28/03/2002

RTÉ Authority meet with strategic review consultants

The RTÉ Authority have held a special meeting with consultants from KPMG and Logical who have been undertaking a strategic review process of the broadcaster's operations.

In a carefully worded statement, Chairman of the Authority, Patrick J Wright, said that the review was "a work in progress" necessitated by the "serious financial situation facing RTÉ".

After Wednesday's meeting, the Chairman of the Authority, Patrick J Wright, said: "The Authority's decision to embark on a strategic review was necessitated by the serious financial situation facing RTÉ. It has proved to be a particularly timely decision as it will also provide valuable input for the Forum on Broadcasting, established by Minister Síle de Valera under the Chairmanship of Maurice O'Connell."

He continued: "The Authority's overriding objective is to ensure that RTÉ has a secure and financially sustainable future, which provides the audience with the depth and breadth of public broadcasting which it requires and deserves, and the staff with an excellent working environment."

Following the meeting, several areas that required further submissions were identified, and submissions will be received by the Authority before the end of April.

The RTÉ Authority also revealed that it would engage in the strategic review process on March 19 after it was revealed that the broadcaster had a total loss for the year of €40 million (£25 million). In that capacity, KPMG and Logical were brought in by the Authority to set up the review. It has since been reported that in order to cut costs, the broadcaster could be forced to make upwards of 400 redundancies.

One day after that announcement, RTÉ withdrew its support for loss-making Tara TV, and in doing so they wrote off the £2.3 million investment made since the station's launch in 1998.

The strategic review was further precipitated by Arts Minister Síle de Valera's decision not to allow RTE to raise its licence fee by €63. In the end, the licence fee was increased by €11.

The Authority said that it would make no further comment until it has had time to consider the extra submissions requested.

RTÉ, www.rte.ie

(GMcG)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 September 2009
City Airport Rattles Tiles
Fresh doubts have been cast on plans to expand Belfast's urban airport. An investigation is under way after people living near George Best Belfast City Airport claimed the 'wash' from a low-flying jet smashed roof tiles on a house. The BBC has reported that residents suffered a major scare.
17 September 2001
Transatlantic flights resume from Ireland
Transatlantic flights to and from Belfast have resumed as regulations covering low-level flights over central London are lifted. The ban over such flights was put in place following last Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in America.
19 March 2002
Renewed redundancy fears surface at RTE
Concerns are growing that RTÉ could shed scores of jobs under restructuring proposals being considered by RTÉ management. The loss-making national broadcaster could decide to add to the 400 redundancies already made in an attempt to reduce costs.
10 November 2009
Green Light For RTÉ Donnybrook Project
Dublin councillors have backed RTÉ's plans to develop its Donnybrook campus. Ireland's national broadcaster has proposed demolishing existing facilities at the site and rebuilding three interconnected blocks by 2025.
08 March 2002
Education has crucial role in securing robust economy
Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has said that the crucial role to be played by the education sector in securing a robust economy for Northern Ireland cannot be overemphasised.