RTÉ has confirmed that it will continue to offer extra religious content until the end of June while the national vaccination programme is implemented. The national broadcaster has aired weekday and Sunday Masses since the first lockdown last March in partnership with churchservices.tv.
Commissioning editor of religious content at RTÉ, Roger Childs, commented, saying that even with the national roll-out of the vaccine taking place, it’s clear that it will take months before people “especially in vulnerable age groups” will feel safe or confident enough to congregate in their places of worship.
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“I am grateful to colleagues in RTÉ News for making space for this daily content on the RTÉ News channel,” he said.
Tony Bolger, CEO of churchservices.tv, added that he is “delighted” to see RTÉ offer to continue their “successful collaboration” until June 30, 2021. He thanked the bishops, priests and ministers of the cathedrals and churches around the country that have been used to host streamed services throughout the duration of the pandemic. He also acknowledged the “tremendous” effort his own team has made at churchservices.tv in delivering the service without interruption since March.
RTÉ has also partnered with minority faith communities since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, offering content to mark the celebration of their own major festivals. In a statement, RTÉ said that they will transmit programmes to mark Passover, Ramadan, Nawruz, Vaisakhi, Rosh Hashanah and other selected minority faith festivals.