RTÉ says it’s still the nation’s favourite

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.

The station has lost 25% of its staff in recent years and has a €65m deficit, but it has promised to break even during the current financial year.

RTÉ Television managing director, Glen Killane, said the station now had three programme controllers to ensure the network delivered a more targeted approach in challenging times.

“Times are incredibly tough and competition for viewers never greater but there is so much great work going on in RTÉ and the independent sector that one could not feel anything but hope for the future.

“There is a long winter ahead and I hope we have something for all of you to shorten those long winter nights,” said Mr Killane at the launch of the new season of programming across RTÉ One, RTÉ Two and RTÉjr.

The critically acclaimed drama Love/Hate returns for a fourth season, while Fair City enters its 25th year with a catastrophic event that has devastating consequences for Carrigstown.

A new home produced drama called Amber tells the story of a family’s search to find their teenage daughter from four different perspectives.

Also new is the atmospheric thriller Quirke starring Gabriel Byrne as chief pathologist-turned-detective in 1950s Dublin, based on some of the novels of Benjamin Black, a pseudonym of John Banville.

Comedian Kevin McGahern is the new presenter of the Republic of Telly which returns along with other favourites Don’t Tell The Bride and The Mario Rosenstock Show.

Newly acquired dramas on RTÉ Two include the Irish-based series Vikings, and Stephen King’s Under The Dome. There are also returning favourites such as Revenge, Homeland and Mad Men.

RTÉ One channel controller, George Dixon, said highlights would include the Sundance award winner The Summit, that tells the dramatic story of the deadliest day in mountaineering history as a group of climbers try to scale K2, the second highest mountain on earth after Everest.

As part of a major RTÉ season to mark the 100th anniversary of The Lockout, families trace their ancestors’ roles in a pivotal moment in Irish history.

Series four of Love/Hate will see detective Inspector Mick Moynihan (Brian F O’Byrne) determined to bring Nidge (Tom Vaughan Lawlor) down.

Peter Coonan, who plays Fran in Love/Hate, said Detective O’Byrne was a complex character. “It is a tearing script and setting a different tone this time.”

Mr Dixon also revealed that the programme makers would be putting cameras in taxis in the next month or so to catch a slice of contemporary Irish life.

He promised the fly-on-the wall would be both heart-warming and gritty. “I hope they never catch me in the back of a cab,” he added.

Meanwhile, an RTÉ spokesperson has confirmed that the station’s Washington correspondent, Richard Downes is returning to Ireland shortly as his two year contract is almost up. The post will be advertised in the coming weeks.