RTE out for the count..
Broadcaster blasted over ‘worst’ NYE show as timer gaffe angers viewers
RTE was yesterday slammed for its gaffe-hit coverage of Dublin’s New Year’s Eve countdown gig.
Thousands of fans flocked to Custom House Quay on Sunday night to see rockers Kodaline perform alongside Key West and Hudson Taylor to ring in 2018 at the 3Countdown Concert.
For those who couldn’t make it, RTE broadcast the event live – but after a number of glitches the State broadcaster failed to impress viewers.
One said it was the “worst countdown in history” while another added: “Pretty lacklustre countdown from @RTE though.”
Following Kodaline’s performance, they handed the stage over to a troupe of drummers who put on a short show ahead of the countdown.
But the absence of a presenter or an onscreen clock meant people had no idea what time it was.
Kodaline frontman Steve Garrigan jumped in with nine seconds to go until the start of 2018.
A countdown then finally appeared, projected on to the wall of the Custom House, followed by fireworks and an aerial and aquatic acrobatic display. The RTE coverage was lambasted on Twitter with many viewers left disappointed and confused.
One wrote: “Broken feed. Kodaline. No presenter. Random drummers. No indication it’s nearly midnight. 4. 3. 2. 1. New Years. 6 fireworks.
“Let’s have a 90s rave with some lads on jetpacks. 7 fireworks. Thanks @RTE. Happy 1993.”
Another viewer said: “Is it no Budget or just no imagination in RTE to produce a show like this for a New Years Eve?”
While on person said: “That RTE countdown was pretty s***e, so 2018 can really only get better from here on.”
An outraged viewer also took a swipe at the station for its Christmas line-up, and said: “Why am I paying a TV license and getting no value for money? 90% of Christmas programs were repeats.
“How many more times do we have to watch Mrs Brown? It is not funny any more.”
A spokesman said yesterday: “RTE can confirm there was a loss of signal for a few seconds during Sunday’s broadcast, the cause of which is being looked into.”