to the north of England, evidence suggests that they are reporting more news from around England as it is no longer London centred.
Perhaps a national broadcaster based in Athlone would realise that their is more to Ireland than D4.
Joke organization whose Director General is a deranged fanatic.
@JR Lewis:
ironic that RTE hate sinn fein
RTE think everyone supports them exact same as SF do
If it means we never need to look at Donal Skehan pretending he can cook again I say close it down.
@Niall Bourke: Isn’t he now living the cooking dream in LA?
@David Corrigan: came home a few weeks ago with his tail between his legs, he was in a magazine telling the world how much of a struggle it was to get his family home during this crisis……still cant cook to save his life
Just get rid of RTE. It’s a waste of airtime.
Can someone tell me what Lottie Ryan actually does to have a job for life?
CRAP STATION NEVER WATCH IT
@Pauline Fedigan: Never watch the news?
@Pauline Fedigan: don’t shout. Clearly your online persona is influenced by over exposure to Ivan Yates
While RTE is not perfect, without public TV stations we would be subjected to a lot more fake news, fox style news. Unbiased reporting is essential to debate (yes I know RTE might get that wrong at times) but it is needed.
@Mango mango:
Gay Byrne hated SF
Pat Kenny hates SF
Ryan Tubridy hates SF
SF hate RTE
@KEN L: Not much information there.
@Mango mango: Unbiased Reporting, -what’s that – , definitely not from RTE. Everyone of them have an Agenda.
@Eugene Comaskey:
even claire byrne!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Mango mango: might get it wrong sometimes???
Might get it right the odd time
Make it a subscription service see how long it lasts
@Mango mango: Public broadcasting is needed but we are not getting it from RTE. What we are getting is propaganda. RTE hate SF. It is not the business of a public broadcaster to hate any political party. It us their business to hold all political parties to account and they regularly fail to hold FF/FG/Lab to account.
RTE tried to keep SF out of the leaders debate at the last election. Who will ever forget Marian O’Callaghan saying to Pierce Doherty that ‘vote for SF is a wasted vote’. If that’s not politial bias then I don’t know what is.
@Teresa Ryan:
Martin McGuinness refused to leave the RTE studio until he had a “private chat” with miriam o’callaghan
i imagine it’s hard to love SF after that
@KEN L: O’ Calaghan has no business interviewing any politican, she incapable of remaining unbiased.
@Teresa Ryan:
IRA members have no business in politics, they are incapable of remaining neutral
celebrating gerry Ryan’s drug abuse. disgusting trailer wont be tuning in to that !
RTE and Independent Media are the most biased news outlets in the country promoting the government at every opportunity. Using fabricated and confusing headlines to mislead the general public. paying massive salaries to mediocre actors
@Criostoir Mac Ranghaill:
RTE depend on the irish people for money
the majority of irish people support AGS
sinn fein support cowards who murdered gardai
@KEN L: I don’t support Simon or Leo who forced the murders of the unborn or neglected the elderly in the nursing homes which led to a number of deaths during this epidemic
@Criostoir Mac Ranghaill:
mary lou punished carol nolan when she wouldn’t support murdering the unborn. You’d imagine being in SF all these years she’d kinda be used to supporting murder
always find it interesting that the tone and content of posts deriding state broadcasting and of those saying they don’t pay the licence is so similar to that seen on Twitter. I’d say there’s a huge correlation between people who hate RTE but trust WhatsApp forwards and random tweets as news sources. And those who haven’t read a newspaper since 2006.
@David Clements:
Nobody would have an issue with paying a small tax to support public broadcasting if it was kept as news, information, and education. Instead what we have is a social club in Donnybrook running reruns of home & away and paying crazy megabucks for an untalented clique to chat with their mates and bash political parties they don’t like.
Sure they shut down lyric FM but kept Ryan Tubberty? They shut down the limerick station but not the Donnybrook one which selling off could have funded them for years.
The role of public broadcasting is news, information, journalism, and education. Not “”"entertainment”"” that most people don’t watch
@David Clements: hope you dont believe all you read in the papers or what you get from rte
@seamus toomey: of course not. But unlike the sort of Muppets that hang on forwarded WhatsApps from the likes of Paddy Cosgrave, I am capable of assessing news and seeking other reliable sources
Any chance of reduction in Home Energy heating/ cooking costs ?? Which at
present are among the Highest in Europe!!!!
Tubridy on €350 a week
@Richard Casey:
how much coke is that ?
Never paid it and ignore the letters addressed to ‘householder’ while I was renting in apartments with a few doors between me and the street, but now that I own my own house I’m not tempting fate even though I watch something on RTE once a year at most.
Worst channels on tv yet we are forced to pay for the privilege of not watching them.
Sure we all still have to keep paying tubs wages. Where else will it come from.
@Joe Davis: 18,000 households are needed to pay the licence fee just to cover the top ten salaries.
@Teresa Ryan:
scandalous money :(
Only TG4 is any good, Duffy, Miriam, Tubridy, D’Arcy, and ALL those Current Affairs presenters, Ah, my Jaysus, just woeful, asking auld Stupid questions . Close them down, throwing good money after bad, that’s what it is.!
@Eugene Comaskey:
Only TG4 is any good says the man typing in english
@KEN L: It’s a English language forum. Doh.
I’m guessing that many of these passionate licence evaders are the same people who have been tuning into our national broadcaster every day since this crisis began:for definitive news and informative current affairs programmes.
They can’t all have only been watching Tiger King for the last two months, surely?
@Liz O’Neill: There is this thing called a Newspaper Liz. People can get all the news from around the world from a newspaper. They don’t have to rely on RTE for that service.
@Liz O’Neill:
The news and prime time are a tiny fraction of the RTE budget, and frankly the presenter salaries is the elephant in the room with that budget anyway.
There’s too many overpaid “personalities” in RTE. It should be run like a business, not a social club. The skills are not in that short a supply.
If it was kept to non-partisan news and education, I don’t think there would be so many passionate evaders.
@Liz O’Neill: don’t see much on RTÉ today if Harris cock up over how many covid there have been???
Tubridy on €350 a week
What a surprise…
Bring back VOGUE Williams
Like a law abiding clown I pay it every year after I get my threatening court summons. RTE is under pressure to pay exorbitant wage packets.
Sharon Ni Bheolain worth every penny alone
@Marcas Ivarsonn: Apart from the fact that she cannot get through reading the news without stumbling over her words. Every single bloody night she stumbles.
have your say