State broadcaster RTÉ recorded a loss of almost €17 million last year.
This compares to a deficit of just under €5 million in 2010.
The annual report from the State broadcaster shows it received €183.6 million in TV Licence revenue in 2011 which is down 6% on the previous year.
The station generated over €167 million in commercial revenue.
However the report says that “2011 was a hugely challenging year for RTÉ Television in financial terms as the drop in commercial revenue necessitated an on-going revision in programming and planning strategies”.
In terms of radio the report expressed concern over RTÉ 2fm saying the station “faced real difficulties in 2011, battling for audience share and revenue in a very difficult market”.
While it said that 2011 was “another challenging year for RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta with the continued need to operate with fewer people and less resources”.
The document also makes reference to the inaccurate Prime Time Investigates programme ‘A Mission to Prey’ in which “serious false allegations” were made against Fr. Kevin Reynolds.
The organisation says the broadcast was ‘without question’ a low point in its current affairs broadcasting.
The RTÉ Director-General Noel Curran says the broadcaster has reduced its costs by 20% since 2008.
But he adds that further progress is needed to return RTÉÂ to a sustainable financial footing.
