Tubridy’s hopeless negotiations and the peril for other RTE “stars”

In all of human history, fewer people have been dealt a worse hand in a negotiation than that currently held by Ryan Tubridy in his ongoing talks with RTE. We are told, this week, that talks are “ongoing”, but there’s not really any reason for talking at all, since Tubridy doesn’t have any leverage. Except, perhaps, if he wishes to push the nuclear button. But more on that anon.

For years, the stated reason for high wages for “talent” in RTE was in order to hedge the station against the prospect of losing said “talent” to other broadcasters. Irish broadcasters making a go of it elsewhere is not unheard of – both Terry Wogan and Graham Norton have made big names for themselves working for the BBC. These were the two spectres most commonly cited as a reason to keep doling out the big bucks to those who remained loyal, and at home – the fear that “Saturday Night with Miriam” might suddenly appear on ITV, or worse, on Sky.