RTE want €320 TV licence.. as 300 jobs at risk
Director general warns major changes in pipeline
RTE’S new director general has revealed she wants to double the TV licence fee to €320. Dee Forbes admitted she thinks the current charge of €160 is “incredible value for money”. And she told how the national broadcaster needs to adapt by restructuring. She said: “The licence fee is 40 cents a day. Quite honestly I think it should be double that.” She was speaking as RTE prepares to shed up to 300 jobs as part of a restructuring, which also involves selling off nearly nine acres of land at its South Dublin HQ for €75million. Ms Forbes added: “If you look to places like the Scandinavian markets where their licence fee is over double that and you see what you’re getting for that, quite honestly the content is singing. “What I’m saying to you is the more money we have to play with the more we can do.” She revealed a change to how the fee is currently paid is in the pipeline. The director general referenced a model in Italy, where the licence fee is attached to the electricity bill which has greatly improved collections. Ms Forbes told RTE Radio One’s Today with Sean O’rourke: “Our finances haven’t been so critical, but we have to make hard choices. “It is a case of adapt or die. And that’s where we are now.” She also confirmed the loss of up to 250 jobs as part of a voluntary exit programme over a 24-month period as RTE becomes more digitally focused. The Cork woman outlined sections of the planned strategy to restructure the station, which is subject to approval from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. Under the proposed changes the television, radio and digital departments will be under one head of content. News and current affairs will remain outside the structure as an independent entity. It was announced yesterday almost nine acres of land at the organisation’s Donnybrook HQ have been put up for sale. Ms Forbes refused to rule out any further land sales. She revealed funds raised would go towards buying new IT equipment and a “buildings refresh” to allow RTE to “play catch-up”. The director general added the voice of public service broadcasting “has never been so crucial”. She said: “We are living in a world where fake news is dominating – for Ireland right now the independent voice of public media is vital.”
Finances have not been so critical.. it is a case of adapt or die DIRECTOR GENERAL DEE FORBES YESTERDAY