The switching on of free digital television across the country today was hailed as a momentous step in Irish broadcasting.

A MAJOR building programme at its Dublin headquarters is essential if RTÉ is to maintain its position as the national broadcaster into the digital age, director general Cathal Goan told a Bord Pleanála hearing yesterday.

Legendary Gaelic Games commentator Micheal O Muircheartaigh is to hang up his microphone after 62 years on air.

Legendary GAA commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh was last night honoured in a special two-and-a-half hour live programme broadcast by RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta in front of an invited audience of over 200 people, which included GAA officials, former players, media colleagues, family and friends.

MICK LALLY’S driving passions of acting, the Irish language and the struggle for social justice were to the fore in the humanist ceremony which marked the 64-year-old actor’s final journey yesterday in west Dublin.

RTÉ director general Cathal Goan is set to step down from his lucrative €320,000-plus a year post after completing a seven-year term.

The Director General of RTÉ Cathal Goan is to step down.

THOUSANDS of mourners are expected to descend on the Dublin suburb of Clontarf today as Gerry Ryan is laid to rest in his local church.

A HEARTBROKEN Joe Duffy struggled to hold back tears as he spoke of his utter shock over the death of his “bold, bold boy” RTÉ colleague Gerry Ryan.

THE head of RTÉ television announced his departure from his position, saying he would stay on in an “advisory capacity” with the broadcaster.

RTÉ presenter Pat Kenny has staunchly defended his near €2 million salary over 2007 and 2008, claiming he should be lauded for reducing the public expense this year to a mere €630,000.

RTÉ’s so-called stars may no longer shine as brightly in the public eye, but at least the salaries they earn are still blinding.

A €360 MILLION redevelopment of the RTÉ Montrose site will be funded mainly through borrowing and the rental of offices and residences at the broadcasting hub.

RTÉ today announced plans to revamp its landmark Donnybrook site to keep up with the digital age.

YOUR front page report headlined ‘RTÉ planning hike in licence fee’ (July 4) suggested the station was “planning” a TV licence fee increase as a significant contribution towards offsetting its projected €68m revenue shortfall in 2009.

VIEWERS face the prospect of paying more for their TV licence to help offset potential losses of €68 million at RTE.

Veteran broadcaster Rodney Rice is to retire tomorrow after presenting his final 'Saturday View', one of the country’s longest running radio shows.

State broadcaster RTÉ published its annual report today, revealing that it broke even in 2008 with total revenues of €441m, but forecasting a €68m shortfall for this year.

UP to 100 staff have written to RTÉ opposing the introduction of pay cuts of up to 12.5% as part of an effort to recoup a predicted €68m in losses this year.

RTÉ is seeking an increase in the TV licence fee, despite predictions by the station’s management that it will break even financially this year.

The director general of RTÉ has denied that the state broadcaster is facing bankruptcy.

RTÉ has denied reports that it will go bust in October if staff reject pay cuts of up to 12.5%.

UNDER-ESTIMATING the difficulty of a situation seems to be our new national sport; denial has become the new black.

A GREEN Party TD has criticised Fianna Fáil for calling on RTÉ director-general Cathal Goan to consider resigning after the Brian Cowen portrait controversy.

THE paintings of Brian Cowen were, at the very latest, completed some time in January, judging by an email to the Ray D’Arcy Show on Today FM on the 19th of that month.

While people may sympathise with someone confronted with an unflattering portrait, it is all part of being in the public eye. The reaction of the authorities to the unflattering portraits of the Taoiseach has therefore been completely over the top.

RTÉ was forced to apologise to Brian Cowen last night over a news broadcast concerning nude portraits of the Taoiseach mysteriously hung in two Dublin galleries.

IT’S the end of an era — Monday nights will never be the same again for the country’s news junkies and political anoraks.

On last Thurdsay’s Six One News, we heard RTÉ’s director-general Cathal Goan talking about making large savings.

On last Thurdsay’s Six One News, we heard RTÉ’s director-general Cathal Goan talking about making large savings.

RTÉ has warned staff that compulsory redundancies cannot be ruled out as the national broadcaster admitted it is facing losses of €68 million this year.

BROADCASTER Pat Kenny wiped back tears as he bid an emotional farewell to his late mother at her funeral Mass in Dublin.

Cost cutting measures are being brought in at RTÉ in a bid to ensure the national broadcaster keeps to its budget for next year.

SENIOR RTÉ managers have admitted unease that the Late Late Show allowed columnist Eoghan Harris to glorify Taoiseach Bertie Ahern a week before last year’s general election.

RTÉ is working on plans for a catch-up channel to let viewers see favourite programmes after their scheduled broadcast time.

The GAA today signed a multi-million euro TV and radio deal to carve up top games over the next three years, but declined to put a price on it.

RTÉ’s director general yesterday said he stood over the contentious allegation made by the High Society documentary that a politician admitted snorting cocaine.

A HIGH-LEVEL internal report in RTÉ has found there were “shortcomings” in the station’s approach to the controversial series on cocaine use among the middle classes.

CONSULTANT oncologist Prof John Crown still believes there could have been political interference in last Friday night’s Late Late Show discussion on health issues despite RTÉ insisting “no outside influences” were involved in the decision to drop him from the panel.

AN 85-year-old educator and actor scooped a surprise award yesterday beating off the challenge of bookies’ favourites Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Derval O’Rourke to become Cork Person of the Year.

DESPITE being at the centre of recent gangland shootings, it was all smiles in the fictitious suburb of Carrigstown yesterday as the cast and crew of Fair City gathered to celebrate the 2,000th episode of the popular soap.

IT WAS dark outside, on that night of the year once celebrated in ancient Ireland as the Celtic festival of Samhain. Inside the brightly-lit Connemara Coast Hotel, 500 guests gathered to enjoy a reception hosted by RTÉ.

PROFITS at RTÉ fell by €2.2 million to just over €16.4m last year despite higher income from advertising and the licence fee.