Annual Report & Group A Year in Review Financial Statements 2016 Today, Tomorrow, Together. RTÉ is Ireland’s national public-service media organisation – on television, radio, online and mobile. Contents Raidió Teilifís Éireann Board Vision, Mission and Values 02 The 56th Annual Report Highlights 03 and Group Financial Chair’s Statement 04 Statements for the 12 months Director-General’s Review 06 ended 31 December 2016 Financial Review 12 presented to the Minister for Who We Are 20 Communications, Climate Organisation Structure 21 Action and Environment in line Operational Review 22 with sections 109 and 110 of the Board of RTÉ 100 Broadcasting Act 2009. Executive 104 Corporate Governance 106 Board Members’ Report 113 Statement of Board Members’ Responsibilities 114 Is féidir leagan Gaeilge den Independent Auditor’s Report 115 Tuarascáil a íoslódáil ó Financial Statements 116 www.rte.ie/about/ie/policies- Notes forming part of the Group Financial Statements 123 and-reports/annual-reports/ Appendix to the Group Financial Statements – Accounting Policies 164 Other Reporting Requirements 169 Other Statistical Information 179 Financial History 180 RTÉ Annual Report & Group Financial Statements 2016 01 Vision RTÉ’s vision is to enrich Irish life; to inform, entertain and challenge; and to connect with the lives of all the people. Mission Deliver the most-trusted, independent, Irish news service, that is accurate and impartial, for the connected age. Provide the broadest range of value-for-money, quality content and services for all ages, interests and communities. Reflect Ireland’s cultural and regional diversity, and enable access to major events. Support and nurture Irish production and Irish creative talent. Values Understand our audiences and put them at the heart of everything we do. Be creative, innovative and resourceful. Be open, collaborative and flexible. Be responsible, respectful, honest and accountable to one another and to our audiences. 02 Highlights RTÉ.ie had an average of 54,000,000 page views each month in 2016. More than 3,000,000 viewers tuned in to RTÉ’s television services across the Easter weekend, reaching 75% of the viewing population. With a cast of more than 600 performers, Centenary told the stories of Ireland through multiple art forms. Over 1,000,000 people tuned into RTÉ Radio 1 every week. Live viewing on RTÉ Player was up by 74% on 2015. RTÉ Sport delivered 885 hours of original sport programming on television in 2016. RTÉ Annual Report & Group Financial Statements 2016 03 Chair’s During 2016 the Irish creative sector, in which RTÉ is a key player, had a central role in our efforts as a nation to remember our history Statement and respond to the lessons to be found there. It was both a joyous and thought-provoking year of commemoration and future planning. Much of RTÉ’s programming around the national commemoration was in the cultural sphere, reflecting the impact of those events on the shape of contemporary society. As the national public media service, we RTÉ had another demanding year financially. is very welcome. As well as extensive television continue to provide a unique platform for a Some of this was due to the exceptional nature coverage, we will also have exclusive national distinctive Irish voice in a globalised world. of the commitments placed on the organisation radio rights for that period. Radio 1 continued Crucially, RTÉ was both a participant and a in 2016. A General Election and major sporting to be the strongest and clearest voice on the witness to the most ambitious public history occasions, such as the Olympic Games and airwaves. Investigative journalism remains and cultural event ever staged in Ireland. We the UEFA European Championships, coincided strong. A number of significant stories broadcast helped create and archive the unfolding drama, with the national events surrounding the by RTÉ caused public debate, notably stories on whether it was on O’Connell Street for the State commemoration of the centenary of the Easter the Console charity and a number of stories on Commemoration, at Collins Barracks for A Rising. care institutions. Nation’s Voice, the Centenary television event, RTÉ Reflecting the Rising, the massive public These were planned events and the high costs The members of the RTÉ Audience Council, event held in Dublin city centre, or the Every associated with them meant that a deficit was appointed in 2015, finished their term. They County has a Story project, which was delivered always anticipated for the year. provided the Board with useful data and on the RTÉ Player and other platforms. personal insights into a number of areas of our External factors continued to have an impact activity. The Council’s work will be a helpful input Perhaps fittingly, 2016 was also a year of on the work of RTÉ. The UK’s decision to leave into the organisational plan being developed in new beginnings. The General Election in the European Union, ‘Brexit’ as it is known, 2017. the spring was the major political story for significantly affected the economic climate our programme-makers. The increasing for the worse. It greatly reduced commercial Board committees continued their valuable diversity of political opinion, fragmentation income for RTÉ, as for other media bodies, in work. They undertake key responsibilities, of Government and opposition parties, and the second half of the year. All these factors although their work is often unreported. I want innovative approaches to Government combined have led to a deficit of €19.7m to thank all those involved for their commitment formation made the task of providing fair and in 2016. The Board has been working with and care while making important decisions. comprehensive coverage an exciting challenge. management to address these issues and to As part of this work, a new Commercial and On all platforms, RTÉ provided balanced take measures, both short-term and structural, Technology Committee was established and exhaustive coverage of events as they to return to balance. and the Fair Trading Committee worked with unfolded. management to develop a functional separation The Board is proceeding with a strategy to of RTÉ’s commercial activities. For RTÉ, 2016 was also a year of renewal. Dee realise some of RTÉ’s property holdings, Forbes was appointed Director-General in July. including the sale of a portion of the lands Padraig Ó Céidigh left the Board to join Seanad Dee is the first external appointment to this at Donnybrook, which will release crucial Éireann. He was replaced towards the end of crucial post for over 50 years and is the first resources for re-investment and allow a the year by Eoin McVey. His contribution will be woman to hold the position. She will lead the re-orientation of the site as part of a broader welcome as the Board deals with the challenges organisation into its next five-year strategy. Her restructuring of RTÉ. of the coming year. term as Director-General will be dominated by the need for transformational change grounded In a media environment which continues to Already 2017 has shown itself to be challenging in the emerging structures and demands of be uncertain and fast-changing, The Board – politically, economically and socially. In 21st century public-service broadcasting. The continues, in co-operation with others in the these times of uncertainty, it is essential that Board will give her every support in this task. sector, to seek a new and sustainable funding RTÉ continues to address complex domestic base for public-service broadcasting. The and international issues with the degree of Dee’s appointment was prompted by the transformation of the organisation over the next objectivity, decency, fairness and balance for departure of Noel Curran after many years of few years will be in the context of a changing which it has come to be recognised. The Board service to RTÉ. His experience and leadership regulatory and commercial environment for all will continue to work to ensure that this deserved will be missed and the Board is grateful for his media and RTÉ’s funding model, like RTÉ itself, reputation is both protected and maintained. sure judgement in several senior posts over a must continue to adapt to new challenges. number of years and, in particular, for his work as Director-General in guiding RTÉ through a Naturally, while there is much change, there is difficult time. I wish him well in his future career. also continuity. RTÉ renewed its relationship Moya Doherty with the GAA for an additional five years, which Chair 04 RTÉ Annual Report & Group Financial Statements 2016 05 Director- Few years have been marked by such defining moments of inflection, disruption and reflection as 2016. For Ireland, it was a General’s special centenary milestone that allowed us to commemorate, Review celebrate and reflect on the events that shaped the birth of our independence. It was also an election year, which resulted in an entirely reshaped Dáil and an unlikely minority Government sustained by a confidence and supply arrangement with the largest opposition party. For Europe, it was a year when, following a highly divisive campaign, one of its biggest members decided to leave the Union. And for the United States, it was when the most unlikely of political outsiders, Donald Trump, defeated Hilary Clinton to win election to the White House. Throughout the year, RTÉ brought it all and At its best, public-service media ensures that Following 24 days of campaigning, the General much more to Irish audiences across its radio, there is a publicly owned space where we can Election took place on 26 February. RTÉ’s television, mobile and online services. come together, discuss and debate, remember coverage of the election results was led by together and celebrate together.