The broadcaster announced an expansive new strategy on Tuesday.
RTÉ have announced that 400 jobs will be cut over the next five years as part of a ‘new direction strategy’.
The job cuts are in order to secure a €20 million bailout from the government, and will be reached through a phased Voluntary Exit Programme, which will cost around €50 million.
Director General Kevin Bakhurst announced RTÉ’s New Direction strategy on Tuesday, describing it as a “transformational vision” for the national broadcaster.
Within the strategy, which will take place from 2025 – 2029, the broadcaster will be “improved and streamlined”, and aims to adopt “new ways of working internally and with external partners, particularly the independent sector.”
RTÉ to cut 400 jobs as part of ‘new direction strategy’
Part of the new strategy includes investing in production outside of Dublin and moving it elsewhere over Ireland.
Shows including Fair City and The Late Late Show, are set to move off site as the broadcaster looks to focus more on the independent production sector.
Improving the RTÉ Player will also be a big focus, with it being announced that users will have to sign in to stream.
By 2027, 50% of all non-live television content will be made available on RTÉ Player first – giving the audience the choice on how they watch programming.
RTÉ have experienced major financial issues since the fallout of the payments scandal which ripped through the broadcaster last year.
The crisis has since deepened with many across the country refusing to pay their licence fee in an ever-increasing distrust of the organisation.
The broadcaster has reported huge losses and heightening figures of unpaid licence fees since the fallout from the scandal, leading Bakhurst to tell the Dail that without government intervention, the broadcaster could become insolvent.
Speaking at the release of the new five-year plan, Mr Bakhurst said: “We cannot deliver this plan alone. As is widely recognised, funding reform is critical to protecting public service media in Ireland.
“We will continue to need the outstanding support of our staff, our partners in the independent sector and the range of organisations we work with daily across Ireland.
“And we will reciprocate that faith placed in us by delivering a public service broadcaster fit for the future and for our audiences.”
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