Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
412. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is a possibility RTÉ long-wave radio may be re-introduced; to give an update on the previously recommended DAB replacement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35265/23]
View answerThe closure of RTÉ’s longwave radio service was included in the recommendations made by the Future of Media Commission, whose Report was published by Government in July 2022. In January this year, the Future of Media Commission Implementation Strategy and Action Plan was published to give effect to the 49 recommendations of the Commission accepted by Government.
The Commission’s recommendation with regard to longwave radio was designed to provide RTÉ with the opportunity to concentrate its resources in innovation and digital services, to better serve the public now and into the future. Ultimately, however, its closure was an operational decision for RTÉ.
Longwave radio transmission is an outdated technology with very few services remaining in Europe and is generally no longer accessible on modern radio sets. The closure of the longwave transmitter has avoided the requirement to make significant investments to maintain the transmitter, estimated by RTÉ to be in the region of €2.6 million, and significant energy costs. RTÉ considered that the cost of maintaining the service, both financially and to the environment, was no longer sustainable by the organisation.
RTÉ ceased Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) transmission in March 2021. At that time, RTÉ indicated that the decision was driven by three main factors: audience usage, industry engagement and financial management.
The most recent JNLR/Ipsos Report into radio listening (April 2022 - March 2023) states that 3.255 million people (aged 15+) tune into radio every weekday, meaning that 79.4% of all adults listen to radio daily. In terms of devices, widespread ownership of smartphones (at 91% of the adult population in 2022) helps access to audio anytime and anywhere, increasing the importance of radio or digital streaming. This largely displaced the need for and usage of DAB.
