VIEWERS face the prospect of paying more for their TV licence to help offset potential losses of €68 million at RTÉ.

The broadcasting authority also wants a crackdown on the estimated 14% of households who do not pay the licence fee, describing the percentage of defaulters as "high by international standards".

RTÉ has urged the Government to allow it increase the licence fee from €160, which would be the first increase in three years.

The semi-state company said it needs more income to offset a major downturn in its advertising revenue, which has been sparked by the economic crisis.

However, while RTÉ published its annual report yesterday, the broadcaster decided to withhold releasing details of the salaries of the station’s top earners until later this summer.

The high level of pay among leading broadcasters, including Pat Kenny, Gerry Ryan and Marian Finucane, was criticised as "disproportionate and unjustifiable" by the chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications last month.

RTÉ director general Cathal Goan — who received a salary of €298,000 last year, plus another €50,000 in other benefits — said 2008 was a year "which started well but ended worryingly".

The company said that while it achieved a break-even result last year, it anticipated a €68m shortfall this year — a 15% reduction in income.

Despite the economic downturn, revenue at RTÉ remained static at €441m.

Overall, RTÉ’s operating costs rose by 7% to €460.5m last year, although the station achieved a break-even position through a number of cost-cutting measures.

read the full article
RTE planning hike in licence fee | Irish Examiner


I swear to god i will not pay another penny to those money grabbing shower of bastards they will have to lock me up

__________________
Sunday Independent will known be known as FFravda

Get theeself a savage mouth foaming hound who lurks outside the front door in chains (but who requires to be coralled within the environs of the abode) .... No Licence Inspector then .... but no-one else either .... you'll need to install a postbox at the front gate btw

__________________
"I will submit that the economic and political crises that face this country will never be dealt with unless the culture and values of the political and administrative classes undergo profound change" (Emily O'Reilly, Ombudsman/Info Commissioner)

Living down a passage has its advantages.

__________________
Beware of fearful masters

What we need is more cheap cookery, property, vacation and DIY shows. Reeeaaaall value for money. Oh, and some quarter-baked reality show format steals from other countries. Some more ideas here :-



Curb Your Gluttony:
A new pseudo-fly-on-the-wall comedy following the 'real life' hijinx of 2fm shock jock cock Gerry Ryan.

Da Anjuluzz:
A youth-focused RTE2 alternative to RTE1's The Angelus.

The Inspector:
You've seen the ads, now watch the show (if you've a licence, that is). Meet Paschal, TV licence inspector extraordinaire, as each week he tackles the licence scammers and the door slammers... with hilarious results. Features the rip-roaring catchphrase: "I've heard all the excuses!"

Celebrity Montrose Canteen:
Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh interviews/bullies whoever's available in RTE's dining area. WARNING: May contain flash photography and/or Marty Whelan.

Reeling In The Years AERTEL Edition:
Archive footage of late night/Sunday morning 1980s static captures of RTE's teletext service. Accompanied by the original rte radio and news snippets from Don Cockburn and 2fm's Tony Fenton. "Wwwwwwow!"

Shouting "MICKEY!" Loudly:
New cerebal sitcom from Tommy Tiernan and Hector O hEochagain.

That Clip Of Gay Byrne From 'The Live Mike' Again And Again And Again:
Twelve part series reliving that magical moment from the grounds of Trinity College. Again.

Twink:
Homosexual lifestyle magazine, presented by Adele King.

Ireland's Strongest Knacker:
Chief RTE rent-a-pundit Peter Collins covers round two of this year's competition from Tipperary. Watch out for Dan 'The Bossman' Hegarty's unorthodox technique in the slashhook event. Sponsored by Pavee Point.

Calor Lifepartner Of The Year Award:
Presented by Derek Mooney.

John Creedon's Cork:
'Creedo' corks about Cork, while corking famous Cork landcorks, like. Corktitles, page 888.

I suppose this is another decision we can expect after the Lisbon referendum.

I'd be quite happy to pay the increase if Terry Prone was on the box a bit more. We don't see half enough of her.

__________________
Countries than produce fewer total CO2 emissions than Ireland:

Bangladesh (Pop. 162m)
Ethiopia (Pop. 80m)
Peru (Pop.30m)


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I am sure you are bieng whimsical, but even so accepting an increase for RTE justs underlines the absurdity of the Greens position, preaching sustainability to the rest of us whilst accepting an ever increasing waste of precious resources on quangos and semi-state bodies.
If the Greens dont vehemently preach the message of small goveernment. then they are as much part of the problem of global warming.

68k a year average wage and 1 manager for every 6 people there.


yeah , its the liscence fee thats the problem.

these guys have no where else to get employment besides TV3 and TG4 (which ironically is now producing BETTER programing and i cant even understand the damn station ! RTE2 should be embarresed they cant produce something like "aifric". )

50% pay cuts should be implemented and that should be a rising scale the further up the ranks you get. theres no justification for bog standard administrators getting double the average industrial wage, particularly from tax payers pockets.

when ad revenue goes back up you can top it up again but till then to paraphrase the loreal ad "theyre not worth it"

Well said !
I cant even get an RTE signal off air !

Fact is they don't produce quality programming the vast majority is imported UK and US shows that you could watch for free on other channels.

__________________
Sunday Independent will known be known as FFravda