Radio Telefís Éireann

Radio Telefís ÉireannLiteral translation: "Radio [and] Television of Ireland" (RTÉ; IPA: , ) is the Public Service Broadcaster of the Republic of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961.

RTÉ is a statutory body run by an authority appointed by the Government. General management of the organisation is in the hands of the Executive Board headed by the Director-General.

Principal stations

Radio

* RTÉ Radio 1 (music and speech based broadcasting)
* RTÉ 2fm (formerly Radio 2, the RTÉ rock and pop music station)
* RTÉ Lyric FM (classical music plus jazz, world music and arts)
* RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta (the Irish language station targeted at the gaeltacht, the Irish language-speaking community of Ireland)

The first voice broadcast of 2RN, the original radio callsign for Radio 1, took place on November 14, 1925 when Seamus Clandillon, the 2RN station director said, 'Seo Raidió 2RN, Baile Átha Cliath ag tástáil', Irish for 'This is Radio 2RN, Dublin testing'. Regular Irish radio-broadcasting began on January 1, 1926. Unfortunately, most Irish people could not receive 2RN's signal. When faced with numerous complaints from Cork, regarding the writers' inability to tune to the signal, Clandillon remarked in The Irish Radio Review, a magazine dedicated to the service, that they did not know how to operate their sets. 6CK was established in Cork in 1927; however 6CK, was mostly a relay of 2RN.

A high power station was established in Athlone, in 1932, to co-incide with the staging of the Eucharistic Congress. 2RN, 6CK and Athlone became known as "Radio Athlone" or, in Irish, "Raidio Áth Luain". Radio Athlone became known as "Radio Éireann" in 1938.

Radio Éireann tried to satisfy all tastes on a single channel. However, this resulted in a rather conservative programming policy. It was barely tolerated by most Irish listeners, and usually trounced on the east coast and the Northern Ireland border by the BBC and Radio Luxembourg. This did not really change until Radio Éireann became free of direct government control in the 1960s.

Now, RTÉ has a nation-wide communications network with an increasing emphasis on regional news-gathering and input. Broadcasting on Radio 1 provides comprehensive coverage of news, current affairs, music, drama and variety features, agriculture, education, religion and sport, mostly in English but also some Irish. RTÉ 2fm is a popular music and chat channel which commenced broadcasting as RTÉ Radio 2 on May 31 1979, Brendan Balfe being the first voice to be heard on the station at midday, when he introduced the first presenter, Larry Gogan. RTÉ Lyric FM serves the interests of classical music and the arts, coming on air in May 1999, and replacing FM3 Classical Music, which had catered for the same target audience and time-shared with RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, an exclusively Irish language service, first began broadcasting on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972. Formerly RTÉ operated RTÉ Radio Cork (previously Cork 89FM), a local radio service in Cork, but this closed down in the early 2000s.

A slightly adapted version of Radio 1 is broadcast as RTÉ Europe on longwave, Sky Digital and Hotbird; the main difference between this and the main FM feed is the inclusion of several programmes taken from RTÉ Radio na Gaeltachta.

DAB test broadcasts of RTÉ's four stations began on January 1, 2006, along the east coast of Ireland, also carrying the private Today FM and World Radio Network English for Europe, to which RTÉ is a contributing broadcaster.

Television

* RTÉ One (launched in 1961 as Telefís Éireann, or simply RTÉ when there was just one station)
* RTÉ Two (known from 1988 to 2004 as Network 2)
* TG4 (formerly called 'Teilifís na Gaeilge', or "Irish language Television". TG4 is operated separately from the rest of RTÉ, and its management reports directly to the Director General, rather than as part of RTÉ Television.)

While Ireland had been one of the first countries in Europe to go into radio, it was a relative latecomer to television. The state operated on a shoestring budget for much of the time after its formation in 1921, and the Department of Finance would not approve of anything it deemed to be a 'luxury' that the people could do without; television fell into this category, though this did not mean that television was completely absent, south of Ulster. When the BBC activated its Divis transmitter in July 1955, it was strong enough to be seen in much of Ireland, roughly north of a line from Sligo, running down to Wicklow. Ulster Television, the Northern Ireland contractor for ITV, followed in 1959; however, the picture quality was considerably lower for viewers in the Republic, than it was for those in Northern Ireland.

In the late 1950s, a Television Committee was formed; their goal was to set up an Irish television service with as little financial commitment from Dublin as possible. It initially recommended setting up a service along the lines of ITV, plus five mountain tops as transmission sites, which were also equipped for FM radio transmission. However, since Eamon de Valera was somewhat wary of television, nothing more of consequence was done until Sean Lemass succeeded him as Taoiseach in 1959. A year later, Radio Éireann was converted from an arm of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs into a semi-state body and given responsibility for television. Eamonn Andrews was appointed as the new chairman.

Telefís Éireann began broadcasting at 7:00pm on New Year's Eve, 1961. (It was originally supposed to go on the air on Christmas of that year, but Andrews gave the 'Radio Éireann' staff time off for Christmas.) The opening address by President de Valera described the benefits and disadvantages of the new medium; he went on to say that 'Like atomic energy, it can be used for incalculable good, but it can also do irreparable harm.' There were other messages from Cardinal d'Alton and Lemass; following this, a live concert was broadcast from the Gresham Hotel in Dublin. The show, which was a countdown to the New Year, was hosted by Andrews, with appearances by Patrick O'Hagan, the Artane Boys' Band and Micheál �" Hehir.

Television opened up a completely new world to the Irish people. Topics which were hitherto not discussed in Ireland, such as abortion, contraception and various other controversial topics, were now being openly discussed in television studios; The Late Late Show, which began in July 1962 and is still running as of 2006, and its original host, Gay Byrne, pioneered many of these discussions, and has been credited with being a major influence in the changing social structure of Ireland.

RTÉ were the first broadcaster to have public System I 625-line transmissions in 1962, two years before the launch of BBC Two in that format. The broadcaster made its first official colour transmissions in 1969 - although a mistake in standards conversion may have transmitted the 1968 Wimbledon Men's Finals in colour.Boards.ie: RTÉ Colour Tests The first programme made in colour by RTÉ was the documentary special "John Hume's Derry", under the 7 Days banner. The next phase was outside-broadcasts in colour, and the first was the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest, the first of many such productions by RTÉ. All of RTÉ's studios at Montrose, Nutley Lane, Donnybrook, were equipped for colour broadcasts by 1976.

In 1977, a new Fianna Fáil government came to power, and as one of its many promises, the government quickly authorised a second channel to be run by RTÉ. RTÉ 2's remit was to provide alternative television. As a consequence, the original RTÉ 2 schedule had many live relays of British programmes; however, there was also some original RTÉ 2 programming. The new television channel went on the air on November 2, 1978, and the opening night featured a gala variety show from the Cork Opera House.

In 1987, RTÉ 2 was renamed Network 2, with the revamp intended to revive flagging viewership ratings, with many preferring to watch BBC Northern Ireland or UTV, both accessible within the Republic. All sports coverage was transferred to the newly renamed channel, along with all children's programmes. The few Irish-language programmes provided by RTÉ were now broadcast on Network 2, although RTÉ One now also broadcasts Irish-language programmes.

Although Irish language programmes, such as news bulletins (Nuacht) and the long-running documentary series Léargas ('insight'), have been an integral part of the schedule, a new Irish-language TV service, Teilifís na Gaeilge (now TG4), began broadcasting in 1996.

RTÉ developed its only major studio complex outside Dublin in Cork. RTÉ Cork, opened in 1995 and became a huge success. It also became a large contributor to network output on both Radio One and RTÉ One.

Presently, both RTÉ One and RTÉ Two provide round-the-clock broadcasts seven days a week, providing comprehensive coverage of news, current affairs, sport, music, drama and entertainment. Most of the broadcasts are in English, including programming imported from the UK, U.S., Australia and New Zealand.

RTÉ One, RTÉ Two and TG4 are also available in Northern Ireland via terrestrial overspill or on cable (coverage and inclusion on cable systems varies). The channels are also available via satellite on Sky Digital, although these are encrypted and anyone wishing to view the channels needs to obtain a Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland subscription (they are part of the Variety Mix under the new pricing system, or the Family Pack in the pre-2005 system). In addition, some programmes are blocked to NI viewers due to rights issues which conflict with the UK.

RTÉ's TV channels are not available to Sky subscribers in Great Britain, although between 1997 and 2002, Tara Television carried a mix of RTÉ One and Two programmes before disputes with RTÉ over payment led to its closure.RTÉ News: Tara Television wound up in High Court 19 March 2002 RTÉ claim that owing to rights issues, it would be difficult and costly for RTÉ to broadcast its channels in the whole of the UK, but at the same time it continues to express an interest in providing a similar channel to Tara. The Irish government have stated that they are interested in the concept of an Irish TV channel to be made available outside Ireland, however nothing appears to have been done about this.

In the meantime, a thriving grey market in Irish-registered Sky Digital receivers means that despite the inertia from both RTÉ and the Irish government, Irish people in Britain and much of Europe are able to watch RTÉ and the other Irish channels, provided they import an Irish-registered Sky Digital box.

From the outset, RTÉ had faced competition from British TV channels such as those of the BBC and UTV, broadcasting from Northern Ireland, whose signals spilt over into the Republic. RTÉ's approach was pragmatic, as it introduced cable television in the 1970s, initially known as RTÉ Relays, and subsequently as Cablelink, although it later sold its stake in the company, which is now known as . In the 1990s, more competition came from satellite television, especially from Sky based in the UK. British terrestrial TV channels are now commonly available throughout the Republic, but the number of channels received varies depending on the region.

RTÉ carried the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games opening and closing ceremonies live for the first time in the history of the games, together with extensive radio and television coverage of the events.

RTÉ introduced digital on-screen graphics for both RTÉ One and RTÉ Two in 2004.

RTÉ One and RTÉ Two began broadcasting some programmes in widescreen on digital platforms in March 2005. This was followed by a complete switchover to widescreen output in May 2005.

RTÉ television genres

Since 2003, RTÉ has branded its television programmes under a number of different genres. Each genre operates broadly under a Commissioning Editor, except for RTÉ News and Current Affairs which are separately structured and controlled.
* RTÉ Arts producing documentaries on such Irish arts figures as Seán O'Casey, John McGahern, Patrick Kavanagh, Eileen Gray, Spike Milligan and Rory Gallagher, and a weekly magazine show, The View, presented by John Kelly.
* RTÉ Diversity producing religious, disability, Irish language and minority programming.
* RTÉ Drama the flagship of which is the soap opera Fair City.
* RTÉ Education producing programming aimed at students and adults, including Read Write Now, an adult literacy aid.
* RTÉ Entertainment producing chatshows such asThe Late Late Show and Tubridy Tonight, and gameshows You're A Star and Winning Streak.
* RTÉ Factual producing documentaries Legal Eagles looking at the Law Library, Maybe Baby, which follows couples as they try to conceive through IVF and Desperately Seeking Surgery about cosmetic surgery.
* RTÉ History producing documentaries on Eamon de Valera and the Irish Press, Lord Haw-Haw, Kevin O'Higgins, Women of the Goldrush and Secret Sights; and The Colony, a reality show where an Irish family will live as early 19th century colonists in New South Wales.
* RTÉ Music all types of music, including Classical, traditional Irish and pop/rock.
* RTÉ News & Current Affairs see RTÉ News.
* RTÉ Sport covering the Irish sport and such foreign events as the FA Premier League and Six Nations Rugby. George Hamilton is the station's main sports commentator.
* RTÉ Young Peoples Programmes mainly on RTÉ Two, including The Den.

Other activities

RTÉ Publishing has four main constituent parts: Print Publishing, E-Publishing (both internet & teletext), Commercial Telecoms & Digital Consumer Technology Incubation. The division publishes the RTÉ Guide and sells DVDs and VHS videos of RTÉ Television programmes, and audio tapes and compact discs of RTÉ radio programmes.It operates all of RTÉ's many websites - branded as rte.ie,and providing online news, sport, and entertainment services. Live streams of all of RTÉ's national radio networks are available online. In addition RTÉ Publishing operates a teletext service on both RTÉ One and RTÉ Two, called RTÉ Aertel, which has news, sport, and programme support information. Its commercial telecoms business provides both SMS and IVR telecoms services to all of RTÉ's broadcast services and channels.

RTÉ Performing Groups supports two full-time orchestras - the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra - as well as the RTÉ Vanbergh String Quartet, RTÉ Philharmonic Choir, and RTÉ Cór na n�"g. These groups perform regularly in the National Concert Hall and The Helix in Dublin. RTÉ Music's slogan is RTÉ - Supporting the Arts.

RTÉ Network Limited (branded as RTÉNL) is operated through a wholly owned subsidiary company, RTÉ Network Transmission Limited, and provides transmission services for all of RTÉ's own channels and also for competing stations such as TV3 Ireland and Today FM.

List of other activities

* News
** RTÉ News and Current Affairs
* Library
** Libraries and Archives
** Publishing
** RTÉ Guide
* ePublishing
** RTÉ.ie
** RTÉ Aertel
** RTÉ Shop
** Performing Groups
** RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
** RTÉ Concert Orchestra
** RTÉ Philharmonic Choir
** RTÉ Cór na n�"g
** RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet

Organisation

RTÉ operates as a statutory corporation. Its board is known as the RTÉ Authority. The members of the RTÉ Authority are appointed by the Cabinet upon the recommendation of the Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources. The RTÉ Authority is both the legal owner of RTÉ (in law, it is RTÉ) and is also its regulator.

The RTÉ organisation is divided into six integrated business divisions (termed "IBDs" within RTÉ): RTÉ Television, RTÉ Radio, RTÉ News, RTÉ Network, RTÉ Publishing & RTÉ Performing Groups) together with Central Shared Services (People Payments, Procurement, Treasury, IT Infrastructure, Audience Research, FOI, and Property & Site Facilities) and a Group HQ. The RTÉ Irish language channel, TG4, is operated as a subsidiary of RTÉ (Serbhisí Telefís na Gaelige Teoranta) prior to its intended ultimate separation from RTÉ.

The RTÉ Authority appoints the Director General of RTÉ who in effect fulfils the dual role of Chief Executive and of Editor in Chief. The Director-General heads the Executive Board of RTÉ, which comprises the companies top management and includes the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Communications and the Managing Directors of the Television, Radio, and News divisions.

RTÉ receives income from two main sources:
* The television licence fee. Within the State, it is necessary to pay a fee of €155 per annum in order to legally possess any piece of equipment capable of receiving television signals (not necessarily those of RTÉ). This money is collected by An Post on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Marine, and Natural Resources. The licence fee will be raised by €3 to €158 from October 2006. The state pays for "TV Licence Inspectors" who have the power to obtain and execute search warrants of private houses. Failure to possess a valid television licence can result in a fine and a criminal record.
* Commercial Revenue including the sale of advertising and sponsorship. There are quotas in place to limit the amount of revenue RTÉ may procure through advertising, in view of the corporation's licence fee income.

These two sources are approximately split in a 50:50 ratio. The licence fee does not fund RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ Aertel, RTÉ Guide or the website rte.ie.

History

(This section deals with the history of RTÉ as an organisation. For details on this history of the various services see the separate articles on these services. For history on the broadcasting service prior to 1960, see Minister for Posts and Telegraphs and RTÉ Radio 1).

Establishment

Broadcasting in Ireland began in 1926 with 2RN in Dublin. From that date until June 1960 the broadcasting service (2RN, later Radio Éireann) operated as a section of the Department of Posts and Telgraphs, and those working for the service were directly employed by the Irish Government and regarded as civil servants.

In 1960, RTÉ was established (as Radio Éireann) under the Broadcasting Authority Act 1960, the principal legislation under which it operates. The existing Radio Éireann service was transferred to the new authority, which was also to make provision for the new television service (Télifis Éireann) which opened on 31st December 1961, from the Kippure transmitter site near Dublin. Eamonn Andrews was the first Chairman of Radio Éireann, the first director general was Edward Roth. The name of the authority was changed to Radio Telefis Éireann under the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act 1966, and both the radio and television services became known as RTÉ in that year.

Northern Ireland

Under Section 31 of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960 the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs of the day could direct RTÉ "not to broadcast any matter, or any matter of any particular class". In 1971, the first such directive was issued by Gerry Collins, directing RTÉ not to broadcast "any matter that could be calculated to promote the aims or activities of any organisation which engages in, promotes, encourages or advocates the attaining of any particular objectives by violent means". Following this, Collins dismissed the entire RTÉ Authority over an interview with an (unidentified on-air) source which had been the coeval chief of staff of the Provisional IRA.

In 1977, Conor Cruise O'Brien, the then Minister, issued a new directive in the form of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960 (Section 31) Order, 1977. RTÉ was now explicitly banned from broadcasting statements by spokespersons of Sinn Féin, the Provisional IRA, or any other terrorist organisation banned in Northern Ireland by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. These directives were generally reissued on an annual basis until the final one of 1993.Irish Statute Book: Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960 (Section 31) Order, 1993

Future of RTÉ

In 2004, RTÉ and the Minister for Communications, Marine, and Natural Resources agreed that in future, RTÉ would operate under a Public Service Broadcasting Charter. It is intended that future legislation will abolish the current RTÉ legal structure and change the station into a company incorporated under the Companies' Acts, and separate its regulatory role. Legislation on this matter is still to be published.

On 29 June 2005 the Minister for Communications, Marine, and Natural Resources, appointed the members of a new RTÉ Authority, replacing the previous one appointed in June 2000. Fintan Drury, chairman of Platinum sports management, and also chairman of Paddy Power plc, was appointed chairman of RTÉ. The other members of the Authority are Maria Killian, Patricia King, Ian Malcolm, Patrick Marron, Una Ní Chonaire, Emer Finnan, Stephen O'Byrnes and Joe O'Brien. The new Authority will hold office for not more than three years.

On 11 January 2006, Fintan Drury resigned as chairman of RTÉ, citing a potential conflict of interest in his role as an advisor to the organisers of the Ryder Cup golf tournament and as chairman of a broadcaster involved in a row over broadcasting rights. This occurred after government proposals to add the tournament to the list of sports events which must be broadcast on free-to-air terrestrial television, to which British Sky Broadcasting, the rights holders, are objecting.

On 22 February 2006, Mary Finan was appointed Chairperson of the RTÉ Authority.

See also

*List of programmes broadcast by RTÉ

Footnotes

External links

*RTÉ website
*The Irish TV history site
*The TV Room - national anthem closedown - used in 1980s/1990s (RealMedia 3.9MB video file).