At CGN Network, we’re fed up with the bloated, taxpayer-funded media machines that stomp all over the free market—and you should be too. State-subsidized broadcasters like Ireland’s RTÉ aren’t just sucking up your cash; they’re rigging the game, dodging tough questions, and squeezing out scrappy independents who actually fight for their airtime. This isn’t about fairness—it’s about government picking winners while the rest of us get played. Here’s why this racket’s got to go, and why Trump’s America First crew would torch it in a heartbeat.
RTÉ: Ireland’s Tax-Funded Titan
Take RTÉ, Ireland’s state broadcaster—it’s a textbook case of how public money turns media into a bully. In 2024, RTÉ hauled in €725 million from taxpayers and license fees, a war chest that dwarfs what private outfits like Liberty Media’s Irish stations can muster. With that dough, RTÉ pumps out glitzy shows—The Late Late Show, Prime Time—that muscle in on commercial turf, leaving networks like Today FM scrapping for crumbs. It’s not out-hustling the competition; it’s outspending them with your money. X posts hit the nail on the head: “RTÉ’s state cash turns it into a propaganda juggernaut”—no kidding, it’s a stacked deck.
Bosses Kissing Rings
Here’s the real gut punch: when RTÉ interviews government big shots, it’s not journalism—it’s a cozy chat with the boss. The state’s their lifeline—€200 million from license fees last year, plus bailout talks after a 2023 pay scandal. When Taoiseach Micheál Martin hit Prime Time, you got fluff about “tough times,” not hardball on spending or policy flops. Same with Media Minister Catherine Martin—RTÉ’s grilling its own paymaster, so don’t expect fireworks. Compare that to Pete Hegseth kicking CNN out of the Pentagon—Trump’s team doesn’t mess around with lapdogs. X users see it: “RTÉ’s a government mouthpiece—where’s the spine?”
Killing the Free Market Vibe
This isn’t just about weak interviews—it’s a full-on assault on competition. RTÉ’s cash hoard lets it undercut ad rates and flood the market, choking out Virgin Media or Newstalk. In 2022, it snagged €720,000 from a state fund for foreign correspondents—indies got zilch. That’s not a level field; it’s a rigged ring where the state’s champ can’t lose. Liberty Media’s Today FM fights for every buck, while RTÉ coasts on a taxpayer cushion. It’s the opposite of what makes America great—think Lockheed Martin or Raytheon slugging it out in the open, not begging for handouts.
The Real Cost
You’re hustling out there—building, grinding, chasing your shot. State media like RTÉ? It’s a fat cat hogging the stage, drowning out the podcasts and indie streams that actually earn their keep. The BBC’s £3.7 billion license fee pulls the same stunt—smothers the little guy while pretending it’s “public good.” Trump’s America doesn’t play that—Fox News battles in the wild, not on a government leash. CGN’s scrapping too—no state handouts, just pure drive. RTÉ’s €725 million crutch is a slap to anyone who believes in earning it.
Time to Cut the Cord
This is a no-brainer: yank the subsidies, let the market rip. RTÉ should sink or swim like the rest of us—Trump’s crew would slash that fat in a second. Europe’s ski slopes thrive on competition; America’s Vail Resorts scam doesn’t. Same deal here—state media’s a rip-off on your wallet and your freedom. CGN’s calling it: ditch the handouts, free the airwaves, and watch real players rise. In Trump’s America, we don’t prop up dinosaurs; we build winners. Time to make media fight for it—period.