Savings from RTÉ Longwave closure are not great enough to justify cutting off the Irish abroad – O’Donovan

Fine Gael TD for Limerick and Member of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, Patrick O’Donovan has called on RTÉ to reconsider their plan to close the longwave transmitter.

“The plan to shut down the RTÉ longwave service would save only €250,000 per year, a small sum compared to RTÉ’s overall budget. I believe that this decision needs to be reconsidered to take into account the number of Irish people abroad who use and value the service that RTÉ longwave provides.

“Speaking at the Oireachtas Committee this morning, Jim Jennings, RTÉ’s Managing Director agreed to a period of public consultation until 19^th January 2015, during which they will engage with those who would be affected by the closure. Instead of using this time to explain the decision and make affected groups properly aware of the alternatives to the longwave 252 service, I would urge RTÉ to use this time to listen to the people who use the service and to consider maintaining longwave until a viable alternative can be found.

“Longwave is important to the Irish abroad in maintaining a link to Ireland. But it is also extremely valuable to RTÉ as an advertising revenue generator. Cutting off longwave would reduce the potential of advertisers and would affect penetration.

“The news that RTÉ plans to reinstate their London correspondent is very much to be welcomed. RTÉ have recognised the important links between Ireland and the UK, and the need to report on the political, social and economic affairs of our nearest neighbour. I am hopeful that they will also see the importance of maintaining this link with the UK through the maintenance of longwave transmission.”