RTÉ to end advertising discounts system

RTÉ is to stop using its dominant position to effectively force advertisers to give it more business after an investigation into alleged market abuse by the Competition Authority.

The state broadcaster had been demanding advertisers devote a certain portion of their total television advertising budgets to RTÉ programmes if they wanted to avail of cut-price offers.

But the authority was concerned this was tantamount to the station abusing its dominant position and began inquiring into the arrangements two years ago.