BYE SHARON, GOOD MORNING IRELAND!
...but Dobson will only work for three-to-four days a week
SIX ONE news presenter Bryan Dobson will have an altogether more leisurely schedule when he takes up his new role on Morning Ireland next month.
As previously reported in the Mail on Sunday and confirmed by RTÉ this week, Dobson will be making the internal move to replace the recently retired Cathal MacCoille on the station’s flagship morning news programme.
Dobson, 56, will report for work at 5am – his day will usually finish shortly after the programme ends at 9am – and, on average, he will work three-and-a-half days a week. In effect, this means three days one week, four days the next.
This contrasts with his previous workload as the Six One anchor when he worked five full days, starting at about 10.30am, and appeared five evenings a week, sometimes more, alongside his coanchor, Sharon Ní Bheoláin.
He will continue to present Six One for the next two months before moving to radio on October 30, as main anchor with Rachael English, Gavin Jennings and Audrey Carville.
Dobson’s new schedule is set to free up more time for his favourite pastime – sailing.
‘The schedule for RTÉ changes all the time, but one thing you’re guaranteed is a lot of time off,’ a Montrose insider told the Mail on Sunday.
‘You’re up at 4am, and have to do prep work the night before, but you still have your days free.’
RTÉ denied Dobson would be getting off lightly though, but confirmed the reduced working week.
‘For a presenter on Morning Ireland, the day actually begins the night before, when they are assigned briefs to work on, after a programme conference call,’ said a spokesman.
‘A full-time staff presenter on Morning Ireland would normally present, on rotation, three to four programmes each week.’
Dobson’s move will lead to musical chairs at Montrose, depending on how station chiefs decide to fill his Six One position. The prospective staffing changes come as RTÉ embarks on cost-saving reforms. Last year alone, the broadcaster lost €20m.
At the end of August, management and staff were called in for a meeting at which details were announced of a plan to ‘slim down’ the organisation.
Management announced a scheme to cut 250 workers with a voluntary redundancy and early retirement scheme. The scheme opened at the start of September.
Director General Dee Forbes told the meeting: ‘There’s no disguising that, alongside what I believe is an exciting future, there will also be some painful choices. Our financial situation requires us to reduce costs and employee numbers.
‘We need to become a smaller, more efficient organisation.’
Staff were told the changes will allow RTÉ evolve into an organisation that is better able to meet the changing needs of its audiences across its TV, radio, online and mobile services in a ‘dynamic and competitive market’.
Ms Forbes has previously said she would like to see a significant rise in the €160 TV licence fee, but there is no political support for such a change.
‘You’re guaranteed a lot of time off’