MONDAY FEBRUARY 11 2008 dio o imp FM c ge in north …tuning the radio. “RTE has responsibilities,...
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14 MONDAY FEBRUARY 11 2008 NEWS FEATURE RTE radio to improve FM coverage in north By Claire Simpson R TE has claimed that part of its reason for ax- ing Radio 1 on medium wave was because MW is “environmentally unsound”. However, Ofcom, which reg- ulates the communications industry in Britain and North- ern Ireland, said the effects of radio waves on humans had never been highlighted as a major concern. “We are aware that radiation effects on humans at the vari- ous frequencies have been considered but due to the rel- ative distance from humans of broadcast transmitters (as opposed to phones or oth- er mobile radios) it has ne- ver been a real issue other than for people working on or immediately adjacent to broadcast radio masts,” a spokeswoman said. “As for the visual environ- mental impact it is generally accepted that this is reduced By Valerie Robinson and Claire Simpson P OLITICIANS on both sides of the border have ex- pressed concerns about RTE’s deci- sion to drop its Radio 1 medium-wave service. SDLP assembly member PJ Bradley said it “links the nation north and south”. “Its prime programmes of news and current affairs are speech-based and unlike long wave MW is available on all dual-band radios,” he said. “Medium wave is much eas- ier to tune than FM no matter where one travels in Ireland. “The elderly and those with limited vision are not into podcasts and the internet and they do not have the computer literacy to use any- thing more modern than the radio.” Mr Bradley said RTE must reverse its decision to “cut off” so many people, espe- cially in the six counties. “It is the national broad- caster and it must demon- strate its commitment to the people of Ireland,’’ he said. “Why, even back in 1926 when Radio Eireann broad- cast from Athlone the signal was available in each of the 32 counties. “RTE cannot claim to be progressive if it pursues a reduction in service policy.” Sinn Fein MLA Barry McEl- duff said it was “of absolute importance” that listeners across Ireland were able to access RTE radio. “RTE is Ireland’s national broadcaster,” he said. “It is part of our heritage, culture and identity. “I was brought up in a house where my mother was always talking about ‘crackling to- wards Athlone’ when she was tuning the radio. “RTE has responsibilities, duties and obligations to- wards all of its listeners in the north.” Mr McElduff said he was frustrated that he was un- able to get a clear recep- tion for many RTE Radio 1 programmes. “I find it difficult to use RTE perfectly. I have to angle the radio and fix the aerial and in 2008 it’s not acceptable,” he said. The Republic’s main opposi- tion party said it was con- cerned that RTE had made its decision without “any formal consultation process’’. Fine Gael communications spokesman Simon Coveney said the broadcaster had a duty to its listeners. He said its public service remit included a responsibil- ity to anticipate and deal with any potential negative social consequences of changes to their broadcasting platforms. “The main driver behind this decision is that it costs RTE 1.5 million (£1.1 million) per annum to power the MW transmission network and so it is a cost saving exercise,” Mr Coveney said. “I am all in favour of provid- ing greater efficiency and cost cutting where appropri- ate. However, decisions by RTE always need to take account of their public ser- vice remit to rural as well as urban listeners.” Regulator contradicts RTE claim that MW RTE Radio 1 is home to some of Ireland’s most high-profile and best-paid presenters. In 2006 the state broadcaster released details of its presenters’ 2004 salaries with Pat Kenny coming out as the highest paid broadcaster thanks to his dual careers as a radio and television host. The 60-year-old, who presents one of Radio 1’s most popular shows – Today with Pat Kenny – as well as RTE1’s flagship TV programme The Late Late Show, earned 899,000 (£670,000). A former chemical engineer, Kenny first began working for RTE as a continuity announcer in the 1970s. He presented political discussion show Saturday View on Radio 1 and became a television broadcaster on the Today Tonight current affairs programme in the mid 1980s. He was also co-presenter of the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. Kenny works for RTE on a contract basis, along with three of Radio 1’s best paid presenters, Marian Finucane, Joe Duffy and Ryan Tubridy. Finucane, described by President Mary McAleese as “the country’s top female broadcaster”, presents The Marian Finucane Show, the highest-rated weekend radio show in Ireland. The 57-year-old, a trained architect, also started work in RTE as a continuity announcer in 1974. She took over veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne’s early morning slot after he retired in 1999. In 2005 her 9am weekday slot was taken over by Tubridy and her show was moved to weekends. She was paid 439,000 (£327,000) in 2004 and is RTE’s third highest earner. Duffy presents radio interview and phone-in show Liveline every weekday from 1.45pm to 3pm. RTE’s fourth highest earner, he was paid 279,000 (£208,000) in 2004. He studied social work at Trinity College Dublin and reportedly shared a house with former Labour leader Dick Spring during that time. He famously gave one of the readings at the Papal Mass in Galway racetrack in 1979, along with former Bishop of Galway Dr Eamon Casey and Fr Michael Cleary. Tubridy (34) is one of Radio 1’s youngest presenters. He was paid 216,000 (£161,000). He also has twin careers in radio and television, presenting The Tubridy Show on the former and his Saturday night chat show Tubridy Tonight on the latter. Claire Simpson Station boasts some of Ireland’s top presenters ■ FAMILIAR VOICES: Clockwise from top left, RTE Radio 1 presenters Marian Finucane, Pat Kenny, Joe Duffy and Ryan Tubridy Switch-off gets poor political reception “It is the national broadcaster and it must demonstrate its commitment to the people of Ireland” PJ Bradley
Transcript of MONDAY FEBRUARY 11 2008 dio o imp FM c ge in north …tuning the radio. “RTE has responsibilities,...
14 MONDAY FEBRUARY 11 2008 NEWS FEATURE
RTE radio to improve FM coverage in north
By Claire Simpson
RTE has claimed thatpart of its reason for ax-ing Radio 1 on medium
wave was because MW is“environmentally unsound”.
However, Ofcom, which reg-ulates the communicationsindustry in Britain and North-
ern Ireland, said the effects ofradio waves on humans hadnever been highlighted as amajor concern.
“We are aware that radiation
effects on humans at the vari-ous frequencies have beenconsidered but due to the rel-ative distance from humansof broadcast transmitters (as
opposed to phones or oth-er mobile radios) it has ne-ver been a real issue otherthan for people working onor immediately adjacent to
broadcast radio masts,” aspokeswoman said.
“As for the visual environ-mental impact it is generallyaccepted that this is reduced
By Valerie Robinsonand Claire Simpson
P OLITICIANS onboth sides of theborder have ex-pressed concernsabout RTE’s deci-
sion to drop its Radio 1medium-wave service.
SDLP assembly memberPJ Bradley said it “links thenation north and south”.
“Its prime programmes ofnews and current affairs arespeech-based and unlike longwave MW is available on alldual-band radios,” he said.
“Medium wave is much eas-ier to tune than FM no matterwhere one travels in Ireland.
“The elderly and those withlimited vision are not intopodcasts and the internetand they do not have thecomputer literacy to use any-thing more modern than theradio.”
Mr Bradley said RTE mustreverse its decision to “cutoff” so many people, espe-cially in the six counties.
“It is the national broad-caster and it must demon-strate its commitment to thepeople of Ireland,’’ he said.
“Why, even back in 1926when Radio Eireann broad-cast from Athlone the signalwas available in each of the
32 counties.“RTE cannot claim to be
progressive if it pursues areduction in service policy.”
Sinn Fein MLA Barry McEl-duff said it was “of absoluteimportance” that listenersacross Ireland were able toaccess RTE radio.
“RTE is Ireland’s nationalbroadcaster,” he said.
“It is part of our heritage,culture and identity.
“I was brought up in a housewhere my mother was alwaystalking about ‘crackling to-wards Athlone’ when she wastuning the radio.
“RTE has responsibilities,duties and obligations to-wards all of its listeners in thenorth.”
Mr McElduff said he wasfrustrated that he was un-able to get a clear recep-tion for many RTE Radio 1programmes.
“I find it difficult to use RTEperfectly. I have to angle theradio and fix the aerial andin 2008 it’s not acceptable,”he said.
The Republic’s main opposi-tion party said it was con-cerned that RTE had made itsdecision without “any formalconsultation process’’.
Fine Gael communicationsspokesman Simon Coveneysaid the broadcaster had aduty to its listeners.
He said its public serviceremit included a responsibil-ity to anticipate and deal withany potential negative socialconsequences of changes totheir broadcasting platforms.
“The main driver behindthis decision is that it costsRTE €1.5 million (£1.1 million)per annum to power the MWtransmission network and soit is a cost saving exercise,”Mr Coveney said.
“I am all in favour of provid-ing greater efficiency andcost cutting where appropri-ate. However, decisions byRTE always need to takeaccount of their public ser-vice remit to rural as well asurban listeners.”
Regulator contradicts RTE claim that MW
RTE Radio 1 is home to some ofIreland’s most high-profile andbest-paid presenters.In 2006 the state broadcasterreleased details of its presenters’2004 salaries with Pat Kenny comingout as the highest paid broadcasterthanks to his dual careers as a radioand television host.The 60-year-old, who presents one ofRadio 1’s most popular shows – Todaywith Pat Kenny – as well as RTE1’sflagship TV programme The Late LateShow, earned €899,000 (£670,000).A former chemical engineer, Kennyfirst began working for RTE as acontinuity announcer in the 1970s.He presented political discussion showSaturday View on Radio 1 and becamea television broadcaster on the TodayTonight current affairs programme inthe mid 1980s.
He was also co-presenter of the 1988Eurovision Song Contest.Kenny works for RTE on a contractbasis, along with three of Radio 1’sbest paid presenters, MarianFinucane, Joe Duffy and Ryan Tubridy.Finucane, described by President MaryMcAleese as “the country’s top femalebroadcaster”, presents The MarianFinucane Show, the highest-ratedweekend radio show in Ireland.The 57-year-old, a trained architect,also started work in RTE as acontinuity announcer in 1974.She took over veteran broadcasterGay Byrne’s early morning slot after heretired in 1999.In 2005 her 9am weekday slot wastaken over by Tubridy and her showwas moved to weekends.She was paid €439,000 (£327,000) in2004 and is RTE’s third highest earner.
Duffy presents radio interview andphone-in show Liveline every weekdayfrom 1.45pm to 3pm.RTE’s fourth highest earner, he waspaid €279,000 (£208,000) in 2004.He studied social work at TrinityCollege Dublin and reportedly shared ahouse with former Labour leader DickSpring during that time.He famously gave one of the readingsat the Papal Mass in Galway racetrackin 1979, along with former Bishop ofGalway Dr Eamon Casey and FrMichael Cleary.Tubridy (34) is one of Radio 1’syoungest presenters. He was paid€216,000 (£161,000). He also hastwin careers in radio and television,presenting The Tubridy Show on theformer and his Saturday night chatshow Tubridy Tonight on the latter.
Claire Simpson
Station boasts some of Ireland’s top presenters
■ FAMILIAR VOICES: Clockwise from top left, RTE Radio 1 presenters Marian Finucane, Pat Kenny, Joe Duffy and Ryan Tubridy
Switch-offgets poorpoliticalreception
“It is the nationalbroadcaster and itmust demonstrateits commitment tothe people ofIreland”
PJ Bradley
