RTÉ hires Miriam O’Callaghan’s husband Steve Carson as new director of video as Newstalk chief takes head of audio role

Steve Carson, the husband of presenter Miriam O’Callaghan, is rejoining RTE as Director of Video, the station has announced.

Patricia Monahan, the managing director of Newstalk, is also joining RTE in the newly created role of Director of Audio. The two senior positions are replacing the head of content, a job currently held by Jim Jennings, who has been on sick leave for over a year.

While a recruitment freeze has been in place at the station, there is an exception for roles that are deemed to be “business critical”.

Carson is currently director of BBC Scotland, where he has been in charge of all the station’s TV, radio and online teams. He is a former director of programmes at RTE Television, and was also editor of current affairs.

He moved from there to BBC Northern Ireland as head of productions before transferring to BBC Scotland. Prior to that he and Miriam O’Callaghan operated the successful Mint Productions, a TV company whose credits included the “Haughey” and “Bertie” documentaries.

The BBC said on its website that Mr Carson will remain in his post until mid-September, but the search for his successor will begin immediately. The BBC’s Director of Nations, Rhodri Talfan Davies, said: “Steve’s shrewd judgement, his focus on audiences and his impressive creative instincts have been a driving force in BBC Scotland’s success over recent years.”

In a statement Mr Carson said he was excited to be joining Kevin Bakhurst’s new leadership team, and said he was blessed to work with a “brilliant team” in BBC Scotland. He added: “I’m looking forward to doing the same with the world-class creative talent that we have in Ireland as we focus on delivering the ambitious New Direction strategy.”

Patricia Monahan’s departure from Newstalk will be a blow to the station, which is part of the Bauer Media group. It can be expected that part of her brief will be to sharpen up RTE’s podcast output, which has been inferior to Newstalk’s, which includes Off the Ball.

Kevin Bakhurst, the DG of RTÉ, said: “The Director of Audio, along with the Director of Video, will be two pivotal positions in the reshaping and transformation of RTÉ.

"As we embark on an ambitious new audio strategy, Patricia will take responsibility for the development and editorial management of RTÉ’s audio and digital-audio services, including the programming of our four FM radio stations– RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and RTÉ lyric fm - alongside our digital, online, and podcasting services.

“Ground-breaking public service audio production and distribution is a cornerstone of RTÉ’s new strategic direction, and Patricia’s proven leadership experience and track record in leading creative teams, her editorial experience and her unique ability to interpret audience insights, will make her an invaluable addition to our exceptionally strong leadership team.”

In relation to Mr Carson’s appointment, he said the role would be to execute a comprehensive editorial strategy across all of RTE’s TV stations and the RTE Player.

"Compelling content, sustainably produced, is at the heart of RTÉ’s new strategy, and Steve’s shrewd editorial judgment, honed through his many senior leadership roles in editorial, production and content delivery, will position public service principles at the heart of everything we make in RTÉ and with our partners in the independent production sector.”

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