Letters

RTÉ funding crisis has deep roots

Paying the price for a policy vacuum

Fri Nov 17 2023 - 00:09

Sir, – I disagree that the public broadcasting “funding question” has “changed” because of RTÉ's “self-inflicted wounds” (Pat Leahy, “RTÉ crisis leaves Government with unappealing choice of funding models”, Analysis, November 16th).

The “question” of how to respond to technological change (digital, the internet, etc) has loomed for a very long time and, indeed, as the article mentions, the Future of Media commission grasped the nettle in July 2022 by proposing the abandonment of the licence fee. This Government, as governments do, responded by doing nothing.

RTÉ's unwise embrace of commercial culture may have been “self-inflicted”, but it was done in the face of funding difficulties connected to this policy void now finally being addressed late and in a crisis. – Yours, etc,

BILL GRANTHAM,

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Tinahely,

Co Wicklow.

Sir, – It is interesting to note that politicians such as Minister for Culture and Media Catherine Martin have welcomed RTÉ's director general announcement that RTÉ “stars” will not be able to earn more than he does. His salary is currently €250,000 per year.

I wonder does Ms Martin have any concerns that, in order to attract top “talent” in the future, we may end up reading headlines such as “RTÉ's DG gets pay rise to €400,000 per annum”. – Yours, etc,

BRIAN CULLEN,

Rathfarnham,

Dublin 16.

Sir, – I see that RTÉ aims to woo younger audience (“RTÉ strategy includes disinformation correspondent and possible new teenage drama”, News, November 16th).

Does RTÉ not realise that the younger audience has already been plucked by TikTok, Spotify and Snapchat? – Yours, etc,

PATRICK O’BYRNE,

Phibsborough,

Dublin 7.

Sir, – From a misstated salary, to multiple reports and resignations, to a €56 million bailout.

An RTÉ drama with multiple repeats. – Yours, etc,

BRIAN CULLEN,

Rathfarnham,

Dublin 16.