Statement from RTÉ’s Interim Deputy Director-General, Adrian Lynch
Please see below the Statement from the Interim Deputy Director-General of RTÉ, Adrian Lynch, as well as the Grant Thornton Report to the RTÉ Audit and Risk Committee.
Statement from the Board of RTÉ
RTÉ is acutely aware that the issues that were communicated by the RTÉ Board in its statement last Thursday have raised profound questions. The public, public representatives and RTÉ staff want to know what happened, how it happened and who is accountable. We are very mindful of the need to provide clarity as soon as possible, and we are committed to doing so.
Tomorrow afternoon, RTÉ will issue a comprehensive statement setting out its understanding of the circumstances surrounding the misstating of Ryan Tubridy’s earnings across the 2020-2022 period.
RTÉ will also publish as much as possible of the Grant Thornton review, which was commissioned by the Audit and Risk Committee of the RTÉ Board, and received by the Board on Monday last, June 19th 2023.
As per the RTÉ Board statement last Thursday, the circumstances that led to the misstatement of Ryan Tubridy’s earnings from 2017-2019 are separately being reviewed by Grant Thornton and therefore will not be included in tomorrow’s statement.
Members of the RTÉ Board and Executive will be represented at the Joint Oireachtas Committee and the Public Accounts Committee this week.
We have no further comment to add at this time.
Statement from the Board of RTÉ
“We acknowledge receipt this morning of correspondence from Dee Forbes confirming her resignation as Director General with immediate effect. We note the contents of her accompanying statement.
Representatives of the RTÉ Board and Executive will be attending the Joint Oireachtas Committee and Public Accounts Committee this week.”
Statement from RTÉ
STATEMENT FROM RTÉ
In response to an article today in the Sunday Independent headlined ‘RTÉ scandal: Whistleblower claims broadcaster gave ‘kickbacks’ of €50m to ad agencies’, RTÉ says:
In its annual published accounts, RTÉ reports its total commercial revenues net of any commission and volume discounts. RTÉ clarified to the Sunday Independent yesterday that its auditors have reviewed commercial income as part of their annual audit and that no issues have been raised in relation to controls over volume discounts.
RTÉ is satisfied that the manner in which it grants discounts is compliant with competition law.
RTÉ would also like to make the following points:
- RTÉ, like many public media organisations across Europe, is dual funded, meaning it relies on income from the licence fee and commercial activity to sustain its public services. Licence fee income represents c. 55% of RTÉ’s total income, with the balance coming from commercial activities. RTÉ’s dual funded model was recently reaffirmed by the Future of Media Commission.
- Because RTÉ is dual funded, RTÉ’s commercial activities are restricted by statute and Ministerial decision. RTÉ is permitted approximately half the commercial airtime (on both radio and TV) of independent/commercial broadcasters.
- The Broadcasting Act, which is the statutory basis that underpins all of RTÉ’s activities, obliges RTÉ to maximise the commercial opportunities that arise in pursuit of its public service activities. RTÉ is assessed each year by the media regulator (until recently the BAI, now Coimisiún Na Meán) to ensure it is maximising its commercial revenues.
- Over 90% of RTÉ’s annual advertising/sponsorship revenues are through negotiated commercial contracts with a number of media buying agencies each year.
- Those media agencies buy airtime/advertising space from media organisations, including RTÉ, on behalf of their clients and are paid a commission. RTÉ offers all media buying agencies an industry standard 15% commission.
- In addition, through contractual negotiation RTÉ (and other media organisations) agree a volume discount. The volume discount is determined by the volume of spend a given media agency makes with a media organisation each year. Like in many industries, if volumes or orders are larger then greater discounts typically apply.
- Given this is a competitive marketplace, volume discounts between media buying agencies and media organisations are commercially sensitive and not disclosed.
Nothing sounds quite like the GAA Championships on RTÉ
The colour and action return this weekend
– 31 Live televised GAA games this summer
– RTÉ Radio 1 has exclusive National Radio GAA Championship broacast rights
– Extensive free-to-air coverage across Television,
Radio, RTÉ Player and RTÉ.ie
– Catch up on all the weekend’s action and reflective analysis each Sunday night on The Sunday Game
Echoing to the sound of leather on ash, the crash, bang, wallop of a full-blooded tackle and the roar of the crowds, nothing sounds quite like the GAA Championships on RTÉ. It’s a year like no other, with championship action beginning this Sunday, April 17. It all kicks off this Easter Weekend and for the first time, the All-Ireland Senior Hurling and Football Finals will take place in July. This year, RTÉ Sport will, once again, bring the sights and sounds of a championship season to fans across the country with extensive free-to-air coverage from the early beginning of the championship season this weekend right up the finals.
The Sunday Game Live and The Sunday Game return this Sunday (18 April) as the Munster Hurling Championship takes centre-stage with a live double header. Joanne Cantwell will be joined on The Sunday Game Live by Anthony Daly, Donal Óg Cusack and Shane Dowling for Waterford v Tipperary from Walsh Park (throw-in 2.00pm) followed by Cork v Limerick from Páirc Uí Chaoimh (throw-in 4.00pm).
Des Cahill is once again in The Sunday Game hotseat on Sunday evening alongside Colm O’Rourke, Derek McGrath, Liam Sheedy and Sean Cavanagh for highlights and analysis of the opening weekend in the hurling and football Championships.
As well as the 31 games, RTÉ will also show the semi-finals from the Tailteann Cup and the finals of both the Tailteann Cup and Joe McDonagh Cup competitions.
Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 will have coverage from every GAA Championship match in Football and Hurling. Commentary teams, reporters and presentation teams will bring all the action from every Championship venue as counties go in search of the Sam Maguire and Liam McCarthy. Leading expert analysts following all the action on RTÉ Radio include former Hurling and Camogie greats John Mullane, Brian Carroll, Shane McGrath, Kate Kelly and Aoife Sheehan while our Football analysts include Eamonn O’Hara, Kyle Coney, John Casey, Denise Masterson and Fiona McHale. Over 100 GAA Championships matches will be covered in 14 weeks on RTÉ Radio 1, not to mention leading coverage of the Ladies Football and Camogie Championships.
GAAGO will again stream the best of Championship 2022 in both codes to GAA fans outside of Ireland. Every game being broadcast on domestic TV will be available for international viewing, plus The Sunday Game Highlights show and selected underage action. GAAGO will also stream the Connacht Championship game between New York and Sligo on Easter Sunday to fans in Ireland and worldwide.
RTÉ Sport Online
Follow all the games on the RTÉ Sport website and RTÉ News app with our live blogs, match reports and reaction. As well as expert analysis from columnists Jason Ryan and Shane Dowling, there will be features and interviews, plus twice weekly podcasts featuring some of our leading pundits. Follow The Sunday Game on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for all the best highlights, analysis and debate.
As Gaeilge
RTÉ will once again be providing Irish language commentary in this year’s Championship starting with the Leinster Football Final on May 28. A total of 16 matches will be offered with Irish Language commentary including provincial finals, quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals in hurling and football as well as commentary on the senior camogie final. Commentary will be by Garry Mac Donncha with analysis from All-Ireland winning captains Dara Ó Cinnéide and Pat Fleury. Additional commentary and analysis from Cuán Ó Flatharta, Gary Brennan, Michael Rice and Claire O’Connor.
*commentary as Gaeilge begins on Saturday 28th May for the Leinster Senior Football Championship in Croke Park and can be found on Saorview, RTÉ News Channels and RTÉ Player.
Looking ahead to the start of the GAA championship this weekend, Declan McBennett, Group Head of Sport, RTÉ said: “The championship is and always will be central to our summers. Formats and calendars may change but the sense of anticipation is never diminished. RTÉ Sport across digital, radio and television will again be at the heart of the action, and we look forward to moments that will enthral and skills that will illuminate the summer.”
Six RTÉ shows take home gold as winners announced at prestigious RTS Ireland Television Awards 2022
RTÉ, Virgin Media Ireland, TG4 and Sky Ireland last night took home a range of prestigious RTS Ireland Television Awards gongs
– Kin’s Yazmin Seky named as Best Newcomer
– Winners were announced at a ceremony hosted by Blathnaid Treacy and Nuala Carey, with special guests Villagers and Oliver Callan.
RTS Ireland announced winners in 11 categories at last night’s RTS Ireland Television Awards. Hosted and produced by RTÉ, the ceremony took place in the concert hall of Dublin’s RDS. Juries considered almost 100 entries from across the industry, and RTÉ took home six of the 10 category awards.
1 – BEST DRAMA | with thanks to Screen Ireland
1. Dalgliesh – New Pictures Ltd [Channel 5]
2. Hidden Assets – Saffron Moon [RTÉ]
3. WINNER Smother – Treasure Entertainment Ltd / BBC Studios [RTÉ]
2 – BEST ENTERTAINMENT | with thanks to Piranha Bar
1. BOWIE: Starman with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra [RTÉ]
2. WINNER Ireland’s Fittest Family – Animo TV, Kite Entertainment Ltd [RTÉ]
3. Last Singer Standing – ShinAwiL [RTÉ]
4. Special Forces – Ultimate Hell Week – Motive Television [RTÉ]
5. The Deirdre O’Kane Show – Kite Entertainment Ltd [SKY]
3 – BEST FACTUAL SERIES | with thanks to Egg Post Production
1. MISNEACH – Midas Productions [TG4]
2. Murder at the Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie – Hell’s Kitchen, Dare Films in association with Sky Studios [SKY]
3. RTÉ Investigates – Who Am I? The story of Ireland’s Illegal Adoptions [RTÉ]
4. The Case I Can’t Forget – Rare Television Ireland Ltd and Green Inc Film and TV Ltd [RTÉ]
5. WINNER The Killing of Fr. Niall Molloy – Flawless Films [RTÉ]
4 – BEST FACTUAL SINGLE | with thanks to Nemeton TV
1. Keelin Shanley: Faraway, Still Close – Scratch Films Ltd. [RTÉ]
2. Let the Rest of the World Go By – Angelo Films / Ponder [RTÉ]
3. Síle Seoige: Deireadh Tochta – TYRONE PRODUCTIONS [TG4]
4. The Irish Wedding – Atom Films [RTÉ]
5. WINNER Tomorrow Is Saturday – GMarsh TV Productions [RTÉ]
5 – BEST NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS | with thanks to Camerakit.ie
1. Brexit, the protocol and the fallout 2021 [Sky]
2. Opening Another Year With COVID [Virgin Media Television]
3. WINNER RTÉ Investigates – Covid 19 The Third Wave [RTÉ]
6 – BEST ANIMATION | with thanks to Windmill Lane
1. Adam Saves Christmas – Kavaleer Productions [RTÉ]
2. Bóin agus Beach – Paper Owl Films [RTÉ]
3. WINNER Dagda’s Harp – Cardel Entertainment [RTÉ]
Winners were announced at a special event in Dublin’s RDS Concert Hall. Hosted by Blathnaid Treacy with Nuala Carey, with special guests Villagers and Oliver Callan, and produced by RTÉ, a range of small screen stars gathered with almost 400 industry representatives to celebrate excellence in Irish television over the last year.
Speaking at the announcement of this year’s winners, RTS Ireland Awards Chairperson Niall Cogley said: “Tonight’s winners are testament to an industry that is at the top its game creatively. Among the nominees we saw inspiring local drama, incisive national news, exceptional Irish-langauge, sport and children’s content, and great factual and entertainment content made by Irish-based producers and broadcasters for Irish audiences. Among the winners, tonight we have seen the crowning of the best of these, chosen by a jury of peers from over 100 entries.
We are gratified by the enthusiastic participation of so many talented Irish individuals and organisations, who have embraced this Gradaim/RTS Ireland Television Awards event again this year. We were especially excited to finally gather together again as television professionals to pay tribute to the very best Irish television performers producers and contributors. As an educational charity, we are very grateful for the support and enthusiasm of our patrons RTÉ, Virgin Media Television, TG4, Sky Ireland, the BAI and Screen Ireland, and for the generous category sponsorship from our industry colleagues at Camerakit.ie, Piranha Bar, Nemeton TV, Egg Post Production, TVM Outside Broadcasts, Windmill Lane, Screenscene/NEP, IMRO and Ardmore Studios.”
About the RTS Ireland Awards: Originally founded in London as the Television Society in 1927, the Irish centre was launched in 1995. The Gradaim/RTS Ireland Television Awards seek to recognise Irish productions and international co-productions which are considered by peer jury members to have made a positive contribution worthy of acclaim by the industry and Irish viewers. RTS Awards are one of the international gold standard awards for the TV industry and an important showcase of the extraordinary talent evident across the country’s television industry.
The Late Late Toy Show 2021 roaring success for viewers at home and abroad
The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal raises €6,601,895 million for Irish charities
Average audience of 1.8 million tuned in across the weekend, making it one of the highest-rating TV programmes on a single channel on record in Ireland
The biggest show on the TV calendar The Late Late Toy Show 2021 won the heart of viewers at home and across the world at the weekend, raising a staggering €6,601,895 million for The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, with viewers watching from 150 countries.
Average TV viewing for Friday night’s show is now over 1.8 million, taking catch-up viewing on Saturday and Sunday into account. An average audience of 1.56 million viewers watched The Lion King themed show on RTÉ One on Friday night, representing 81% of the available audience. This marks a year-on-year increase on last year’s audience of 1.55 million, which had 79% audience share. An additional 292,000 watched the programme on catch-up TV, including RTÉ One+1 and the Saturday repeat****This makes it one of the highest rating TV programmes, on a single channel in Ireland, on record. The 1-minute Reach*** to The Late Late Toy Show (including +1 & Saturday repeat) was over 2.2 million.After a year where children were restricted in play and socialising with their friends, the Hakuna Matata ‘no worries’ philosophy of this year’s show was central to the core message in allowing children to roam wild both at home and in studio. Through the generosity and goodwill of the Irish people, The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal in its second year raised €6.6 million, marking a total of €13 million of much-needed funds over the course of its two years.OnlineOnline, Irish viewers stayed connected with home and streamed RTÉ Player from over 150 countries including from all fifty states in the USA and all eight Australian territories. Over 330,000 streams live and on-demand across the weekend, making it one of the most-watched programmes of 2021. Ed Sheeran and the Toy Show Choir performance was the most-watched clip from the show with viewers bowled over by the show’s many young stars. DJ Callum and his hype-man Jackson, Fashionista Abigale and Kellie Harrington’s knock-out surprise were also massive hits. The Late Late Toy Show with Irish Sign Language (ISL) was available live on Friday night on RTÉ Player and RTÉ News, it has had over 18,000 streams to date with the ISL Late Late Toy Show opening performance of ‘Hakuna Matata’ and Ed Sheeran and the Toy Show Choir with ISL both appearing in the Top 5 most-watched clips on RTÉ Player. RTÉ Social Across the week, the #LateLateToyShow content garnered 4.6 million views on RTÉ’s social accounts across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. On Toy Show night, at one point the top 10 trends in Ireland were #LateLateToyShow names of the Toy Show children who appeared on the show that night with Ryan. At one point, Lego ranked as the 9th most trending in Ireland.Speaking today, host Ryan Tubridy said: “Friday night was an absolute joy to present, and it felt like it was about six or seven minutes long, it just went by so fast as such were the joy that the children brought to everyone in Ireland. We were a country that needed one big magical hug and thanks to the kids all around the country, we got it. I am flabbergasted by the audience share and I am bowled over by the donations made to The Toy Show Appeal. I think that every child matters and for one night in a dark year, the sun came out and kindness won and the future looking at those kids is very, very bright. So here is the start of a hopeful Happy Christmas for everyone in Ireland, especially the children whose future is made a little brighter thanks to the kindness of their fellow citizens.”
Tony McMahon
Speaking on the passing of musician and producer Tony McMahon, RTÉ Director-General Dee Forbes said: “Tony McMahon was an icon among Irish musicians. He joined RTÉ as a radio producer in 1974, having previously worked as freelance presenter across a range of traditional music programmes for the station. His radio series The Long Note placed traditional music in a wider, social context, and was required listening in an era when commercial recordings were rare. Tony introduced his audience to a community of musicians, both at home and abroad, and gave airtime to a generation of younger musicians.”
Tony McMahon worked across the television series The Green Linnet and Come West along the Road as well as The Pure Drop.
Peter Woods, Head of RTÉ Radio 1, said: “As a producer, Tony McMahon was an innovator. He placed an emphasis on individual musicians, their contribution to the tradition and their artistic intent. He was an important figure in RTÉ and nationally for the recognition and context his programme making gave to those musicians. For those who worked with him he was a sounding post. His musical values remained constant and challenging. He made space. In his programmes the music came first. Of Tony McMahon it can definitely be said, Ní bheid a leithéid ann arís.”
RnaG Crowned Station of the Year Amid Big Wins for RTÉ
RTÉ took home five prestigious Bronze Torcs for Excellence at the 2021 Celtic Media Festival. Competing with content from a range of nations in each category, each win represents an international accolade of distinction.
More: https://www.celticmediafestival.co.uk/
Category: Radio Drama
Winner: Crossing The Red Line
Country: Ireland
Production Company / Broadcaster: Hugh Hick Productions / RTÉ Radio 1 Extra
Category: Arts
Winner: Garech Browne: The Last Days at Luggala
Country: Ireland
Production Company / Broadcaster: Scratch Films Ltd / RTÉ
Category: Factual Series
Winner: RTÉ Investigates; Life & Death-Inside Ireland’s Covid Battle
Country: Ireland
Production Company / Broadcaster: RTÉ Investigations Unit / RTÉ ONE Television / RTÉ Player / RTÉ Online
Category: Single Documentary
Winner: The Funeral Director
Country: Ireland
Production Company / Broadcaster: GMarshTV Productions / RTÉ One
Category: Radio Station of the Year
Winner: RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Country: Ireland
Production Company / Broadcaster: RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta / RTÉ
RTÉ nominated for 34 IMRO Radio Awards
The IMRO Radio Awards are celebrating their 21st birthday this year, and RTÉ has garnered 34 nominations across RTÉ Radio 1, 2fm, lyric fm, Raidió na Gaeltachta and RTÉjr Radio.
703 entries were received in 2021, the largest number in over five years.
SPECIALIST MUSIC
– Simply Folk, RTÉ Radio 1
– The lyric Concert: Remembering John Lennon, RTÉ lyric fm
MUSIC SPECIAL
– Mise Freisin, RTÉ Radio 1
– RTÉ Choice Music Prize, RTÉ 2fm
– Sunday with Miriam: Christy Moore Special, RTÉ Radio 1
IRISH MUSIC PROGRAMME/INITIATIVE
– 2fm Rising, RTÉ 2fm
NEWS PROGRAMME
– Morning Ireland (Cyber Attack), RTÉ Radio 1
– News at One, RTÉ Radio 1
– This Week, RTÉ Radio 1
CURRENT AFFAIRS
– Drivetime, RTÉ Radio 1
SPORTS STORY
– Jack Charlton: Player, Manager, Grandad, RTÉ Radio 1
SPORTS PROGRAMME
– Joey Dunlop: King of the Road, RTÉ Radio 1
– Rachael’s Day, RTÉ Radio 1
DOCUMENTARY
– Documentary on One: A Very Irish Coup, RTÉ Radio 1
– Documentary on One: Grief of a Nation, RTÉ Radio 1
MUSIC/ARTS/CULTURE
– By the Lakes of Ponchartrain, RTÉ Radio 1
– The Music Biz, RTÉ 2fm
SHORT FEATURE
– Countrywide, Farm Diary, RTÉ Radio 1
MAGAZINE
– The Ray D’Arcy Show, RTÉ Radio 1
DRAMA
– Drama on One: Quicksand, RTÉ Radio 1
– The Emperor’s New Duds, RTÉjr Radio
SPECIALIST SPEECH
– Like Family, RTÉ Radio 1
– The Poetry Programme, RTÉ Radio 1
IRISH-LANGUAGE
– Barrscéalta, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
INTERACTIVE SPEECH
– Liveline, RTÉ Radio 1
COMMUNITY/SOCIAL ACTION
– Stand Up Awareness Week, RTÉ 2fm
PODCAST
– Ecolution
– Gunplot
SPORTS BROADCASTER
– Marie Crowe, RTÉ 2fm
SPEECH BROADCASTER
– Damien O’Reilly, RTÉ Radio 1
DJ OF THE YEAR
– Tracy Clifford, RTÉ 2fm
NEWS BROADCASTER
– Carole Coleman
– Justin McCarthy
NEWS REPORTER
– Brian O’Connell
– John Cooke
RADIO MOMENT OF THE YEAR
– Sarah McInerney, RTÉ Radio 1