RTE faces lawsuit from TV3 over listings error
Sunday December 20 2009
RTE faces being sued by rival station TV3 over "significant and egregious" errors in the Christmas edition of the RTE Guide, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
The legal row has erupted following a major error the St Stephen's Day listings in the RTE Guide, which saw TV3's listings mixed up with UTV. TV3 says the error is so serious that it could have a fundamental impact on its Christmas viewing figures.
TV3 is also suing over the incorrect listing of the film Belonging to Laura, whose world premiere is tomorrow night at 9pm.
The commercial station has also complained about a poor level of exposure to its films over the Christmas period in the RTE Guide.
RTE has confirmed it has received legal correspondence from its rival, and said the matter was now being dealt with. RTE, which earlier this year announced losses of almost €70m and receives over €200m a year in licence fee money, has admitted the error, saying it was as a result of a mistake in production made by an external supplier.
RTE has denied there was any malice in the errors, saying it has promoted TV3 shows on its cover three times this year.
Legal notice was sent last Thursday to RTE on behalf of TV3.
It states: "Our client has suffered and will continue to suffer serious loss and damage unless immediate arrangements are made to withdraw all copies of the magazine currently on sale. And that the same be replaced with a corrected version.
"Alternatively, if, as seems to be the case, this proposal is unacceptable to you, we ask you to make the following arrangements to mitigate the damage already done.
"Firstly, corrections to be broadcasted on radio and television, in prime time on dates and times to be agreed: the correct TV3 listings for Saint Stephen's Day and the incorrect transmission time and date and for Belonging to Laura.
"Secondly, a separate advert to run on RTE 1 and RTE Radio 1 in relation to the Irish TV premiere of Belonging to Laura."
Maureen Catterson of TV3 confirmed that the station was pursuing the situation legally. Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Ms Catterson said: "We have no problem with honest mistakes but when it's this many at such an important time of year, we need them to be fixed and rectified so we can all move on."
In response, Muirne Laffan, executive director of RTE Publishing said: "RTE acknowledges the error which the suppliers have taken responsibility for.
"We have endeavoured to mitigate the errors and have addressed it on our website, where we have published the correct television listings. However, we feel the demands from TV3 are excessive and cannot be met."
Christmas TV: LIFE Magazine
- DANIEL McCONNELL Chief Reporter EXCLUSIVE
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