Irish public broadcaster RTÉ has postponed the planned launch of its international station for the Irish community in Britain, citing straitened financial circumstances, reports The Times. It says the national broadcaster wrote to Eamon Ryan, the Communications Minister, last month claiming that it would be “unwise” for it to continue with the plan.
John Nolan, chairman of the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society in Britain, said he was “shocked” by the move. “This is really disheartening, especially for the older generation,” he said. “The government has bragged about providing this service and it is long overdue, so there should be no excuses.”
Under the 2007 Broadcasting Act, the RTE Authority is required to set up a channel for “Irish communities outside the island of Ireland”, but there was no time limit imposed. RTÉ said it intended to honour the commitment in the legislation and hoped to launch the station by the end of 2009. Its initial plan was to have the channel on air by the end of this year.
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on Nov 2nd, 2008 at 19:15
shameful.
What should now be done, take the rights problematic programmes off RTE One and place them on RTE TWO and take the RTE Two shows without rights issues and put them on RTE One. This was the intent of RTE Two when it was established. Then remove the Sky encryption from RTE One and RTE One (International) *is on the air* in the astra footprint. allowing anyone who wants to (cable/DTT) to relay the service FOC/FTA like RTE does with its radio signals.
Its now time the Sky grip on Irish TV was forcefully removed.
on Nov 3rd, 2008 at 07:51
If RTE International took off on satellite across Europe,
(a)I would use the paneuropean footprint of Eurobird1 free-to-air unencrypted as part the Sky Digital/Freesat EPG\’s(and make it available across the whole of Europe and beyond using Eutelsat Hotbird 9 with it\’s MASSIVE coverage of Europe/the Middle East and into the Arab Gulf states),
(b)I would stipulate RTE grown shows archive and current from RTE1 and RTE2 would have to be shown and NOT bought in ones avoiding the rights issues,
(c)and I would mix this with regular news bulletins/weather and information of interest for Irish expats in the UK and Europe and beyond.
PERFECT!!!
on Nov 3rd, 2008 at 18:58
Thats the best decision RTE have ever made as every time I come back to Ireland in the last 50 years all I ever hear on RTE radio is pure talking s**** every day. Little wonder that people are tuning in to stations that propell the irish music and way of life and not talking **** all day. Stay where you are we dont want talking all day.
Still there is always the On and Off button. Thank God
on Nov 4th, 2008 at 09:07
All radio stations have presenters talking rubbish all day. Even Radio 3 and 4.
If you don’t like it, then don’t listen.