RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann (pronounced [ˈɾˠadʲiːoː ˈtʲɛlʲəfʲiːʃ ˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ] ⓘ; Irish for 'Radio [and] Television of Ireland';[2] RTÉ) is an Irish public service broadcaster. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926,[3] while regular television broadcasts began on 31 December 1961,[4] making it one of the oldest continuously operating public service broadcasters in the world. It is headquartered in Donnybrook in Dublin, with offices across different parts of Ireland.
This article is about the Irish public service broadcaster. For other uses, see RTE (disambiguation).Formerly
Radio Éireann (1960–1966)
Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ) (1966–2009)
RTÉ (2009–present)
1 January 1926 (as 2RN)
1 June 1960 (as Radio Éireann Authority)
RTÉ Campus,
Worldwide
- Kevin Bakhurst
(Director General) - Siún Ní Raghallaigh
(Chair of Board)
Television and radio, publishing and e-publishing, commercial telecoms, orchestras and performing arts, and related.
€331 million (2020)
1,879 (as of 2020)
- RTÉ Television
- RTÉ Radio
- RTÉ News and Current Affairs
- RTÉ Performing Groups
- RTÉ Digital
- Corporate HQ
- Central Shared Services
RTÉ is a statutory body, overseen by a board appointed by the Government of Ireland, with general management in the hands of a committee of senior managers, currently a Temporary Interim Leadership Team, headed by the Director General. RTÉ is regulated by Coimisiún na Meán. RTÉ is financed by the television licence fee and through advertising, with some of its services funded solely by advertising, while others are funded solely by the licence fee.
Radio Éireann, RTÉ's predecessor and at the time a section of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, was one of 23 founding organisations of the European Broadcasting Union in 1950. RTÉ also publishes weekly listings and lifestyle magazine, the RTÉ Guide.
Moral controversies[edit]
The Late Late Show has been involved in a number of controversies since first being broadcast on TV in July 1962, particularly during Gay Byrne's tenure, with the "Bishop and the Nightie Affair" in 1966 and a 1985 interview with a pair of lesbian former nuns which led to protesters picketing the studio with hymns and rosary beads after a High Court case during which there were calls for the chat show to be outlawed over fears it would "greatly undermine Christian moral values" and "the respect of the general public for nuns".[124] Notorious incidents during Pat Kenny's tenure included a satanic dance troupe performance and the tearing up of two tickets for The Late Late Toy Show live on air.[125]
The first sex scandal on Irish TV surrounded a sketch-drawing advert for Bri-Nylon underwear, involving a "lewd and lascivious" cartoon of Antony and Cleopatra.[124]
Wesley Burroughs received a dressing down from RTÉ authorities after it became apparent actress Biddy White Lennon, who portrayed the character Maggie Riordan, was becoming increasingly more pregnant looking every week on The Riordans, an RTÉ soap opera he wrote for. Maggie Riordan was an unmarried woman. Burroughs was forced to consult medical texts to provide Maggie with an alternative illness.[124]
The TV drama series The Spike, broadcast on RTÉ in 1978, was involved in a sex scandal.[124]
In 1986, Mandy Smith was to be interviewed on TV's Saturday Live until RTÉ decided she should be downgraded to being a mere member of the audience. She was axed entirely when her manager disagreed, with RTÉ saying she was "not important enough" and that she might "give a bad example to young teenage girls". The story appeared in the international media.[124]
In 2017, RTÉ sports producer Kieran Creaven was convicted on multiple counts of child sexual abuse in the UK. He had worked with RTÉ since 2002.[126]