€3.7bn licence fees..but RTE is struggling

Broadcaster's woes despite €200m a year

- JOHN KIERANS

THE TV licence fee has raked in €3.7billion for RTE over the past 20 years - but the broadcaster insists that it now needs to be reformed if the station is to survive.

Figures released by Culture Minister Catherine Martin show that RTE regularly takes in close to €200million a year from the TV licence fee, yet station bosses admit it is still struggling to remain sustainable.

Despite the huge intake, the national broadcaster is losing money and was given €15million in additional taxpayer cash last year on top of €196.2million it had already received from the TV licence.

RTE has revealed that the current TV licence collection system is losing in excess of €65million per year - and getting worse.

"This is funding that the collection system is supposed to - but doesn't deliver to RTE to invest in more Irish journalism, drama, documentaries, comedy, entertainment, live sport and more," a spokesperson said.

"A funding system that leaves RTE short by tens of millions every year urgently needs reform by Government. Only Government can fix it.