Director general Curran tells staff 'worst of the cuts are over'

RTÉ has made an “extraordinary turnaround” in its financial position and “the worst of the cuts are over”, director general Noel…

RTÉ has made an “extraordinary turnaround” in its financial position and “the worst of the cuts are over”, director general Noel Curran has told staff.

In a series of meetings with employees over the last two days, Mr Curran said the broadcaster’s financial position was “under control” and that it had now implemented most of its plan for stability.

“The worst of the cuts are over, but we must maintain control over costs and complete the savings in those areas which are under negotiation or we will lose what we’ve gained,” he said in the briefings. RTÉ’s losses in 2012 will be substantial, Mr Curran confirmed.

“The emphasis must now be on renewal,” he added.

The organisation last week submitted a five-year strategy document to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, which is conducting a broader review of public service broadcasting.

Reflecting on recent changes in the media market, Mr Curran said almost two- thirds of RTÉ’s digital output in January was consumed via mobile.

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Laura Slattery

Laura Slattery

Laura Slattery is an Irish Times journalist writing about media, advertising and other business topics