Center Parcs Longford Forest 'pause' sponsorship of Ryan Tubridy's RTE radio programme

Leisure company Center Parcs’ sponsorship of Ryan Tubridy’s radio programme has been paused, RTE has said.

It also confirmed that Center Parcs Longford Forest would not be renewing its sponsorship of the hour-long Radio One show.

There has been a sharp focus on governance and finances at the public service broadcaster since it revealed that it had under-reported Tubridy’s salary since 2017 by amounts totalling 345,000 euro.

Particular criticism has focused on a commitment in 2020 that RTE would underwrite commercial payments due to its highest-earner, worth 75,000 euro over a five-year period.

Longford Senator says households 'cancelling' TV licence fee payments in wake of RTÉ controversy

Government bosses fear households across the country will “en masse” veto against paying the State’s €160 TV licence fee in the midst of the RTÉ payments crisis.

 

Tubridy, who had served as the host of RTE’s flagship programme The Late Late Show from 2009 until this May, has said the responsibility for the “serious errors” rests with RTE, but admitted he should have questioned the accuracy of published figures on his salary.

Tubridy has not presented his weekday radio programme since the undeclared payments by RTE were revealed on June 22, with interim deputy director general Adrian Lynch stating that it was not tenable for him to be on air while under media and political focus.

Following reports in The Journal, RTE confirmed on Friday that Center Parcs would not be renewing its sponsorship deal of Tubridy’s programme.

It also said that the current sponsorship of the radio programme has been paused since last Friday.

RTÉ wage under reporting over Tubridy fallout slammed as ‘a betrayal’, storms Longford's former Montrose journalist

The national broadcaster was making secret payments totalling €345,000 to Ryan Tubridy between 2017 and March of this year.

“Center Parcs confirmed, via their agency Core, on June 20 that they did not wish to renew their sponsorship of The Ryan Tubridy Show,” RTE said in a statement to PA.

“The current sponsorship has been paused since Friday 23rd June and the current sponsorship contract will expire on August 28.”

Satirist Oliver Callan is currently sitting in for Tubridy on his radio programme, and said on Friday he will be back next week.

Longford journalist and RTE's Midlands correspondent Sinead Hussey hopes people support them 'through this really difficult patch'

RTE staff call for ‘root and branch reform’ during protest

It is unclear when Tubridy will return to the Radio One slot; the Oireachtas media committee were informed on Wednesday that he is still being paid while off air.