Sir, - Were every person who wished to read a newspaper obliged to subscribe to The Irish Times, your paper would be in an extremely privileged position. This is the position enjoyed by RTE - one which has led to an arrogance of attitude within the station.
Any station can claim to be a public service, but when TAM ratings are paramount, with appeal pitched accordingly, such a claim rings hollow. As regards culture, which is a living thing rather than an idea in one's head or an image in a box, it is obvious that television has lured people from communicating with each other in a natural way, to the detriment of the integrated society essential to keep any culture alive.
RTE wants to have it both ways. It wants to be considered a public service to collect millions in licence fees, and then to be excused for being so commercial. Even on Christmas Day, as appropriate viewing, the viewer was presented with one highly marketed band after another. Be it for their bands, books, promotions etc, some people can get more advertising in programmes than the advertisers can achieve in the interludes.
The station now want the public to pay more, but if, for instance a member of the public asks how much the presenters are paid, he or she is effectively told: "It is none of your business." If where the money goes is none of your business, you should not be obliged to pay it.
It would appear that RTE wants to define our culture according to its view. Those who disagree with the ethos of the organisation are still obliged to contribute to the station, or else forfeit the facility (a TV set) and freedom to view any other station. Such authoritarianism should have no place in a democracy. In this context the broadcasting miracle referred to by Joe Mulholland (Opinion, January 7th) is not so amazing. - Yours, etc., Pat Hughes,
Bird Avenue, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14.