RTÉ has posted a net deficit after tax of €19.7m for 2016, despite recording solid operating profits over the last three years.

The figures are included in the national broadcaster's annual report for the year ended 31st December 2016.

According to RTE, a number of large-scale special events, including the centenary celebrations and commemorations, the General Election, Euro 2016, the Olympic Games and Paralympics - at a cost of €16m - contributed to its financial results.

The annual report also makes note of the €5m reduction in public funding in the 2014 Budget and static income from the licence fee, which remains almost unchanged at €179.1m.

Additionally, the year end statement acknowledged a "financially difficult year" as commercial revenue struggled in the second half "as the adverse impact of Brexit worsened amid ongoing uncertainty".

A number of achievements throughout the year were highlighted including RTÉ Reflecting the Rising on Easter Monday and the broadcaster's coverage across the Easter commemorative weekend.

RTÉ Player delivered a record 4.2million streams per month and more than 50million overall, up 10 million on 2015, according to the report, while over 1,000,000 people tuned into RTÉ Radio 1 each week.

RTÉ Sport's coverage of Euro 2016, Olympic Games, Paralympics and GAA coverage were also noted.

"The cost of the centenary events and coverage was an onerous one for RTÉ to absorb, while commercial revenue struggled for growth and public funding remained static. Despite these challenges, RTÉ delivered first-class election and sports coverage and analysis to our audiences on all platforms, and an ambitious centenary programme that we can all be very proud of," Dee Forbes, Director-General RTÉ, said.

"The investment of proceeds from the recent sale of land and plans to significantly reshape the organisation will better equip RTE to meet the needs of our audiences in what is a very challenging market."

Ms Forbes reiterated comments she made last week as regards "the current uncertainty around the tv licence fee system, both in its current performance and in how and when it might be reformed, is making it almost impossible for RTÉ and those reliant on us, to plan ahead".

"The failure to reform and modernise the current TV Licence system is costing jobs across the sector, causing a stark reduction on Irish made TV programming, threatening the provision of trusted news and current affairs and is having a stifling effect on the potential of the Irish broadcasting sector as whole," she said.

Moya Doherty, Chair of the RTÉ Board, added: "The achievements - growth of RTÉ’s digital services, the excellence of RTÉ’s investigative journalism, the tremendous coverage of Ireland’s centenary and much more besides - are against the backdrop of huge financial challenges, many of which are ongoing.

"The Board is committed to continuing to work with the Director-General to address these challenges, to help in the development of RTÉ’s new five-year strategy and the important evolution of Ireland’s national public media."

Online Editors