This is Ireland 2026 and substantial numbers of the viewing public are no longer paying the licence fee to RTE. Forget the PAC performances by Kevin Bakhurst, the Director General last week, he hardly won back one single viewer. Nothing he said changes RTE’s appeal with their TV and Radio channels losing viewers. He must realise that the funding of €725 million in these three years cannot happen again. And if top admin in RTE does not prevent overspend, they must take responsibility for that. Where are the exciting new presenters and contractors? Joe Duffy and Clare Byrne and now Aine Lawlor are gone and RTE is all the poorer! Viewers are now spoilt for choice across many platforms - on their phones, tablets and laptops. Watching shows on the telly seems to have gone out the window. But why the rush to get sets that can fill the biggest room in the house, just to watch England’s amazing run in the World Cup?
