RT Reports Solid Operating Profit of 4M for 05

RT Reports Solid Operating Profit of 14M for 2015

Cost Pressures Result in Net Deficit after Tax of 2.8M

See rte.ie/annualreport for more and to download the report in full.

RT is today releasing its Annual Report and Group Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st December 2015.

RT has, for the third year, achieved a solid operating profit (EBITDA; 14M in 2015), despite the 5 million reduction in public funding in the 2014 Budget and static income from the licence fee. However, despite commercial revenue growth of 4% and maintaining reduced operating costs (some 27% lower than 2008 levels), inevitable cost pressures, including the adverse impact of foreign currency saw RT return an overall deficit of 2.8M.

Kevin Bakhurst, Deputy Director-General RT and Managing Director of RT News & Current Affairs, said: Over the past five years we have made huge progress in reshaping RT for the future. Costs remained substantially down on 2008 levels and successive independent reviews find RT 's operations to be efficient. Yet, while we managed to deliver some increases in commercial revenue, overall the public funding base remained static and is, in real terms, declining. Evasion levels (14%) and the steady increase in homes without a television set are creating a critical environment for RT and its ability to support the wider cultural sector in Ireland. The audience remains at the centre of all that we do; RT will continue in its efforts to manage costs and grow revenues, to deliver for audiences with our programming and services, and continue innovating with new digital products and services.

However, without a meaningful review of public funding, RT will remain financially challenged, and unable to maintain or increase investment in the sector, or to invest in important investigations, drama development, and landmark factual programming. In this context, RT welcomes Minister Naughten's comments today following Government approval of our 2015 Annual Report.

The results achieved in the last three years followed a major restructuring of all of RT 's operations. An extensive efficiency drive across all activities, alongside voluntary pay cuts, saw RT maintain a reduced operating cost base (-27%) compared to 2008.

The Annual Report highlights a range of other achievements for RT in 2015 including:

-Biggest year ever for The Late Late Toy Show (1.56M viewers).

-Ground-breaking RT Investigates programmes, including Standards in Public Office, Sex for Sale, and Collusion.

-Launch of a comprehensive action plan for the Irish-language (Me in Ghaeilge RT )

-RT 's Road to the Rising event attracts hundreds of thousands to major events in Dublin City.

-RT Radio 1 grows reach and share as the country's most-popular radio station.

-Saorview becomes Ireland's biggest television platform, overtaking Sky.

-500 hours of top-class sport coverage.

-5,500,000 people visit RT .ie each month in 2015.

-RT Orchestras, Quartets and Choirs perform to the delight of more than 156,000 people.

Moya Doherty, Chair of the Board of RT , commented: While sustaining and protecting that which RT does well, the Board has also had to address many of the challenges facing all public-service broadcasters in the 21st century media landscape. These deliberations take place in a continuously demanding financial environment. At the same time, there is much to note: the growth of RT 's radio services through courageous programming, the breadth and quality of RT 's investigative journalism, the development of a diversity strategy, and the inspiring action-plan for the Irish-language. The Board looks forward to working with the new Director-General and continuing the development of RT in these challenging but exciting times.

See http://www.rte.ie/annualreport for more and to download the report in full.

ENDS

19 July 2016

ATHBHREITHNI AR AN MBLIAIN | 2015

BRAB S DAINGEAN OIBR OCHTA 14MTUAIRISCITHE AG RT DON BHLIAIN 2015

F gann Br Costais Easnamh Glan 2.8M ann tar is C nach

F ach http://www.rte.ie/annualreport chun tuilleadh eolais a fh il agus chun an tuarasc il ioml n a osl d il.

T Tuarasc il Bhliant il agus R itis Airgeadais Chomhdhl ite Ghr pa bhfoilsi inniu ag RT don Bhliain Dar Cr och an 31 Nollaig, 2015.

Don tr bliain as a ch ile, t brab s daingean oibr ochta d anta ag RT (EBITDA; 14M in 2015), in ainneoin laghd 5 mhilli n a bheith d anta ar mhaoini poibl agus ar ioncam seasta na t ille cead nais i mBuis ad na bliana 2014. Mar sin f in, in ainneoin gur fh s ioncam tr cht la le 4% agus gur coinn odh costais laghdaithe oibr ochta (27% n os sle n leibh il 2008), d fh g br costais dosheachanta, tionchar di ltach airgeadais choigr che san ireamh, go raibh easnamh forioml n 2.8M ann.

D irt Kevin Bakhurst, Leas Pr omh-Sti rth ir, RT agus Bainisteoir Sti rtha Nuacht agus C rsa Reatha RT : Le c ig bliana anuas t dul chun cinn an-mh r go deo d anta againn thaobh RT a athmh nl . T costais i bhfad n os sle ann le hais leibh il 2008 agus t s l irithe in athbhreithnithe neamhsple cha, ceann i ndiaidh cinn, gur ifeachtach iad oibr ochta RT . Ina dhiaidh sin f in, c gur irigh linn ioncam tr cht la a mh ad m id irithe, d fhan an bonn maoinithe phoibl seasta agus, i nd ir re, t s ag meath. F gann leibh il seachanta (14%) agus an m ad at tagtha ar thithe gan teilif s go bhfuil d shl in nach beag roimh RT agus an cumas a bheidh ann tac leis an earn il chult rtha in irinn. Is iad an lucht f achana agus isteachta bun agus barr gach a nd anaimid; leanfaidh RT d r gcuid iarrachta costais a bhainisti agus ioncaim a fh s, seirbh s mhaith a chur ar f il d r lucht f achana agus isteachta, agus lean int orainn ag baint s ide as earra agus seirbh s digiteacha ar bheala nua, cruthaitheacha.

Mar sin f in,

LINK:	http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2016/0719/80342...
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