RTÉ Warned To 'Stop Chasing Ratings'

Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan has warned RTÉ that it must broadcast more public service content at primetime.
The Irish broadcaster could lose some of its licence fee if it continues to broadcast large amounts of bought-in foreign programming.
Mr Ryan's comments come before the Broadcasting Bill 2008, which will go before the Dáil shortly.
The Bill will implement the dissolution of the RTÉ Authority, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and their replacement by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI).
A department spokeswoman said the BAI will have "beefed-up" powers with extra powers of supervision in order to ensure that RTÉ lives up to its public service commitments.
RTÉ will face a yearly review of its commitment to public service along with a review of public broadcasting every five years in a public broadcasting charter.
The broadcaster will still be permitted to show foreign programming at primetime but will risk losing licence fee money if it is at the expense of public service content.
Mr. Ryan commented: "We're in a very fast-changing, broadcasting world. We need really good creative people working there and we need to give them space to actually deliver programmes, deliver real stories that are actually relevant to Irish people."
(DS/JM)