Kenny tops RTÉ earnings list with €900,000

Pat Kenny's was the highest-paid RTÉ broadcaster in 2004, bringing in almost €900,000, according to figures released this afternoon…

Pat Kenny's was the highest-paid RTÉ broadcaster in 2004, bringing in almost €900,000, according to figures released this afternoon.

Mr Kenny's earnings increased by more than €260,000 from 2003 to 2004 after his company - Pat Kenny Media Services Ltd - renegotiated his contract with the State broadcaster. The company was paid €899,000 in 2004.

His earnings far outstrip those of the next highest earner, reflecting his dual role as a radio and television broadcaster. Mr Kenny was the only one of the top ten earners who renegotiated his contract during the period.

RTÉ paid its top ten broadcasters almost €3.3 million in 2004.

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The second-highest paid broadcaster is 2FM's Gerry Ryan whose company - Balcom Management Ltd - was paid €487,492 for his services in 2004. This was €26,000 up on the pervious year. Such increases were in line with conditions in a broadcaster's contract, a spokeswoman for RTÉ said.

Marian Finucane, who was recently ushered out of her weekday morning slot on RTÉ Radio 1 to the weekend, was the third-highest earner on €439,265 in 2004. This was an increase of almost €80,000 compared with 2003.

The value of people "talking to Joe" saw RTÉ pay Joe Duffy's firm Claddaghgreen Ltd just under €280,000 in 2004, still a significant salary, but significantly less than Ryan and Finucane.

Primetimepresenter Miriam O'Callaghan was paid more than €251,250 in 2004, an increase of more than €70,000 compared with 2003.

The bright young thing of RTÉ, Ryan Tubridy, who has since taken over from Finucane on the weekday morning slot on Radio 1 was the sixth-highest earner with earnings of €216,150 to his company Trocity Productions Ltd. Tubridy did not feature in the top ten earners in 2003.

Derek Mooney may be going wild with his earnings of €189,906 for 2004, up more than €20,000 on the previous year. He is listed as an employee, rather than as a contractor.

Music maestro John Kelly, whose Mystery Trainwill be shunted off air later this year in a re-jig of Radio 1, was paid €188,630 in 2004, and increase of more than €35,000 over 12 months.

The presenter of the News At Oneon Radio 1 and the Week in Politicson RTÉ 1 Television, Sean O'Rourke was paid more than €177,000 in 2004. He did not feature in the top ten in 2003, meaning his salary increased by at least €20,000 over that 12 month period. O'Rourke is also listed as an employee.

And the tenth highest earner among RTÉ broadcasting staff is sports presenter George Hamilton who was paid €168,322 in 2004.

Charlie Bird, Vincent Browne and Brian Farrell all featured in the list of top ten earners in 2003 but not in 2004.

David Labanyi

David Labanyi

David Labanyi is the Head of Audience with The Irish Times