ARLA/CLUSTER: Encerramento da estação de ondas longas RTE adiada para 19 de Janeiro de 2015

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

RTÉ postpones closure of long wave radio service to 19 January

RTÉ is postponing the closure of its long wave radio transmitter, the
Managing Director of RTÉ Radio has told the Joint Committee on
Transport and Communications.

Jim Jennings said what was evident was that more time was needed to
engage with groups affected.

The closure has been postponed to 19 January 2015.

RTÉ had previously announced that it would be ceasing its service from
the Clarkstown long wave transmitter on 27 October and migrating its
Radio One service to digital platforms.

Mr Jennings said the decision to cease any RTÉ public service is not
something that RTÉ takes lightly or without serious consideration.

He said: "We know that such decisions affect audiences who enjoy and
rely on RTÉ's services.

"However, we also know that the public expect us to manage our
operations and services efficiently and evolve our services as
technology changes and audiences adapt.

"In balancing these broad considerations we have come to the decision
that now is the right time to cease our long wave Radio One service
after ten years on air."

Mr Jennings said an RTÉ delegation will travel to the UK next week to
meet organisations and see if there is a better solution to the long
wave issue. He said RTÉ is doing all it can to engage with community
groups.

RTÉ accepts that the window given for closure was too short and a
longer window was needed, he added.

Separately, RTÉ News has announced that it is to appoint a new London
Correspondent.

RTÉ News and Current Affairs Managing Director Kevin Bakhurst said it
would be a smaller operation than before, but "would continue to
provide the same high quality of coverage expected by the public of
RTÉ News".

Mr Bakhurst said the appointment "has been in our plans for some time,
but has been curtailed by the ongoing financial restraints facing
RTÉ".

"Thanks to significant savings in closing our old office over the last
two years as well as redeploying the staffing costs of the Europe
Correspondent post we are now in a position to make an appointment."
The post will be advertised internally in the coming weeks.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1015/652492-rte-longwave/