TV TURN-OFF

Revenue from licence renewals falls by €500k during RTE crisis

- LOUISE BURNE

REVENUE from TV licence renewals fell by around €500,000 during the first week of July compared to the same period last year, new figures have shown.

If the trend continues, a drop in renewals could leave a hole of €28.5million over a full year. New figures were released to Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin, who is a member of the Oireachtas Media Committee. They show between a drop off in renewals and newly purchased licences, revenue dropped by €934,000 across June and the first week of July compared to the same period last year.

A decline in people paying the €160 fee was expected following weeks of revelations about RTE's finances.

Last Thursday, new Director General Kevin Bakhurst said he expected revenue from the TV licence to be "bumpy" in the coming months.

Figures released to Mr Griffin by Media Minister Catherine Martin show that licence fee renewals for the first week of July alone have fallen by 25%.