I just could not believe this when I saw it....
There is absolutely no way that the fee should be increased at this time.
RTE are in serious need of proper restructuring and while that process would appear to have commenced, it is far from complete and until such time as all work has been concluded and the final situation clear for all to see, no new money should be put into the broadcaster.
Thereafter, we all seriously need to look at whether or not RTE is fit for purpose. I am 100% in favour of having a national broadcaster holding both a tv station and a radio station. I further support the concept of TG4 (whether it be considered part of RTE, or entirely independent).
But I do not support the national broadcasting company having two national broadcast tv channels and several terrestrial radio stations. There is absolutely no need for RTE to be trying to compete with other entertainment channels, that is not the function of a state broadcaster. There is simply no justification for it, in an age where numerous tv channels are available across all of Ireland, via satellite, digital transmission or cable - providing general entertainment, kids tv, news etc. Paying vast sums of money to buy in content such as Eastenders, or Homeland is simply crazy, when BBC1 and Ch. 4 can be accessed across all of Ireland.
Likewise, holding several national radio stations is inappropriate at a time when we have multiple commercial stations available on the FM & AM spectrums, not to mention significantly more competition via digital transmissions.
When I first heard that RTE were going to sell some of their surplus land at Donnybrook I was delighted, as it was long long overdue. However, then I heard they were intending to rebuild the set for Fair City elsewhere in the RTE campus, because the current location is part of the land RTE are selling - this simply defies belief ! Why not build the set on far cheaper land elsewhere ? It's hardly like the modern world we live in would not enable the cast and crew to transport themselves and their equipment to an alternative location (with a much cheaper carrying cost than a plot in a prime Dublin location).
RTE needs to be broken up, with all non-core assets sold to the private sector. Funds raised form these sales could easily be reinvested in other worthwhile national projects - be it broadband for rural Ireland, housing, hospitals etc. Let us put our resources to best use and not continue to see funds tied up unnecessarily in a broadcasting company that we don't need.
When all of the above has been done, then lets have a look at the payroll at RTE and see some justification for the salaries some of their staff are being paid. I've heard the argument from RTE in times past about having to pay "the going rate" to get top talent etc. but that's wrong - we don't need top talent, we need capable people and RTE have lots of them, many of whom do not need to be paid €200k - €450k per year.
Finally, after all of the above has been properly attended to, then and only then, lets have a genuine look at what needs to be paid by way of annual licence fee to run our fit for purpose national broadcaster.
There is absolutely no way that the fee should be increased at this time.
RTE are in serious need of proper restructuring and while that process would appear to have commenced, it is far from complete and until such time as all work has been concluded and the final situation clear for all to see, no new money should be put into the broadcaster.
Thereafter, we all seriously need to look at whether or not RTE is fit for purpose. I am 100% in favour of having a national broadcaster holding both a tv station and a radio station. I further support the concept of TG4 (whether it be considered part of RTE, or entirely independent).
But I do not support the national broadcasting company having two national broadcast tv channels and several terrestrial radio stations. There is absolutely no need for RTE to be trying to compete with other entertainment channels, that is not the function of a state broadcaster. There is simply no justification for it, in an age where numerous tv channels are available across all of Ireland, via satellite, digital transmission or cable - providing general entertainment, kids tv, news etc. Paying vast sums of money to buy in content such as Eastenders, or Homeland is simply crazy, when BBC1 and Ch. 4 can be accessed across all of Ireland.
Likewise, holding several national radio stations is inappropriate at a time when we have multiple commercial stations available on the FM & AM spectrums, not to mention significantly more competition via digital transmissions.
When I first heard that RTE were going to sell some of their surplus land at Donnybrook I was delighted, as it was long long overdue. However, then I heard they were intending to rebuild the set for Fair City elsewhere in the RTE campus, because the current location is part of the land RTE are selling - this simply defies belief ! Why not build the set on far cheaper land elsewhere ? It's hardly like the modern world we live in would not enable the cast and crew to transport themselves and their equipment to an alternative location (with a much cheaper carrying cost than a plot in a prime Dublin location).
RTE needs to be broken up, with all non-core assets sold to the private sector. Funds raised form these sales could easily be reinvested in other worthwhile national projects - be it broadband for rural Ireland, housing, hospitals etc. Let us put our resources to best use and not continue to see funds tied up unnecessarily in a broadcasting company that we don't need.
When all of the above has been done, then lets have a look at the payroll at RTE and see some justification for the salaries some of their staff are being paid. I've heard the argument from RTE in times past about having to pay "the going rate" to get top talent etc. but that's wrong - we don't need top talent, we need capable people and RTE have lots of them, many of whom do not need to be paid €200k - €450k per year.
Finally, after all of the above has been properly attended to, then and only then, lets have a genuine look at what needs to be paid by way of annual licence fee to run our fit for purpose national broadcaster.
? Jokers running Are T E need to understand the concept of Opportunity Cost. Maybe Lee could explain it to them