RTÉ paybill scandal

[BarryW]

RTÉ have released figures for their latest salary-hikes for its big-name turnips.

Pat Kenny got €900,000 in 2004. That's an increase of 50% on the previous year

To put that in perspective: The President, the Taoiseach, the Chief Justice and the Comptroller and Auditor General (the Constitutional Offices of State) put together are paid about €900k per annum

Pat Kenny and Gerry Ryan are together receiving just under 1% of the entire Licence fee take every year.

Of all the gigantic wastes of money and rip-offs being inflicted on the people of this country, this is surely up there with the best of them?

[smiffy]

How much do they generate in terms of advertising revenue, Barry?

[BarryW]

How much do they generate in terms of advertising revenue, Barry?

€200 million in advertising - with €170 million from the Licence fee

[Biffo]

RTÉ have released figures for their latest salary-hikes for its big-name turnips.

Pat Kenny got €900,000 in 2004. That's an increase of 50% on the previous year

To put that in perspective: The President, the Taoiseach, the Chief Justice and the Comptroller and Auditor General (the Constitutional Offices of State) put together are paid about €900k per annum

Pat Kenny and Gerry Ryan are together receiving just under 1% of the entire Licence fee take every year.

Of all the gigantic wastes of money and rip-offs being inflicted on the people of this country, this is surely up there with the best of them?

They have huge viewer/listener figures, I guess RTE feel they cannot risk losing them, but your right it does seem to be an awful waste of money, especially on Kenny.

[smiffy]

€200 million in advertising - with €170 million from the Licence fee

No, Barry. How much do Pat Kenny and Gerry Ryan generate in advertising?

You're complaining about how much they're being paid, but you're not applying any reasonable basis for making this claim. Why compare them with Constitutional Offices of the State at all? If you compare them with top Premiership footballers, they're not making very much at all. Of course, there's no reason make that comparison either.

At least if you use the advertising revenue generated, you can make some estimate of whether the amounts paid represent good value for money or not. I'm wondering what criteria you're using (besides just whining, of course).

[rockofcashel]

RTÉ have released figures for their latest salary-hikes for its big-name turnips.

Pat Kenny got €900,000 in 2004. That's an increase of 50% on the previous year

To put that in perspective: The President, the Taoiseach, the Chief Justice and the Comptroller and Auditor General (the Constitutional Offices of State) put together are paid about €900k per annum

Pat Kenny and Gerry Ryan are together receiving just under 1% of the entire Licence fee take every year.

Of all the gigantic wastes of money and rip-offs being inflicted on the people of this country, this is surely up there with the best of them?

They have huge viewer/listener figures, I guess RTE feel they cannot risk losing them, but your right it does seem to be an awful waste of money, especially on Kenny.

Don't be going round saying things like Barry's right.. you'll only be encouraging him.

As Smiffy asked earlier, how much do these presenters bring in in advertising fees for their respective programmes. Thats free market economics.

Or would he prefer RTE go the Socialist route, and pay all presenters an equal but meagre salary ?

[drjimryan]

Even Bertie, Mary and co. seem 'good value for money' when compared to this.........................

[BarryW]

No, Barry. How much do Pat Kenny and Gerry Ryan generate in advertising?

At least if you use the advertising revenue generated, you can make some estimate of whether the amounts paid represent good value for money or not. I'm wondering what criteria you're using (besides just whining, of course).

Some adult comment would be welcome here.

RTÉ don't release detailed figures on what shows bring in what money - but according to the Sunday Business Post, RTÉ are looking for €1.3 million for sponsoring the Late Late (Renault ended their deal recently)

Smiffy, the criteria I'm using are quite simple. RTÉ is a public service broadcaster, which serves the people who pay the licence fee - its not to meant to serve its own ends, or to facilitate commercial interests through advertising.

With regard to the Late Late, RTE has obviously failed the licence payer. Viewership for the Late Late regularly reached 950,000+ when Kenny took over- but its settled at around 680,000 over the last two years.

Thats 25-30% fall in viewership.

Kenny's job is to satisfy the viewing public - not advertisers. He seems to have failed to do so, with viewers flocking elsewhere, and yet he gets huge pay increases

[factual]

As Smiffy asked earlier, how much do these presenters bring in in advertising fees for their respective programmes. Thats free market economics.

Or would he prefer RTE go the Socialist route, and pay all presenters an equal but meagre salary ?

Free market economics - great innit?

Equal pay - terrible innit?

Ireland of Equals (not including Pat Kenny).

[Worldbystorm]

No, Barry. How much do Pat Kenny and Gerry Ryan generate in advertising?

At least if you use the advertising revenue generated, you can make some estimate of whether the amounts paid represent good value for money or not. I'm wondering what criteria you're using (besides just whining, of course).

Some adult comment would be welcome here.

RTÉ don't release detailed figures on what shows bring in what money - but according to the Sunday Business Post, RTÉ are looking for €1.3 million for sponsoring the Late Late (Renault ended their deal recently)

Smiffy, the criteria I'm using are quite simple. RTÉ is a public service broadcaster, which serves the people who pay the licence fee - its not to meant to serve its own ends, or to facilitate commercial interests through advertising.

With regard to the Late Late, RTE has obviously failed the licence payer. Viewership for the Late Late regularly reached 950,000+ when Kenny took over- but its settled at around 680,000 over the last two years.

Thats 25-30% fall in viewership.

Kenny's job is to satisfy the viewing public - not advertisers. He seems to have failed to do so, with viewers flocking elsewhere, and yet he gets huge pay increases

It is a considerable amount of money, and on the face of it annoying in the extreme, whether justified or not, but it's worth pointing out that the media market has changed drastically even in the period that Kenny has been at the helm... So a 25% fall in viewing figures might actually constitute a job well done - after all it's probably one of the single most solid large audiences left on non-sports related television...