RTÉ is seeking consultants to assist the organisation with its plans for the future, including its strategy on content and media regulation.

The broadcaster has put the contracts covering consultancy services on its “strategic projects framework” out to tender, with a major element of the work involving the development of its next five-year strategy statement, which it is obliged to prepare under the Broadcasting Act 2009.

BAI five-year review

The five-year strategy document, which covers the period 2018 to 2022, will include cost estimates for RTÉ’s wish list of activities, and it will become part of the next five-year review by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) of the adequacy of public service funding.

RTÉ’s last five-year strategy statement, for the period 2012-2017, was published in September 2013 with the proviso that it was “finance-dependent”.

Its plans included a new linear channel for the UK-based Irish diaspora called RTÉ Ireland and the introduction of new low-cost IPTV (internet protocol television) channels covering areas of interest such as culture, sport, education and business.

The broadcaster later postponed the IPTV channels plans, with former director general Noel Curran citing inadequate broadband speeds as the reason, while the diaspora has instead been targeted through RTÉ Player International, an on-demand service.

The last five-year plan also stated that “with additional resources”, RTÉ would make “critical” upgrades to its Donnybrook facilities and open up the Donnybrook campus to independent producers, technology start-ups and academic institutions.

In 2013, the BAI recommended that the government increase public funding to RTÉ on the condition that this was offset by restrictions on its commercial activity as well as a further reduction in its operating costs. The Government did not act on the recommendation.