RTE(Ireland) not happy with interfering Channel 5(UK)

[aussie_bum]

As most Irish viewers of Home and Away on RTE will be aware, Ireland was ALWAYS the first country in the world to broadcast the show after Australia's transmission on the Seven Network! And very promptly too I might add!

However, back in June of this year(2007), for the FIRST time ever, Five in the UK over-took the RTE transmission and has subsequently become the first broadcaster to screen the show after Australia! Currently as it stands (21 August 2007), Five in the UK are 2 episodes ahead of the RTE broadcast in Ireland!

I decided to contact RTE to find out what was happening, but I had a fair idea what was going on.....Five are holding RTE at ransom(surprise, surprise)!!!

Here is the email I sent to the Director of Broadcast & Acquisitions @ RTÉ dated 20 August 2007:

Hi Dermot

I just have a few questions in relation to Aussie drama, 'Home and Away'.

It's very frustrating as a huge fan of Home and Away that RTE seems to be held at ransom by UK channel Five, when it comes to broadcasting the show. Correct me if I am wrong on any of the following points, but RTE are currently 2 episodes behind the UK broadcast (which has never happened before - even when the show was with ITV), and about 3 months behind Seven's transmission in Australia? It also appears that we (RTE) have to take a break in transmission as and when Channel Five take a break from the show? It seems Five are calling all the shots as and when Irish audiences can watch the show on RTE!

Is there a new clause in RTE's contract and with the shows Distributors(Southern Star) that states RTE:

1. Must stay a certain distance behind the Australian broadcast?

2. Channel 5 now got the "First Transmission Rights" to the show?

Lets not forget that back in 2000/2001, RTE was only 1 episode behind the Australian transmission. RTE have had Home and Away since it's inception in 1988 and have always held "first transmission rights" over any other network in the world, outside Australia to broadcast the show. It now seems that Five have won this right, can RTE fight them for this?

Also will the move of Neighbours from the BBC to Five in March next year effect RTE's screening? I am aware that due to contractual reasons RTE currently cannot over-take the BBC screening as they had the show first, will this be the case when it moves to Five?

Look forward to your reply.

Best Regards,

Alex

__________________________________

RESPONSE FROM RTE: ...............

Alex,

Unfortunately, Channel 5’s license fee basically pays for the entire production cost of Home and Away and then some. As such they have negotiated a European premiere for the show, and there is nothing we can do. We can catch up with Channel 5 but can’t overtake them due to them now funding the show. RTE have had several court proceedings against Channel 5 since they won the rights to Home and Away back in 2000, as they unsuccessfully attempted to stop us from transmitting the show during that cross-over period where they could not broadcast the show until the contract with ITV expired.

RTE will continue to screen Home and Away 5 days a week to the Irish public as it is a "Jewel" in our scheduling, we continue to beat off all our competitors in the 6.30pm slot, and viewing figures are extremely healthy and continuing to rise.

Unlike ITV, Channel 5 is available to less than 5% of Irish households, and their playing the episodes first hasn’t affected our ratings.

On the Neighbours issue, again Channel 5's enormous licence fee precludes RTE playing it ahead of them.

Kind regards,

Dermot Horan

Director of Broadcast & Acquisitions RTÉ

[aussie_bum]

Hi guys,

I would really love to hear your opinions on this!! Do you think Channel 5 have the right to tell RTE when to broadcast the show.....we are in a different country, we buy the show direct from Australia, and no one in Ireland can pick up Channel bl*ody 5!!

Do you think it right just because Channel 5 flash some extra cash at Seven to help with production costs, they can steal the "First Transmission" rights from RTE??

Feel free to comment guys!!

[Closer Each Day]

I watch both Neighbours and H&A on RTÉ but I'm slightly confused. Are they basically saying that yes, RTÉ can run at the exact same pace as Five, i.e. showing the same episode on the same day or must we always be at least day behind?

In the case of H&A, I'd imagine that because the show airs at 6:30 pm, with Five airing the show at 6:00 pm, then technically they will still have the European premiere and we should be allowed to air the same episode on the same day as Five.

However in terms of Neighbours, I can see RTÉ being forced to be a day or more behind. If Five make the sensible choice of keeping Neighbours in the 5:30 pm slot, then the show would air at the exact same time in both countries albeit with a five minute difference as Five are likely to air the show from 5:30 - 6:00 pm, whereas RTÉ will stick with tradition and go 5:35 - 6:00 pm. Unless they swap the timeslot with The Simpsons, airing Neighbours at 6:00 pm and creating an Aussie drama hour.

I'd imagine the switch from BBC to Five will actually make the RTÉ episodes rate higher anyway, but still, I can't say I'm too pleased about being behind UK pace on either show.

[emmasi]

Channel 5’s license fee basically pays for the entire production cost of Home and Away and then some.

That's kind of a scary thought... our most popular Australian drama is owned and operated by another country . What's next, Five keep running H&A on a fast track until they're all caught up to Australia, and then they get the right to air new episodes over our Summer, so that they have the WORLD premier?? From what I've heard of that channel, they really do sound like interfering jerks. How's that for an opinion ?

[aussie_bum]

  Closer Each Day said:

I watch both Neighbours and H&A on RTÉ but I'm alightly confused. Are they bacically saying that yes, RTÉ can run at the exact same pace as Five, i.e. showing the same episode on the same day or must we always be at least day behind?

In the case of H&A, I'd imagine that because the show airs at 6:30 pm, with Five airing the show at 6:00 pm, then technically they will still have the European premiere and we should be allowed to air the same episode on the same day as Five.

However in terms of Neighbours, I can see RTÉ being forced to be a day or more behind. If Five make the sensible choice of keeping Neighbours in the 5:30 pm slot, then the show would air at the exact same time in both countries albeit with a five minute difference as Five are likely to air the show from 5:30 - 6:00, whereas RTÉ will stick with tradition and go 5:35-6:00. Unless the swap the timeslot with The Simpsons, airing Neighbours at 6:00 pm and creating an Aussie drama hour.

I'm imagine thw switch from BBC to Five will actually make the RTÉ episodes rate higher anyway, but still, I can't say I'm too pleased about being behind UK pace on either show.

Basically in a nut shell...Channel 5 have got permission from the shows distributors to have first broadcast....i.e RTE can show the same episode as Channel 5 on the same day, BUT they CANNOT show the episode before the Channel 5. So not 2hrs before, 30mins before or even 5mins before, it MUST be after or at the same time! I mean who do they think they are...!! Believe me RTE has fought hard to change this, but seems to be a no go! Channel 5 have the cash!!

In regard to Neighbours, same deal! BBC and RTE show the same episodes everyday! RTE are not behind BBC. When it moves to Five, RTE will still have to play ball. They cannot over-take or screen it at an earlier time than Five. Word in the Media at the moment says Five are going to screen Neighbours a 6.30pm AFTER Home and Away (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_and_Away#UK_takes_a_revived_interest) which means RTE will have to change their schedule too, because they cannot keep it at 5.30pm as this would be before Five!

I am really not happy with Five dictating RTE's screening of Home and Away and soon to be Neighbours....for crying out loud we are in a different country!! MONGRELS!

[aussie_bum]

  emmasi said:

Channel 5’s license fee basically pays for the entire production cost of Home and Away and then some.

That's kind of a scary thought... our most popular Australian drama is owned and operated by another country . What's next, Five keep running H&A on a fast track until they're all caught up to Australia, and then they get the right to air new episodes over our Summer, so that they have the WORLD premier?? From what I've heard of that channel, they really do sound like interfering jerks. How's that for an opinion ?

You said it mate! Interfering old MONGRELS as Alf flamin' Stewart would say!!! No, Seven will ALWAYS have the final say, and will always have first screening! Remember, by the time the tapes are sent over to pommie land and those Channel 5 mongrels get a chance to view the tapes, and EDIT the show (from what i'm told), they will always be a few weeks behind!

At least with RTE in Ireland they dont edit the show and it is the same version as shown in Australia!!! Get this, on the closing credits shown on Channel 5, the official Home and Away website(that's the Yahoo Seven site) is blacked out, because stupid Channel 5 dont want viewers checking up on storylines happening on Seven's broadcast in Oz! As if the fans wont jump on the net and have a look....hello!!! I can pick up Channel 5 and refuse to watch the show on it.

Thank god RTE treat H & A well....i'd rather watch the unedited and original Oz format as shown on RTE, even if it is 2 eps behind those other MONGRELS (FIVE)!!!

[Mistified]

I guess it's just a case of "money talks" and RTE aren't prepared to stump up the cash to have the European Premier rights.

I'm still seething with them for not showing the evening episodes when Flynn died

[Siog Alainn]

  Mistified said:

I'm still seething with them for not showing the evening episodes when Flynn died

I was doing my junior cert at the time and had to get my mam to record it for me in the afternoon so I could watch it when I got home!

As for the other thing, it is unfair how Five can dictate when the episodes are shown in Ireland. However, it doesn't bother me much that the episodes are shown a few days before on English TV. Not many of us can access channel 5 here anyways so its not like some people are watching a day or two ahead.

The same thing could be said for Desperate Housewives or ER on RTE, both of them were shown before Channel 4 or E4 got it. I don't know if it's the same situation i.e contract issues but it's the same principle.

[Cal]

Oh dear.

RTÉ are made of money. They are government owned, right? Or are they? I don't exactly know, I just assumed they are. They should at least fund their "JEWEL" of a show rather than waste the money on pointless crap like, "Love Is A Drug" and other horrible tasteless dramas. Also, they should cut the funding for Fair City (Come on, It can't get any worse) and maybe put it towards Home And Away funding.

[halcyon06]

All I can say is, I wish we can back to the old days when we are WAY ahead of the UK!!