RTE reveals full-year loss

Radio Telefis Eireann says it's seeking to cut costs after revealing a full-year loss.

The company revealed a group loss of £8.7mn.

RTE says it must cut costs and invest in high quality television to survive.

Director-General Bob Collins said: "Commercial revenue is not the way to sustain RTE's role as a public service broadcaster in the future.

"Without the security of an appropriate level of funding whose real value is maintained by indexation, it is simply impossible for a country this size to meet the citizens rising expectations of public service broadcasting."

Mr Collins pointed to the growing audience share achieved by satellite broadcasters in the past five years - from 11% to 16%.

He argues that some of these channels take commercial revenue out of Ireland while making virtually no programming in the Republic.