The RTE News Thread

Be interesting to see if there is a studio revamp at the end October when Bryan Dobson leaves for Morning Ireland. If reports are to believed in the Indo during the week Sharon Ni Bheolain, could be also be on the move to The Nine. Sources in that report cited it would allow a new presenting duo team to take over at the helm to the bulletin. The report also mentioned the possibility of having two presenting teams working alternative evenings during the week. Though I cannot see the latter being a runner from an optics point of view, especially when RTÉ is about to undergo a restructing and redundancy programme.

The indo is reporting that RTÉ cannot bring in outsiders to replace Dobson on the Six-One because of their voluntary redundancy schemes now in place. His new replacement has to be employed internally from RTÉ News & Current Affairs. An announcement on Dobson's replacement will be announced in the coming weeks.

http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/rte-close-to-naming-bryan-dobsons-successor-on-the-six-one-36116236.html

When you said changes to Studio 3 or the newsroom because if you are asking about to the newsroom. What type of changes eventually become reality with RTÉ News when their main building is no longer fit for purpose? They had their latest title music & graphics including a revamped set unveiled 3 years ago at a cost of €25,000. So; they did that revamp job on the cheap. The current studio setup does appear to be adequate for them for the short term.

It could be a big waste of money to even suggest that wholesale changes to the set will be necessary if they were staying in Studio 3. I think a change in personnel in the bulletins could be the best scenario for them if RTÉ want to save money in the long term. Also when RTÉ sold off a portion of their lands at Montrose; they may use a portion of their money to propose & build a new building for themselves in a few years time. They also have a big deficit to manage as well until that is cleared up.

RTÉ might say to their newsroom staff that right now; they may not make a firm commitment to provide funding for a new set for Studio 3 unless RTÉ had plans to move them out of there & into an another studio.

RTÉ making the news in NI today:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-41251128

I'm reminded of a BBC News graphic back in 1998:

http://thetvroom.com/tvf/bbc-news-001.png

...where the shading of NI counties leaves us one county short. The video is here (52 seconds in):

To bkman1990 - RTE News comes probably from one of the most smallest television studios that a national news programme can come from. Studio 3 in RTE which opened in 1961 is only 728 Sq Ft. Now compare this to ITN's two main studios which are close to 3,000 Sq Ft each I believe, it shows you there is not much space for RTE News to play with when it comes to a revamp.

The only other idea, is that they vacate Studio 3 and take up residence in a more larger studio at the complex. Studio 2 or 5 could be perfect. Studio 2 at near 2,000 Sq Ft would given them more room. The studio was built for panel shows, news shows, discussion shows such as Today Tonight and Seven Days. Studio 5 is a very large studio compared to Studio 3 at just over 2,400 Sq Ft and they could use that, but children's television on RTE I think uses it a lot.

Studio 3 is not fit for purpose in 2017. Yes, the rest of the Donnybrook site is poor, but were there is no money, you just have to use the spaces you have got, and RTE have seemed to be content in bringing their national news coverage from a broom cupboard since 1961.

It's not the size of the studio that matters, it's what you do with it. Westcountry in the late 1990s had two daily news magazine programmes. Westcountry Live came from one side of the studio where the main desk was. Westcountry Lunchtime Live came from the other side where a soft set was, a soft set that was used on the day Diana Princess Of Wales died. The studio concerned was probably no bigger than 500 sq ft.

Yes, for a national broadcaster, RTE's news studio is small, but frankly, they utilise it pretty well, and they have done a good job of making the best out of a studio 'not fit for purpose', despite the fact that they have shown it is perfectly fit for what RTE News does, which is not the same as what BBC News does, or even what ITV News does.

I personally feel they should move RTE News into Studio 2. Give it a new set, new presentation area and a fresh feel. I am not sure who uses Studio 2 anymore. It was designed in 1961 for panel shows and discussion shows such as Today Tonight and 7 Days. I feel RTE News would benefit from a fresh feel with more space.

Studio 2 could cope with two news areas, a desk area and possible a sit down area, similar to Newsnight on BBC Two.

With TV3 revamping their news and launched a new look from their newly refurbished studio, RTE should refresh their news output.

Bryan Dobson has done his last Six-One news bulletin tonight on RTÉ. He will begin presenting on Morning Ireland from next week.

Here is a video of his last send off available on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/RTEentertainment/videos/1479648962083800/

RTÉ News Article

https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/1025/915080-bryan-dobson-rte/

From January the Six One will have an all female line up of former Morning edition presenter Keelin Shanley and the out going Washington correspondent Catriona Perry. No word as to who (if anybody) replaces Miss Perry in Washington.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2017/1026/915348-rte-news-six-one/

Sharon Ní Bheoláin moves to the Nine (alternating with Eileen Dunne), presenting Leaders Questions and Crimecall.

Also Sharon Ni Bheolain will be on rotation with Eileen Dunne on the 9 O'Clock News as well as being the new presenter of Crimecall.

It also means that it is back to an all female line up for 9 O'Clock News for the first time since Anne Doyle left RTÉ News in 2011.

Independent.ie have published a list of possible replacements for Catriona Perry's position of Washington Correspondent in 2018.

https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/here-are-the-favourites-to-replace-caitriona-perry-as-next-rte-washington-correspondent-36264280.html

Catriona Perry was the correspondent who Trump had made certain remarks about her during a presser if I recall?

Seeing as she's now RTÉ's most 'famous' name since that incident, it's no surprise she's been moved up to present the Six One.