TV licence fee renewals drop 37% from August 2022

Mike Finnerty 10 Aug 2023

RTÉ has suffered a drop in licence fee revenue to the tune of almost €1 million, as fewer people are paying the fee in the wake of the payments scandal.

The Department of Media confirmed TV licence sales for the first week in August were 9,361, which starkly contrasts 15,030 sales in the same period last year.

In pure financial terms, RTÉ has lost out on €907,040 in revenue so far this month.

The broadcaster has been under pressure to restore public confidence following a €2.7m drop-off in licence fee sales in July alone.

Figures provided by the Department of Media show that 17,297 fewer TV licences were bought in July compared to the same time period in 2022.

The payment scandal at RTÉ has eroded public trust in RTÉ according to new director general Kevin Bakhurst, and has said he is committed to instilling a culture of reform and transparency in his new position.

RTÉ has been bullish in recent weeks that people are still consuming content by the state broadcaster, pointing to strong TV and online viewership of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

An audit of RTÉ’s finances carried out by Grant Thornton kickstarted one of the most dramatic chapters in RTÉ’s history, with director general Dee Forbes resigning and former star presenter Ryan Tubridy and his agent appearing before an Oireachtas committee to explain their part in the scandal.