RTÉ Promotion VHS - March 1998

The future of broadcasting in Ireland video sleeve

Back in 1998 I attended a public meeting held by RTE in Co. Waterford, which was held in order to outline the future of broadcasting in Ireland. I can remember three items they handed out free, a notepad and pen with the then new RTE logo livery and this video. The paper is long gone but the pen might be still floating around somewhere.



I remember little from the evening bar someone complaining that they had to pay for the RTE guide and why he couldn't get terrestrial TV listings free on the RTE website like the BBC website. Times were simpler back then I guess.

The 10 minute video shows clips from broadcasting of the year previous (1997) and its quite interesting to see whats changed and what hasn't. It's only 10 years ago so things don't seem too alien but its eerie to watch because while everything looks familiar and in place theres still just something night right with it. Its a bit like a dream or an RTE from a parallel dimension... or maybe its just 10 years old :)


The video seems a bit choppy, not sure why, but its watchable

Some Things I've Learned From This Video:


2FM still had their old logo; RTE 2 was Network 2; I could stomach Ray Darcy.

Pascal Sheehy was a regional reporter; Glenroe was still on; Mary Robinson was our president.

That guy is no longer around; Brendan O'Carrolls Hot Milk and Pepper was part of an RTE schedule; Duncan Stewart presented a better program back then, with better theme music too.

Echo Island existed and that guy had a full head of hair; TG4 was TnaG.

Dave Fanning had his own Movie Show; RTE showed F1; Michelle Smith was still a hero.

Mike Murphy presented Winning Streak; Eircom didn't exist; Gaybo was the only man for the Late Late Show.

We were good at the Eurovison; The RTE Guide add had some woeful graphics; The RTE website was pathetic.

We were led to believe a new era of RTE broadcast had arrived, it was called Rupert Murdock; The RTE logo is till the same.