RTÉ performance to dictate licence fee rise

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Noel Dempsey said yesterday that any increase in RTÉ’s licence fee this year will depend on how well the national broadcaster performed last year.

Announcing the appointment of consultants to review RTÉ’s licence fee, Mr Dempsey said he will make a decision on whether or not a fee increase is justified later this summer.

Following a difficult financial period earlier this decade, RTÉ has performed very strongly in recent years, particularly in its commercial operations and home- produced programmes.