Ad revenue at RTE Television is up 4% this year, thanks in part to a World Cup boon of about €2m. RTE’s full-year performance is expected to be in line with last year’s surplus of €1.1m, which was its first since 2007.
RTE Digital revenue is growing strongly, but radio continues to be under pressure, as the broadcaster tries to turn around the fortunes of 2fm, according to industry sources.
Geraldine O’Leary, the commercial director at RTE Television, said that the medium was “feeling the benefits of the much-documented upswing of consumer confidence”. Without World Cup revenue, however, the broadcaster faces a tough 2015 because of the arrival of UTV Ireland in the market.
Eddie O’Mahony, the trading director of Core Media, is projecting growth of 5% in the television market next year.
The introduction of a new broadcasting charge, designed to boost RTE’s public funding and reduce its reliance on commercial funding, was to be introduced in early 2015.
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However, the charge has been postponed pending a review by Alex White, the recently installed communications minister.