RTÉ RETURNS NET SURPLUS OF €2.4 MILLION IN 2021

To read more about RTÉ’s achievements in 2021 see http://www.rte.ie/annualreport

Dee Forbes, Director-General RTÉ, said: “While 2021 was different to 2020, many of the challenges remained. However, across the year and across our services, RTÉ created work of high public value in news, investigative reporting, arts and cultural experiences, live sport, original drama, entertainment and children’s programming. I am proud of what we achieved and that 92% of the population use one or more RTÉ services each week, making RTÉ one of the most relied upon public services in the country. I am particularly pleased that RTÉ has increased our audience share among hard-to-reach younger audiences, with growth in 25–44-year-olds accessing our programming and services over the past two years. 

Big events returned and made 2021 a memorable year for Irish sport. RTÉ’s role in uniting the country for national moments was to the fore as audiences tuned in to RTÉ in great numbers across television, radio, online and social media to follow our coverage of the Olympics and Paralympics, the Euros, and the GAA Hurling, Football and Camogie Finals. 2021 also saw the new United Rugby Championship on RTÉ as part of a new broadcasting partnership with TG4. This level of engagement, and national celebration, would not be possible without these events being made available on a free-to-air basis.

Last year again highlighted the important role that RTÉ plays in helping to connect the Irish public with those who are in need, through a range of inspiring fundraising initiatives, not least the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal which raised over €6.6million for children’s charities and was one of the more uplifting elements in a year that was so difficult for many.  As I look back on these past two years, I have never been more convinced of the need and role of public service broadcasting in creating a shared space, for important discussion and debate, for celebration, and for telling national stories. RTÉ services remain relevant, trusted and compelling. They are enjoyed by many, and RTÉ continues to play an important role in enhancing Irish life. In spite of this, TV Licence revenue declined in 2020. 

The decision by Government last week to align the obligation to pay the TV Licence with how people consume media today is critical to ensure the sustainability of the system into the future. As I said last Tuesday, RTÉ will continue to do everything in its power to deliver a national public service media to be proud; but implementing essential Licence Fee reform is vital to address persistent financial instability.”

Read the Director-General’s Review here: https://www.rte.ie/annual-report-2021/business-review/director-generals-review.html

Moya Doherty, Chair of the RTÉ Board, commented: “I am proud of the leadership role RTÉ has continued to play in the provision of high-quality news and current affairs throughout the past two years. The continued public appetite for vital news and information, for discussion and debate, for entertainment, and even for companionship, meant that in 2021 RTÉ remained a constant in the lives of so many. While we began the year with much uncertainty, RTÉ ended the year as home to 44 of the 50 most-watched TV programmes in Ireland, reinforcing once more the truth that in times of uncertainty audiences turn to their national public media in large numbers for its unique offering of live sport, trusted news and current affairs, local Irish drama, gripping factual programmes and documentaries, as well as entertainment. RTÉ radio also continued to keep listeners engaged on air and online, throughout the day, and across the week reaching almost 2 million radio listeners in Ireland, while we also saw more online audio streams of our radio stations, more RTÉ Player streams, more visitors to and greater usage of the RTÉ News app. I am proud of this performance and the vital role played by RTÉ during a difficult year which was meticulously planned to ensure the health and safety of all and the delivery of vital services to the public. That RTÉ has managed to do this and return a modest surplus for the year is a substantial achievement in such uncertain and challenging times.

Moya Doherty continued: “As Ireland’s national public service broadcaster, RTÉ must be able to articulate and represent the social, cultural and economic realities of its citizens while defending democratic process when it is under challenge and it can only do that if it has assured and independent funding mechanisms in place with a foundation on which to deliver future media services and programming.  While the Government decision to move to link the licence fee to how media is now consumed is welcome, how that is implemented and how quickly is more critical than ever.”

Read the Chair’s Review here: https://www.rte.ie/annual-report-2021/business-review/chairs-statement.html

To view the 2021 Annual Report, fully optimised in HTML, in Irish and English, see http://www.rte.ie/annualreport, where you may also download the full report, and access additional information:

Financial Review: https://www.rte.ie/annual-report-2021/business-review/financial-review.html
What We Made in 2021: https://www.rte.ie/annual-report-2021/business-review/rte-what-we-made-in-2021.html
What We Did in 2021: https://www.rte.ie/annual-report-2021/business-review/rte-what-we-did-in-2021.html
What We Won in 2021: https://www.rte.ie/annual-report-2021/business-review/rte-what-we-won-in-2021.html
Statistical Information: https://www.rte.ie/annual-report-2021/business-review/statistical-information.html