Sir, - Mark Deering of TV3 (September 15th) raises queries about RTE's use of the licence-fee revenue.
Programmes in our schedule such as ER, Friends or movies are financed by their advertising breaks. Any surplus cash goes to support non-commercial broadcasting - not to shareholders.
Would You Believe, Leargas, States of Fear, Prime Time and other specialist or minority interest programmes are not self-financing. Neither are Lyric FM, Raidio na Gaeltachta nor our two orchestras, among others. RTE continues to fund these programmes and activities with the help of a subsidy of a mere 19p a day from the viewer.
What price quality? Part of the answer lies in RTE's extensive range of features and documentaries, its commitment to Irish culture, entertainment and drama, the creation of indigenous "soaps", its Irish-language programming, comprehensive sports service and an independent and impartial news and current affairs service. These all meet the needs of two television and four radio services along with web and digital media developments. In addition, RTE has made a commitment of over £17.5 million to independent producers and of £6 million to TG4. We can never meet all needs, all of the time, but we do provide a service of some considerable range and depth.
RTE itself will achieve much through its own financial three-year plan. We are also preparing data on licence-fee expenditure in the station and believe that it should put to rest any doubts raised by TV3. The real and urgent issue, in our view, is a licence-fee increase which can make the crucial difference for RTE between being relegated to the margin or remaining in the mainstream as the quality Irish broadcaster in the years ahead. - Yours, etc.,
Deirdre Henchy, Public Affairs Manager, Dublin 4.