RTÉ has parted company with Ryan Tubridy, the former presenter of The Late Late Show, whose renumeration engulfed the Irish public broadcaster.
As well as the Friday night show, Tubridy also presented the morning show on RTÉ Radio 1.
In March this year a routine audit of RTE’s 2022 accounts found an issue relating to the transparency of payments made to Tubridy over his TV appearances.
In a statement, RTÉ director-general Kevin Bakhurst confirmed negotiations had concluded: “Despite having agreed some of the fundamentals, including fee, duration and hours, regretfully, it is my view that trust between the parties has broken down. Public statements made without consultation appear to question the basis for the necessary restatement of fees paid for services for 2020 and 2021.”
Tubridy’s previously published remunerations for 2020 and 2021 show that he earned €466,250 and €440,000 respectively, which by 2021 (the first full year on a new contract) appeared to represent an 11% reduction on his 2019 earnings. This was in line with plans by RTE to reduce payments to its talent by 15%.
However, RTE had agreed to underwrite a further €75,000 that would be paid to Turbridy by a commercial partner in return for several personal appearances a year. The commercial partner received a credit note from RTE, reducing its commitment to the broadcaster.
But the commercial partner didn’t renew for a second year, forcing RTE to make the payments itself and these were made to Turbridy’s agent on his behalf.
Bakhurst said he was now focussing on the reorganisation of the broadcaster and restoration of trust.
