JOB LOSSES AS RTE RESTRUCTURES FOR NEW CHALLENGES

The Department of Finance has rejected a proposed redundancy package which the station wished to offer up to 400 employees out of its 2,000 staff as being too generous due to the inclusion of shift and overtime payments in calculating figures instead of just basic pay according to the Irish Times.

The job losses will probably be concentrated on the television programme areas because of the increased amount of production going to independent producers outside RTE. Next year 20 per cent of the television budget must go to independent productions under the terms of 1993 Broadcast Amendment Act. Other factors forcing the move include the advent of TV3, which is on course for a September launch, and the growth of multi-channel broadcasting with digital television.

RTE and Film Makers Ireland (FMI) have been at loggerheads as to what constitutes 20% per cent of the programme budget. RTE maintains it is a maximum of £15 million but the FMI contends its members should receive £20 million. FMI has threatened litigation if a resolution is not found.

The biggest deal with an independent production company has just been agreed with Tyrone Productions which has won the contract to fill the afternoon television slot. It is believed to be worth about £1.6 million. The programme will run from September until Easter with a core production staff of 12 made up of those employed by Tyrone and freelancers.

The new breakfast television programme contracted to Frontier Films was due to start this summer but has been put off until Autumn as no agreement on changes in work practices was reached with SIPTU members which has strained RTE's hopes that independent production companies would use their facilities. In another blow to that idea Oblivion Television, which won the contract for racing coverage, will go outside RTE for camera crews and will not use RTE outside broadcast unit