Joe Duffy Pension
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fidelcastro
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We already are doing that. Its called the licence fee - excessive salaries to maintain "stars" who might find themselves on the BBC....chance would be a fine thing.Maybe we should consider starting a go fund me page for him
Gordon Gekko
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It’s crazy really; the exorbitant salaries paid by RTE are in response to a perceived threat from the private sector that is not there in reality.
Communicorp did take Pat Kenny but I doubt they’ve an appetite for anyone else at that level (and at €400k a year, he’s on less than Duffy, Tubridy, etc).
I have said for many years that RTE should be completely dismantled and rebuilt. It sits on some of the most valuable land in the State. That should be sold off for starters. Thereafter, RTE should do news and current affairs plus indigenous drama plus sport, nothing else.
Communicorp did take Pat Kenny but I doubt they’ve an appetite for anyone else at that level (and at €400k a year, he’s on less than Duffy, Tubridy, etc).
I have said for many years that RTE should be completely dismantled and rebuilt. It sits on some of the most valuable land in the State. That should be sold off for starters. Thereafter, RTE should do news and current affairs plus indigenous drama plus sport, nothing else.
I agree 100% Gordon.
Selling off RTE2 and 2FM should be the starting point, with staff cuts, payroll cuts and the relocation of RTE to one of the counties outside of Dublin, so the property at Donnybrook can be sold off, also on the initial list of actions.
As an aside, I've waited over 30 years to discuss breaking up a company and selling off some of its assets, with the great Gordon Gekko - delighted to now have that one off my bucket list
It's a long time since I read such begrudgery. (If I had written such stuff it would be deleted pretty fast). Joe Duffy is worth a fortune to RTE. He has a brilliant show, gives voice to many who need it and he stands up to big business and politicians. Carry on Joe!
Bottom Line:- You can turn off the radio; it's your choice, but mine is staying on to listen.
Bottom Line:- You can turn off the radio; it's your choice, but mine is staying on to listen.
DublinHead54
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RTE recently put some of its art collected over the years up for sale, it was described akin to old estates selling off valuables to keep the lights on as times have changed.
The CEO pointed to it not being a RTE isolated problem but that the entire media world is going through 'disruption' and also that the TV licence has been held flat. I thought it is a weak excuse to blame technology innovation. The writing will have been on the wall for many years, they were perhaps just blind to it.
I don't know what the best operating model is but given the public want to pay less tv licence and RTE want the public to pay more there is clearly trouble ahead.
The CEO pointed to it not being a RTE isolated problem but that the entire media world is going through 'disruption' and also that the TV licence has been held flat. I thought it is a weak excuse to blame technology innovation. The writing will have been on the wall for many years, they were perhaps just blind to it.
I don't know what the best operating model is but given the public want to pay less tv licence and RTE want the public to pay more there is clearly trouble ahead.
I haven't listened to him in years, to me he's the most boring sod imaginable.
It will end up like another Irish water debacle if they try to implement the broadcasting charge.
Baby boomer
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Sean Montcreiff is streets ahead of him on Newstalk at the same time. Really offbeat stuff and he has an amazing way to find the oddest radio gems. Almost like a Louis Theroux for the radio! I haven't listened to Joe for years. Joe used to have the odd good consumer feature and took some customer-unfriendly service providers to task. But it just descended into a whingefest.
With Sean O'Rourke gone now, I could see myself opting for Newstalk right throughout the day from 9:00am onwards. Tubridy and D'Arcy are just annoying light weights who think they're heavyweights. I never thought I'd see the day RTE Radio 1 could be so beaten up by the competition.
It's a pity because there's definitely a need and a place for quality public service broadcasting.
With Sean O'Rourke gone now, I could see myself opting for Newstalk right throughout the day from 9:00am onwards. Tubridy and D'Arcy are just annoying light weights who think they're heavyweights. I never thought I'd see the day RTE Radio 1 could be so beaten up by the competition.
It's a pity because there's definitely a need and a place for quality public service broadcasting.
However, even with the radio off you have to pay for the privilege...
fidelcastro
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I too love the radio shows. But Mr Duffy isn't the only person on the island good enough . He didn't invent talk radio, or even. start Liveline....that was wait for it....another precious star Marian.
Same for the Today with Pat Kenny. He left and his show became Today with Sean O Rourke. Last week was full of how excellent Sean was and to be fair is an excellent journalist who cut his teeth way back with the Press. No mention of poor old Pat.
No mention of Marian these days either. The shows goes on...
Please, we are a small country of 5million. Pay good wages, but let's not be greedy. The licence fee is a tax. There are plenty of young people able to do these jobs. Give someone else a chance
There's no body begrudging anybody.
Yours etc.
F.
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1. Nobody ever said that Joe Duffy isn't the only person on the island good enough. We know he didn't start Liveline. We can say the same for Pat Kenny, Sean O'Rourke etc. (No disagreement here)
2. The licence fee is a tax. (No disagreement here). Let's abolish this tax then. It wouldn't take much effort to have it abolished. Remember the Water Tax?
3. There's no body begrudging anybody. (Disagreement here). Yes there are. Read previous posts. I reckon we could rename the country Begrudgeland. How many of the begrudgers here even tried to complete media courses? Yet they begrudge those who have done so and have become successful. Joe Duffy and his staff are one of RTE's greatest assets. If you are in any doubt just listen to the Cork FM stations with the most useless broadcasters available to man.
Mind me asking if you think he is overpaid, based on the historic information about his remuneration available in the public domain, along with your knowledge of RTE's trading and financial situation?
For what its worth, I do.
I don't think that our state broadcaster should be paying anyone, including its CEO, a compensation package of over €200k pa. In fact, that €200k even looks generous to me, as I'm typing it.
I'm all for rewarding the better performers, and trying to incentive others, but there has to be a limit and not least, when your dealing with a state owned public service broadcaster, that loses money more times than not.
If we need to risk losing some of RTE's greatest talent as a result of cutting what we have been paying people, then so be it. There are others who can replace them and do a very good job, even if they don't quite replicate the performance of their predessors.
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1. If Joe Duffy is bringing in the revenue to RTE that is more than he is being paid or cost I have no problem with his huge wages.
2. If anybody thinks he/she can do a better job, then go to media school and gain experience through some broadcasting authority or newspaper.
3. The one thing that is coming through here is the objection to paying a television(radio) licence. I think this tax should cease immediately. Anyway it is becoming more costly and difficult to collect.
fidelcastro
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Indeed, but my point is made by your remark re 98FM RED FM et al. Aside from a certain individual of well known notoriety on Leeside, the shows are hosted by nobodies.
Yet 10s of Thousands of Cork city residents faithfully listen in week in week out. You don't need to pay exorbitantly for stars, there is plenty of up and coming journalists out there, very happy to accept modest terms and conditions on the off chance that some "talent" should leave.
Re Licence Fee , I am 100% for public broadcasting, and a need for a licence. In today's world, what you hear depends on who paid/owns the station. Too much crap misinformation out there. He who pays the piper calls the tune.
F.
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fidelcastro
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I totally disagree. Without a good public media broadcaster, who will ask the hard questions to keep the elite in check be they public or private companies, individuals or organisations.
Expect Denis O Brien?.
For clues, look west at the disaster which can happen when you have no licence fee!
The fact the Live line slot is just after the 1oclock news, is profitable isn't surprising. move him to 3am. Let's see the numbers then.
Lastly if you pay huge wages for particular hosts of prime time listeners, don't be surprised when your station cuts back on quality and requires bailing out with more money.
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No. 3 - Agreed
No. 2 - I think there's the additional challenge of the RTE equivalent to the old boys network, that needs to be addressed
No. 1 - I understand your thinking, but I think there's more to consider than just the question of whether he brings in more than he takes out.
- Lots of people across other sectors generate big revenues for their employers, but aren't getting paid the same sort of money.
- What changes, when the revenue he supposedly generates (all by himself?) falls by 10%-30% etc?
- We don't actually see sufficient financial information to really assess whether Joe (and all other higher earners at RTE) are really net contributors within RTE, and being asked to take RTE's word for it is a Big Ask, given they've a conflict of interest.
It's also difficult to ascertain what kind of revenue Joe, or any of the other big earners in RTE, are really generating. RTE might make some general statement, when pressed, but it's typically no more than that and truthfully, I don't have full confidence in RTE, given they make be selective in the criteria used to assess the situation and not take a true financial approach, and also, they've a conflict of interest.
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I agree but I think RTE does a very bad job of this. They are part of the State establishment, part of the Public Sector consensus which runs the country. In that they are as bad, in their own way, as media outlets owned by foreign based billionaires. That said I am all for State funded media but should it so much part of the State?
Is this intended as a joke? Whenever RTE Investigates uncovered hospital consultants not working their HSE contracted hours, one doing an average of 13/39 hours a week, there was a predicable slew of calls to Liveline the next day by some of the most vulnerable members of society who were waiting for various quality of life impeding procedures from these hospital consultants who were effectively stealing money from the state and discommoding the public in the process.
How did JD respond? Decidedly muted, most out of character compared to when there are calls about other con artists overcharging for cleaning gutters, carrying out roof repairs et al referring to them as "gurriers" or whatever other hackneyed terms.
1. It's not intended as a joke.
2. Hospital Consultants. Who would take them on? Hospital Consultants are at the receiving end of much litigation. When the shoe is on the other foot the Consultants don't fire blanks, they shoot for high compensation against any allegations.
3. Joe as best he can is nearly always on the side of those who cannot stand up for themselves.
4. In terms of Dancing With the Stars, Joe Duffy is Box-Office!