shameful.
What should now be done, take the rights problematic programmes off RTE One and place them on RTE TWO and take the RTE Two shows without rights issues and put them on RTE One. This was the intent of RTE Two when it was established. Then remove the Sky encryption from RTE One and RTE One (International) *is on the air* in the astra footprint. allowing anyone who wants to (cable/DTT) to relay the service FOC/FTA like RTE does with its radio signals.

Its now time the Sky grip on Irish TV was forcefully removed

RTE shelves UK launch
Broadcaster cites straitened circumstances as it puts off move planned for 2009
Mark Tighe times online
RTE has postponed the planned launch of its international station for the Irish community in Britain, citing straitened financial circumstances.

The national broadcaster wrote to Eamon Ryan, the communications minister, last month claiming that it would be “unwise” for it to continue with the plan.

John Nolan, chairman of the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society in Britain, said he was “shocked” by the move. “This is really disheartening, especially for the older generation,” he said. “The government has bragged about providing this service and it is long overdue, so there should be no excuses.”

Under the 2007 Broadcasting Act, the RTE Authority is required to set up a channel for “Irish communities outside the island of Ireland”, but there was no time limit imposed.
Related Links

Five months ago Ryan said the channel would be available to the 850,000 Irish-born people living in Britain by St Patrick’s Day 2009 and would “provide the Irish abroad with a valuable link to home”.

RTE said it intended to honour the commitment in the legislation and hoped to launch the station by the end of 2009. Its initial plan was to have the channel on air by the end of this year.

The estimated cost of running RTE International is €3m a year. The main costs involve buying space on a UK transmission network and setting up a London base to assemble the programming for the channel. The government also wants the new station to expand into other countries with large Irish communities.

A spokeswoman for Ryan said the decision to postpone the launch of the channel was “a reflection of the financial realities in Ireland and worldwide”. She said the minister is committed to the idea of RTE International and that it could be a “brilliant product” similar to BBC World News.

media network blog

In the local library today I found an RTÉ doc called ‘2006 corporate responsibility‘ [pdf]
in the intro on page 6 it says.

Acting in the public interest
Despite the changing landscape one thing will not change; the very high expectations Irish audiences have of RTÉ – and in particular the high editorial standards. They are right to have these expectations and RTÉ consistently strives to meet them. RTÉ sets public interest tests for itself that include

…

High quality schedules available to all (i.e. universally available and free to air)
…

We want all our services to meet these tests and all our audiences to know that they can trust the integrity of our programmes.
…

The changing landscape
As Irish broadcasting moves to a digital age, RTÉ is committed to developing and changing as necessary to maintain an excellence of service to the people of Ireland. RTÉ must maximise on new ways of connecting with its audiences – while not exacerbating effects of the digital divide. Access to and use of the new wave of technologies will not be universal, there may be a significant group of “digital have-nots”, and it is critical that we ensure broadcasting does not become a source of division rather than of unity. RTÉ will work to ensure that everyone is informed of the new reality, of the advantages of digital, and helped to bridge the digital divide.

does RTÉ has a CSR officer? the audience council also sets itself this test. does the audience council still meet?