RTÉ denies online content has an unfair advantage

RTÉ executives have dismissed as “unfair” accusations that the broadcaster’s online content represents improper competition to the newspaper industry.

The national broadcaster’s chief financial officer, Conor Hayes, told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, yesterday, that the station was “fully transparent and legally compliant in all its online activities”.

Last month the committee had heard from the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI) that RTÉ’s website did not match its public service remit under the Broadcasting Act 2009, as it included advertising on the site and operated with an unfair advantage due to being promoted on station programmes.