RTE revealed its plans to cut the stations costs by £25m (30.5 m. Euro) in a decision to address its financial situation and in developing the budget for 2002.
The full compliment of three television stations and four radio networks are to be retained. However, RTE will be suffering major cutbacks. Television, Central Services, and facilities are being the hardest hit. TG4 and RnaG are to take a £1m hit between them. In total, the Executive Board has set the following 2002 budget targets that the specific divisions are currently working through:
Radio -£1.0m
RnaG -£0.3m
Television -£6.0m
Facilities -£3.0m
TG4 -£0.75m
News -£1.3m
Digital Media -£0.4m
Performing Groups -£1.75m
Central Services -£6.75m
Freelance -£2.0m
T&S / O/T -£1.5m
CEL improved performance +£0.7m nett revenue
Digital TV plans are however being postponed, with the expected launch date of Autumn 2002 for RTE Ireland Today - the proposed 24 hour news and sport channel - looking increasingly doubtful.
Staff reductions to achieve the targets would be agreed through the firm's internal corporate partnership mechanism. But job losses are unlikely to be less than 150, and will not be possible on a voluntary basis. SIPTU said it would be seeking a meeting with the Minister for the Arts and Culture, Ms. De Valera.
RTÉ said it is in a particularly difficult set of financial circumstances due to the significant fall of advertising in 2001, and by disappointing increase of the licence fee awarded in 2001. RTE is to put its case for a licence fee increase to Culture Minister Sile de Valera again, whether it will get it this time is doubtful.
