According to tender-related documents released on Thursday, the service will help RTÉ gauge Irish audience opinions on TV programs, other audiovisual (AV) content, radio programs, and other forms of media on both traditional and digital platforms.

The documents state that the panel will be “nationally representative of the Irish population by age, gender, region, and social class” and will be capable of providing daily reports on audience reactions to television and AV content.

The provider will also deliver “at least weekly reports on audience reactions to radio and other audio content, as well as the use of media websites and apps.”

RTÉ specifies that the methodology behind the audience reaction panel will allow participants to respond to structured, semi-structured, and open-ended questions, focusing on issues deemed relevant by RTÉ.

The contract, valued at €1.8 million, averages €360,000 per year and is a recurring service that RTÉ has previously procured through other tenders.

RTÉ is currently accepting expressions of interest from potential candidates, with further details to be outlined in the Invitation to Tender for those shortlisted.

Candidates are required to submit certain information to aid RTÉ in completing a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ). The broadcaster expects to shortlist up to five candidates, who will then be invited to tender.

The deadline for the PQQ is October 4th, with shortlisted candidates being notified by October 18th. Final tenders are due by November 15th, and the winning candidate will be informed by December 12th, though this date may vary depending on RTÉ’s internal processes.

The contract is expected to be awarded by January 31st, 2025, with the panel operational by June 1st.

RTÉ’s yet-to-be-published 2023 annual report reveals a deficit of €9.1 million for the year, which the broadcaster’s chairman, Terence O’Rourke, called a “difficult and damaging” time. The report also shows that RTÉ’s licence fee revenue dropped by €17.3 million compared to 2022.

In response to the shortfall, RTÉ implemented a hiring freeze and delayed strategic projects, but these measures were insufficient to prevent the €9.1 million deficit for 2023.