A government official told Leo Varadkar that RTÉ may need 'radical re-thinking' - rather than constant increases in public funding
Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR was told by one of his officials that ”radical re-thinking” of RTÉ’s role might be needed to address its chronic deficits – rather than constant rises in its public funding.
They included a meeting between Tánaiste Simon Coveney and the broadcaster’s director general, Dee Forbes, in September. That included €5 million from increasing the amount RTÉ was paid by the government for free TV licences issued as part of welfare packages and another €3.6 million from licence fee collections that had previously gone to TG4, which had its direct exchequer funding increased.
“However, it is clear that trends such as growing international competitions, shift of advertisers to digital platforms and increasing number of ‘no TV’ homes makes RTÉ’s financial position very perilous,” it added. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland last year recommended a minimum of €30 million in extra annual funding be granted to RTÉ.
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