Fancy a cushy new job? How about one that gives you a say in how the State broadcaster is run? Well, applications are being sought to join the board of RTÉ.
The terms of chairman Tom Savage, a former broadcaster and the director of PR firm the Communications Clinic, and six other RTÉ board members are due to expire on August 31st.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications has announced it is looking for expressions of interest from “qualified members of the public”, who would like to be considered for appointment to the board of RTÉ.
To be considered for the position, applicants must have experience in a number of areas including media affairs, public service broadcasting, digital media technologies, legal or regulatory affairs and business.
The thought of guiding RTÉ’s future corporate direction may be appealing, but the job is unlikely to be easy considering all the challenges the broadcaster faces.
First up will be the arrival of newcomer UTV Ireland, which will start broadcasting next year, upping the ante for RTÉ. Then there is the growing popularity of internet TV and streaming services such as Netflix. Will RTÉ be able to keep up with them?
RTÉ recently said its 2013 revenue was hit by the overall impact of the analogue switch-off and an increase in the number of UK channels offering advertising in the Irish market.
While the licence fee revenue has edged 1.5 per cent higher to €182.4 million, the State broadcaster’s commercial revenue is now lower than it was in 2003.
If all else fails you can always become a weather forecaster. Get some practice in now at the Science Gallery’s Strange Weather exhibition, where you can read a five-decade forecast for Ireland
