# RTE chiefs can try to put a brave face on their stalled reforms, but TV licence holders are voting with their wallets as we reveal the staggering number that government expect will stop paying the fee this year alone

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/rte-chiefs-can-try-to-put-a-brave-face-on-their-stalled-reforms-but-tv-licence-holders-are-voting-with-their-wallets-as-we-reveal-the-staggering-number-that-government-expect-will-stop-paying-the-fee/
- Published: 2026-11-07T22:39:35+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T23:04:23+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16274757/RTE-chiefs-try-brave-face-stalled-reforms-TV-licence-holders-voting-wallets-reveal-staggering-number-government-expect-stop-paying-fee-year-alone.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Elections, Entertainment, Government, Politics, TV, World

## Key points

- Fewer than 720,000 licences are projected to be sold in 2026.
- RTÉ faces falling licence income and uncertain government support.
- The broadcaster is seeking €1.3 billion for 2029 to 2033.

## Summary

Government projections indicate that fewer Irish households are paying the TV licence fee, adding to financial pressure on RTÉ. The broadcaster is seeking substantial additional State funding, but ministers are reportedly reluctant to commit, raising uncertainty about how it will be financed.

The figures project fewer than 720,000 licences sold in 2026, down from 768,857 in 2025 and 947,000 in 2022. At €160 each, licence income is estimated to be about €36.32 million below its 2022 level; households without a television set do not need a licence, and more than one in five households are estimated to have none. RTÉ has told an Oireachtas committee it will seek €1.3 billion in State funding for 2029 to 2033.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.