RTÉ Cut Funding to Independent Producers by 9%
RTÉ's Independent Commissions and Production Unit have published their Annual report for 2020. RTÉ cut funding to the independent sector in 2020 by 9%. Missing their statutory requirement by €3 million. The report shows how RTÉ increase its low levels of funding to children's programming by 40%, to just over €5 million, this compares to €3.6 million in 2019, all children's content is now produced independently, with no children's commissions for Radio in either year, the increase was due in large to RTÉ's Home School Hub. Drama and Comedy across TV and Radio saw a drop in funding with just €1.8 million spent on TV drama and comedy, which includes just two dramas yet to be broadcast, €265,000 worth of Drama and Comedy was commission for Radio.
RTÉ TV's spend on independent productions was down 9% to €36,466,000 in 2020. RTÉ Radio saw a slight increase in 2020 to €1,196,000 from €1,140,000.
RTÉ spend on Independent productions was under its statutory obligation of €40.2 million in 2020.
RTÉ commissioned 498.7 hours of television and 521 hours of radio in 2020.
Drama and Comedy produced by RTÉ in 2020 included The Tommy Tiernan Show, Clear History and Callan Kicks the Year. It also included two drama's that have yet to be broadcast, the 8 part Kin and the 6 part North Sea Connection. In total RTÉ commissioned just 10 hours of scripted programming in 2020, compared to 14 hours in 2019. The Tommy Tiernan Show was considered as part of their Entertainment and Music commission in 2018. On average in 2020 RTÉ spent €63,310 per hour on drama and comedy down from €133,000 per hour in 2019.
Children's content saw a massive increase in the numbers of hours produced due to RTÉ's Home School Home, it went from 76 hours in 2019 to 193 in 2020. Home School Hub and After Home School Hub accounted for 121.5 hours of TV. Other series included Alva's World, Ace My Space, Keep it Up, Junk Kourture and a series of Christmas Shorts call Shorts Yule Love. With an average of cost of €30,000 per production hour down from €50,000 in 2019.
Drama and Animation also received Co-funding, Section 481 and BAI funding worth €7,910,000, up from €7,362,000 in 2019. Other commissions receiving addition of €5,331,000 down from €7,226,000 million in 2019. €31.7 million was received from outside sources in 2020, this compares to €14.5 million in 2019.
| Genre | Hours | Aired in 2020 from 2019 | Total | Airing in 2021 | Aired in 2020 | Aired in 2019 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| '000 | '000 | '000 | '000 | '000 | +/- | ||
| Factual | 214.9 | 4,372 | 20,754 | -6,662 | 18,464 | 19,799 | -6.74% |
| Arts and Culture | 8.3 | 124 | 657 | -439 | 342 | 609 | -43.84% |
| Cláracha Gaeilge | 25 | 1,552 | 831 | -439 | 1,944 | 1,760 | 10.45% |
| Entertainment and Music | 28.5 | 2,305 | 2,995 | -75 | 5,225 | 7,328 | -28.70% |
| Drama and Comedy | 29.0 | 781 | 3,742 | -1,125 | 1,836 | 3,235 | -43.25% |
| Sport | - | 170 | - | -55 | 115 | 252 | -54.37% |
| Children's Content | 193 | 573 | 5,616 | -1,125 | 5,045 | 3,620 | 39.36% |
| Overall Totals | 498.7 | 9,877 | 34,595 | -9,920 | 32,971 | 36,603 | -9.92% |
| Radio | 521 | 140 | 1,522 | -466 | 1,196 | 1,140 | 4.91% |
| Award Schemes | 51 | 74 | -31.08% | ||||
| Overheads | 2,203 | 2,222 | -0.89% | ||||
| Total | 36,466 | 40,071 | -9.00% | ||||
| BAI, Co-funding, Section 481 | 31,745 | 14,500 | 118.93% |