I AM OPEN TO ‘MEDIA CITY’ IDEA
RTE boss looking at facilities option but denies 2FM for sale
RTE boss Kevin Bakhurst said he is open to turning Montrose into a “media city” where other broadcasters could use the facilities and dismissed rumours 2FM is about to be sold.
The Director General also said he has “ambitions” for its Cork studios where their afternoon show Today is filmed, saying he is selling the current building on Fr Matthew Quay for around €2million.
It comes in the wake of Pat Kenny telling us his ideas on how he would save RTE, which included creating a media city and allowing other TV stations to work there.
Mr Bakhurst said: “I would be absolutely open to it. The buildings, I’ve just been about the site actually. The buildings need investment.
“All the buildings need a sustainable investment. We’ve got well publicised issues, like leaks in the roofs etc.”
Speaking about the idea, Mr Bakhurst said many of the facilities would be attractive to other broadcasters.
He added: “I think, particularly the radio centre. There is an important space there for the concert orchestra but if we can turn it into some sort of media hub, either for other media companies who are interested or for independents, I would be very open to that.
VALUE
“I don’t think there is much value in RTE by selling them so if we can do something useful with them, I’d be very open to looking at that.”
Pat previously said to us that creating a media city – similar to the one in Manchester – is a “very attractive idea”.
He added: “The whole idea of having a studio complex with radio, TV, podcasting, post production all of those things in one place instead of scattering RTE around the country, which they are talking about doing.
“I think it is a very attractive idea.
“In terms of the daily grind, can you imagine having the synergy working in opposition to each other on air but at the same time having their lunch together in the canteen.
“The politicians tear strips off each other in Leinster House and then they have lunch in the Dail.”
Mr Bakhurst also revealed his thoughts on reforming the licence fee and introducing a media levy to households instead. He said: “That was what Pat Rabbitte was discussing
All the buildings need investment ..we’ve got issues
KEVIN BAKHURST
BOSS YESTERDAY
years ago and yes, I agree with Pat [Kenny]. Pat has a lot more experience at this than I have. The licence fee needed reforming for a number of years and for various reasons, various Governments haven’t taken that opportunity.
“But there is a massive opportunity here from this Government and they say they are going to do it. I think it would be an incredible step forward for Ireland if they do it. My side of the bargain is we will deliver. We will live up to that, if they do it.”
We also asked him about rumours he was planning to sell 2FM, which he dismissed as “rubbish” as the station reaches a younger audience.
He said: “2FM has been performing really well actually. As you know it reaches part of the audience that RTE struggles to reach sometimes, which is younger audiences, younger adults particularly. It’s been performing commercially really well so it wouldn’t make much sense for us to sell it.
“We’re expected to be relevant to all audiences and 2FM are really important for younger audiences.
“It is true about the Cork studios. We have ambitions in Cork. We need to sell the old building at some point and find more modern, more appropriate premises.”