What does the future hold for RTÉ? Dr Roderick Flynn on funding and public service media

13 July 2026

Public service media funding remains a critical policy issue, and FuJo is committed to contributing evidence-based perspectives to the debate. As part of this commitment, and following the recent Committee of Public Accounts hearing, our colleague Dr Roderick Flynn spoke with RTÉ Radio 1 about the future funding of RTÉ.

Dr Flynn argued that the current television licence fee model is no longer fit for purpose and that a sustainable, long-term funding framework is needed to maintain public service media. He also situated RTÉ's financial position within an international context, noting the vital role that public service media play in supporting an informed public sphere.

Reflecting on ongoing debates about misinformation and disinformation, Dr Flynn noted that strong public service media are an important part of the response, while stressing that they are only one element of the wider public sphere.

You can listen to the interview here.

Participants

Dr Roderick Flynn

Dr Roderick Flynn is a researcher and lecturer in the DCU School of Communications. His research interests are diverse and span the social history of communication, political economy of the media, telecommunication and broadcasting policy, and the history of media technology. In recent years a major focus of his research has been on questions of media ownership and media concentration. Roddy was part of a vast international study, the results of which are due to be published later this year in ...

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