RTÉ News: RTÉ musical plan had identified 'notoriously difficult endeavour'

Story from RTÉ News:

An internal RTÉ business plan, which analysed the strengths and weaknesses of 'Toy Show The Musical', identified that "musicals are a notoriously difficult endeavour, and success in this market is dependent on delivery of a product that exceeds significant expectations".

The document, from November 2021, also warned RTÉ that the Christmas period is "... well-served with many well-established events occupying prime calendar dates".

The plan has been released to the Dáil Public Accounts Committee by RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst, who describes the document as the earliest business case available for a project which eventually lost €2.2m.

The document also points out RTÉ's expertise is "... predominantly in broadcast output rather than events" and its "dedicated public events team is small and stretched in delivering the current slate".

The plan concludes: "It will require significant upfront funding at a time... when RTÉ is losing a significant number of staff".

On strengths, the document says, The Late Late Show is a well-established programme with a "... ready-made large receptive audience" and RTÉ has a "proven track record in delivering large scale events".

It suggests that the broadcaster has a "... unique capacity to drive ticket sales and marketing using own media."

It concludes: "Entertainment is at the heart of RTÉ's remit."

Under a "threats" section, the document states: "Depending on the chosen business model, events carry financial risk."

It adds: "A negative experience at an event could severely damage a well-established brand and RTÉ."

In the Executive Summary, it reveals that the original plan involved using the RTÉ concert orchestra, as well as "young stars of The Late Late Toy Show" and was based around what is described as "a brilliant and well-developed script/concept."

It declares: "The Late Late Toy Show Live is the ultimate, annual, returnable, fixed-calendar experience event for RTÉ - truly unique to RTÉ, it harnesses the unrivalled reach of the most watched, most loved television show in Ireland."

© RTÉ 2024.