RTÉ in Crisis

Ian Guider: Scrap the licence fee – direct taxpayer funding is the answer to RTÉ’s woes

An annual pool of €250 million direct from the exchequer to fund output from any outlet would ensure a quality public service media ecosystem

Kevin Bakhurst: the RTÉ director-general elaborated in the Business Post last week on the tough choices he would need to make in cutting back at the station. Picture: Fergal Phillips

The publication of the latest Grant Thornton forensic accountant’s report into the understating of Ryan Tubridy’s salary has overshadowed the far more alarming problem of the rapidly deteriorating finances of RTÉ.

Since the last week of June when the scandal first broke, there has been a steady stream of refuseniks who have used this as an opportunity not to pay their television licence fee. The running total is coming up close to €5 million in ...