The debate about homophobia in Ireland took centre stage in the Dáil with Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer describing how he was “beaten, spat at, chased, harassed and mocked because of who I am”.

Broadcaster defends €85k payout over ‘homophobia’ claims

RTÉ Television unveiled its new season of programmes yesterday, boasting that it was still the country’s favourite network because of the way it prioritised its content and service.

RTÉ is implementing a 30% reduction in the salaries of its top stars, its managing director has confirmed.

Well-fed and watered TV addicts might be looking for the remote this New Year’s Eve, as RTÉ’s offers up little to whet entertainment appetites.

Comedian Mario Rosenstock has hit back at the Catholic Communications Office after the Church’s press office lodged a formal complaint with RTÉ over a sketch in Rosenstock’s television show.

RTÉ hopes its new Cork-based live daytime show will help combat criticism that it exists in a ‘D4 bubble’.

Ryan Tubridy has admitted he will be taking a salary cut in excess of 30% next year.

MANY people will find little to “ho, ho, ho” about in this year’s RTÉ festive line-up as the station relies on homegrown mainstays to get through the vestiges of what has felt like a 12-month hangover.

IT might be one of the poorest summers on record but you know winter is certainly on its way when RTÉ launches its new season of TV programmes.

Masterchef Ireland and the Secret Millionaire are among the shows in RTE's new line-up.

The theatre world was tonight mourning the loss of Mick Lally, one of its most renowned actors.

RTÉ chiefs have unveiled a new season of programmes which they claim will entertain, inform and involve audiences.

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 demise of Dublin’s footballers attracted more television viewers than the ending of England’s World Cup dreams on Sunday afternoon.

RTÉ YESTERDAY launched their most ambitious broadcast plans for the GAA Championships.

FAI chief executive John Delaney last night dismissed reports linking Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni with a return to Juventus.

WHILE Ireland may not have had much joy against the French last Saturday, RTÉ managed a victory yesterday by securing rights to screen tonight’s crucial tie in Paris.

GORDON STRACHAN last night became the latest addition to RTÉ’s soccer panel.

RTÉ RADIO is set to move and possibly extend its nightly sports-talk slot in an initial move to combat Newstalk’s runaway success with their ‘Off the Ball’ programme.

BRIAN PETERS brought off what can only be regarded as an astonishing coup by getting Ricardo Cordoba’s management to sign a voluntary defence contract without a re-match clause.

IRELAND’S dramatic Grand Slam decider against Wales was the most watched television programme in the country this year.

IRELAND’S RBS Six Nations win over Scotland on Murrayfield on Saturday proved another ratings winner for RTÉ.

MUNSTER chief executive, Garrett Fitzgerald, believes Munster could benefit long-term off the back of Tuesday’s hugely successful Zurich Challenge between the Heineken Cup champions and the All Blacks.

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 and the FAI last night signed a new four-year broadcast deal.

RTÉ Television yesterday unveiled details of over 200 hours of live soccer coverage for the new season.

RTÉ has won the rights from UEFA to screen all games in the Euro 2008 Championships next summer.

RTÉ has finalised an agreement with Argentinian rugby officials for live TV and radio coverage of the two rugby tests between Argentina and Ireland in the coming weeks.

IRELAND’s historic Six Nations clash with France attracted almost one million viewers to RTÉ television.

RTÉ Television have secured live British horse racing rights for the next three years ensuring that all major cross-channel racing festivals, including Cheltenham and Aintree Grand National, will be broadcast exclusively live on RTÉ Television until at least 2009.

RTÉ yesterday announced details of its mammoth World Cup coverage plans.

IRELAND’S Six Nations victory over England on Saturday attracted the highest ever Irish television audience for the tournament.

RTÉ will be forced to negotiate with Setanta Sports, the company who outbid them for World Cup Rugby rights, for permission to broadcast Ireland’s matches in the 2007 tournament.

Tyrone’s All Ireland SFC final victory against Kerry on Sunday was watched by an average audience of 887,000 on RTÉ Two, equating to a 73% share of the available audience.

RTÉ have lost live broadcast rights for the Heineken Cup to Sky.

GPA CHIEF Donal O’Neill has warned that more GAA players may refuse requests for television interviews in the ongoing row over on-screen displays of Club Energise.

BERNARD DUNNE just can’t wait for Saturday night’s version of the Odessa File when he touches gloves with Ukrainian southpaw Yuri Voronin at the National Stadium.

RTÉ has secured radio and television broadcast rights to the RBS 6 Nations until 2009.