RTÉ apologises for delay in main evening news

Technical issue with studio’s sound system postponed programme by about 10 minutes

Newsreader Eileen Dunne delivered the news without the use of the autocue. File photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
Newsreader Eileen Dunne delivered the news without the use of the autocue. File photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times

RTÉ’s main evening news bulletin was delayed by about 10 minutes on Monday night as a technical issue hit the studio’s sound system.

The glitch happened as the programme was about to start and viewers saw their screens go blue, before the station moved to a 10-minute commercial break.

A spokeswoman said the technology failure had forced the broadcast team to hurriedly move to another studio, one used to broadcast headlines. When the programme resumed studio background shots were blurred and newsreader Eileen Dunne delivered the news without the use of the autocue.

The spokeswoman said “RTÉ would like to apologise to views for the technical hitch which was completely unexpected”.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist