Panic station

RTE suffers its sharpest weekly slump in TV licence payments

- FERGHAL BLANEY

RTE has recorded its biggest weekly fall in licence payments as numbers collapsed from 14,394 to 8,615 for the end of this month. 

The 5,779 slump in renewals or new purchases, which represents a 40% fall, is in danger of leaving a black hole in the broadcaster’s finance of up to €50million.

Ministers have said the Government will not allow the taxpayer to bail out the national broadcaster for this huge amount.

Meanwhile, students are expected to boycott the licence in large numbers when they move into their digs ahead of the new term.