Archive for January 15th, 2009

If it ain’t broke, then break it

January 15th, 2009

Back in 1971, I went to work in RTE.

It was a great place to be then.

The place was run by programmers and engineers and it was all one big happy family.

It was run on a very casual basis, and because there were few rules and restrictions, the staff responded by giving their best.  I loved it there, and I worked my arse off along with everyone else.  We had a pride in our jobs and in what we were doing and were all very happy.

Over the years, it changed.

Slowly but surely, the programmers and the engineers were elbowed out, and the accountants took over.

In the early days, if you came in late for work, no one minded, provided you got the job done.

The accountants were different though.  They were clock watchers, and punctuality was far more important than anything else. The people who used to be erratic about their timekeeping but who worked their balls off were hauled over the coals.  The slackers who were punctual got all the praise. 

Morale took a downturn over the years. 

The accountants eventually got their teeth into everything and money became God.  If a programme was good but the accountants weren’t happy with the returns, it was axed.  Slowly but surely, programmes sank to the level of the lowest common denominator.  If it was cheap, it was good.  The motto of the station became “If it ain’t broke, then break it”.

Rick O’Shea and Nikki Hayes are the latest victims of financial rectitude.

The accountants have decided that somehow they can shave a few cents if Rick and Nikki cut the cackle on their radio programmes and just play records.  Being accountants, they don’t realise that the cackle is what makes the programme.  Rick and Nikki worked very hard to build up an audience and they were damned good.  That’s gone now.  The programmes are becoming as bland as the rest of the shite that the other stations put out.  But the accountants are happy.

I retired from RTE in 2001.  I couldn’t wait to get out.  It had become a depressing place to work in.

Those fucking accountants has destroyed the place and are continuing to do so.

Bastards.