RTÉ makeover gives it a dumb appearance

RTE’s relentless dumbing down makes me wonder whether the licence-payer is getting any value for money. It seems that the commercial/public service schizophrenia of our national broadcaster has finally arrived at the point where ‘commercial’ is the dominant personality.

I long ago abandoned hope of anything original emanating from Montrose and I couldn’t care less how many Pop Idol or house makeover clones are produced there as long as it is funded from advertising, and not my licence money.

Commercial stations target particular groups — and the best of luck to them. However, I expect my licence money to be spent where it serves the public as whole, and not a particular high spending age group.

The BBC’s huge funding of £3 billion annually should be seen from the point of view of the vast number of expanding regional, national and international services that it provides.

By comparison, RTÉ is steadily shrinking its few worthwhile services.

The British licence-payer has no doubts about where his of her licence money is going.

Every week something of appeal to a wide audience seems to come out of Shepherds Bush or one of the regions. Even once a year would be a reasonable target for RTÉ — just to assure the licence-payer. In Britain, they get regular offerings like Planet Earth, Egypt, Rome, etc. And we get Celebrity Jigs ‘n’ Reels.

Kevin McLoughlin

Silverspruce

Lake Road

Cobh

Co Cork