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RTÉ News
08-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Committee hears concerns over outsourcing content at RTÉ
Offering existing RTÉ programmes "out to tender" to outside production companies "does not enhance the cultural life of this nation", a Dáil committee has heard. Co-chair of the RTÉ Trade Union Group Trevor Keegan was among representatives from trade unions at the broadcaster, including the National Union of Journalists, SIPTU, Connect and Unite, who appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Communication and Media. The committee is scrutinising the Revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill. The potential impact on RTÉ staff from a provision in the bill, which would require the broadcaster to spend a quarter of its annual public funding on programming commissioned from the independent sector, was a central theme in the discussions. Mr Keegan said that while many independent production companies make "great television and radio", apart from a small number of larger firms, the content is generally provided by workers on "short-term contracts with fragile protections". He added that "this is not conducive to long-term careers in TV and radio production". Mr Keegan described moving programmes such as 'The Late Late Show' and 'Fair City' to the independent sector as RTÉ "exploiting" the requirement of the act for increased production spend to "pursue its goal to dismantle and privatise" whole sections of RTÉ. He said that while there are "many laudable elements" of proposed amendments to the bill, they should not "come at the cost of breaking up the national broadcaster". Adrian Kane from SIPTU said that increased funding should support new content and employment and "not a reallocation of work already being undertaken by RTÉ workers". Mr Kane and President of Equity, the live performance and theatre trade union, Gerry O'Brien raised concerns over "buy-out contracts " by RTÉ and TG4. Secretary of the RTÉ TUG Sorcha Vaughan said that the 25% requirement is already "being quoted as a reason that things are being moved out of RTÉ". Ms Vaughan added that staff were "blue in the face" asking for consultation with management. She said that "we had this issue with religious programming" in relation to the recent announcement by RTÉ that it was sending elements of religious programming outside to a commissioning process within the independent sector. Ms Vaughan also said that her members had "had it again" with the current affairs programme Upfront with Katie Hannon when it was recently confirmed that the show was not returning in the autumn schedule. Mr Keegan told the committee that programme teams were told "late in the day" about the situation. He described as "horrific" the morale in RTÉ and Ms Vaughan said it was "awful". The Unite union also raised concerns about the provision and said that it is "often the case" that smaller independent companies will offer "short-term contracts, precarious employment arrangements, lower pay and often misclassify workers as self-employed". Seamus Dooley from the NUJ asked the committee to consider "what happens" when a public service programme which is outsourced "ceases to make enough money with the shareholder?". Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne said that concerning issues of workers being "misclassified" as self-employed that it was RTÉ rather than independent producers who were "guilty of that". He stated that public service broadcasting is not "just" going to be provided by RTÉ, and that it can be provided by TG4, and Virgin Media and "an increasingly diverse media landscape". He added it is critical to ensure that "Irish stories get told". Mr Byrne said that that can be done "very professionally by RTÉ" but not "exclusively" by RTÉ and he stated his view that he was a "little concerned" about "dismissing and challenging" what goes on in the independent sector.
Irish Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Philip Boucher-Hayes shuts down RTE Liveline rumours with cheeky swipe
TV host Philip Boucher-Hayes has clarified to listeners that he is not the new host of Liveline. Boucher-Hayes has been hosting the RTE Radio 1 show since Joe Duffy retired on June 27. He is only stepping in as host for two weeks before RTE selects another presenter to fill the show over the summer radio schedule. However, the host told listeners at the start of Liveline on Monday that he had eight different people over the weekend congratulating him on becoming the new host of the iconic phone-in show. But he clarified: 'For the avoidance of further confusion, let us just set it out once again, RTE has not made a decision on this. There are five wannabes. In fact, there's probably a hell of a lot more than five wannabes, but there are five wannabes, yours truly, included being put through their paces on air before RTE makes a decision. 'After that, we will move to the swimwear and ball gown elements of the competition. I think I've got that section nailed down. I want to though, because in the final round is the Hunger Games, they will be placing a big cache of non-lethal weapons under the RTE mast and letting us all race to them, grab your preferred weapon and have at it. 'And everybody is hoping, by that stage of the competition that Sarah McInerney has been taken out because she is very handy with the numb chucks, but the news is no decision made. Well, maybe they have made a decision after my first week in the chair. But let's leave that aside there is officially no decision made, so on with the show.' Mr Duffy retired in star-studded fashion after 27 years at the helm of Liveline on June 27. Joe kept his final sign-off from Liveline on Friday short and sweet, and even revived his iconic pandemic sign-off 'wash your hands'. He told listeners: "That's all from me on Liveline. Goodbye from Studio 1, and remember, 51551. Wash your hands. Love you all. It's been a privilege. It's been a privilege." Speculation remains rife over who will be the new host of Liveline, but it looks like radio fans will have to wait until the autumn for an official announcement. Rumours swirled that Katie Hannon will be taking over from Joe following the news that her current affairs TV series, Upfront with Katie Hannon, has been axed after three seasons and won't be back on air in September.
Irish Examiner
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
RTÉ cancels 'Upfront with Katie Hannon' after three seasons on-air
RTÉ has confirmed that Katie Hannon's flagship current affairs show has ended and will not be returning to TV screens this year. In a statement on Tuesday, the broadcaster said Upfront with Katie Hannon "will not be returning in September following three seasons on-air". It said the decision to axe the show was made "due to the prioritising of people and financial resources, as the organisation incurs significant change and becomes smaller". "RTÉ's new strategic priorities highlight the need to serve audiences beyond traditional linear TV schedules and meet the needs of younger, underserved and underrepresented audiences," the statement read. The broadcaster said Ms Hannon will continue as one of the anchors of the Behind the Story podcast, and will present a new TV series in the lead-up to the presidential election in October. Ms Hannon said: "It was a privilege to work with our small team of talented and hardworking colleagues led by our editor Janet Traynor. "I also want to thank all of those who came into our studio and trusted us with their stories and contributed to the national conversation on the issues that matter to all of us. "I'm disappointed that we won't be able to keep that conversation going." The decision to axe the show comes as Ms Hannon's name has been linked to the soon-to-be-vacant Liveline presenter's chair. Joe Duffy is set to step down from the show on Friday after more than 37 years in the hot seat. Ms Hannon is one of those who have been rumoured to replace him.
The Irish Sun
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Major TV shakeup as RTE axes prime time show following 3 seasons on air as presenter issues ‘disappointed' statement'
RTE has confirmed that it has axed one of it's top prime time TV shows. Upfront with Katie Hannon, which airs on Monday night, will not be returning in September following three seasons on air. 1 Upfront with Katie Hannon will end after three seasons Credit: Reuters The series, hosted by Katie Hannon, was first launched on RTE One in January 2023. The audience-centred weekly live current affairs show featured a panel of four guests and of up to 40 spectator contributors. In a statement, Katie Hannon said: "I'm very proud of what we achieved on Upfront. We managed to buck the international trend and actually grew our audience on linear television and our digital footprint. "It was a privilege to work with our small team of talented and hardworking colleagues led by our editor Janet Traynor. I also want to thank all of those who came into our studio and trusted us with their stories and contributed to the national conversation on the issues that matter to all of us. read more on rte "I'm disappointed that we won't be able to keep that conversation going."
RTÉ News
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
RTÉ's Upfront with Katie Hannon to end after three seasons
RTÉ has confirmed its Monday night television series Upfront with Katie Hannon has ended and will not be returning in September following three seasons on air. Presented by Katie Hannon, the audience-centred weekly live current affairs show was first launched on RTÉ One television in January 2023 and featured a weekly panel of four guests and an audience of up to 40 contributors. In a statement, Katie Hannon said: "I'm very proud of what we achieved on Upfront. We managed to buck the international trend and actually grew our audience on linear television and our digital footprint. "It was a privilege to work with our small team of talented and hardworking colleagues led by our editor Janet Traynor. I also want to thank all of those who came into our studio and trusted us with their stories and contributed to the national conversation on the issues that matter to all of us. "I'm disappointed that we won't be able to keep that conversation going." Ms Hannon will continue as one of the key anchors of RTÉ's Behind the Story podcast, which drops three times a week and which is planned to launch daily later this year. She will also present a new television series in the lead up to the presidential election in October. Other employees from the show will continue working with RTÉ News & Current Affairs. In a statement, RTÉ said that new strategic priorities highlight the need to "serve audiences beyond traditional linear TV schedules and meet the needs of younger, underserved and underrepresented audiences". The broadcaster added that that the decision to wrap production has been made "due to the prioritising of people and financial resources", as the organisation incurs significant change and becomes smaller. In its most recent series, which aired from 24 September to 25 May, Upfront with Katie Hannon was watched by an average of 198,000 viewers, a 25.8% audience share, up from an average of 168,000 and 23.7% in series two. Similarly, the series grew on the RTÉ Player, attracting 269,000 streams in series three, from 209,000 in series two.
