Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

Government agreement: Free-To-Air RTE in NI, BBC in RoI on DTT platform

12357…14

Comments

  • #122
    10000maniacs
    Registered Users Posts: 4,788 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    Antenna wrote: »
    Surely RTENL are not going to transmit anyone for free. They have to be paid for somehow. How would TV3 etc react if they did?
    TV3 are NOT in direct competition with BBC, UTV maybe are. UTV would love to get on the Republic's DTT platform. There are arguments that TV3 could put forward if UTV applied to go on the MUX, but certainly not the BBC.


  • #123
    Antenna
    Registered Users Posts: 2,302 ✭✭✭Antenna


    10000maniacs wrote: »
    TV3 are NOT in direct competition with BBC

    Regardless of that, surely TV3 would throw a huge tantrum if, on the one hand, other TV channels (regardless of who they were) were to be transmitted on DTT for free by RTENL (i.e. effectively subsidised by others), whilst on the other hand a large fee is demanded by RTE NL of TV3 for DTT transmission?
    They have to treat everything equally in relation to transmission costings ?


  • #124
    10000maniacs
    Registered Users Posts: 4,788 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    Antenna wrote: »
    Regardless of that, surely TV3 would throw a huge tantrum if, on the one hand, other TV channels (regardless of who they were) were to be transmitted on DTT for free by RTENL (i.e. effectively subsidised by others), whilst on the other hand a large fee is demanded by RTE NL of TV3 for DTT transmission?
    They have to treat everything equally in relation to transmission costings ?
    Such was the nature and spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding directive which incidently Ryan is ripping up before our very eyes.
    TV3 was and will never be part of any such an agreement. Nor probably will UTV.
    Only RTE, TG4 and the BBC are part of the said agreement.


  • #125
    mrdtv2010
    Registered Users Posts: 556 ✭✭✭mrdtv2010


    10000maniacs wrote: »
    Such was the nature and spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding directive which incidently Ryan is ripping up before our very eyes.
    TV3 was and will never be part of any such an agreement. Nor probably will UTV.
    Only RTE, TG4 and the BBC are part of the said agreement.

    The MoU is rather like the Munich Declaration: a worthless con..


  • #126
    tlaavtech
    Registered Users Posts: 278 ✭✭tlaavtech


    From now on the MoU should be referred to as the "Memorandum of NO understanding" :mad:


  • Advertisement
  • #127
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    tlaavtech wrote: »
    NO understanding" :mad:

    This describes Ryans entire political career and the sooner we are rid of him the better.

    However he can order a commercial must carry on the FTA mux by amending the broadcasting act 2007 which means that BBC could get maybe 2 channels but not pay for a FULL mux like the commercials but for a FRACTIONAL mux instead. That is compliant with the 'ensure' bit of the MoU.

    I reckon RTE will have to pay carry too, only TG4 will go free. Why the Beeb would bother with FTA Sat and Overspill available everywhere I dunno, they would never pay for a full mux. :)

    Ryan is some gobsh1te and that is for sure.


  • #128
    Apogee
    Registered Users Posts: 3,762 ✭✭✭Apogee


    4332926457_56a7eb43de_o.jpg

    More "free to air" guff:
    Greens welcome RTÉ/BBC deal

    Issued: 03 February 2010

    Statement by Cadogan Enright

    Party delivers on 2007 pledge for free-to-air TV services across the island

    Down Green Party Councillor Cadogan Enright has welcomed the news that Communications Minister Eamon Ryan was able to reach agreement with his British counterpart Ben Bradshaw on key aspects of the digital TV future for the island of Ireland.

    Councillor Cadogan Enright said: "The deal reached this week will provide free BBC and RTÉ digital TV services to households across the island, following the switchover to digital television. This will benefit hundreds of thousands of people – especially those without access to paid-for cable and satellite services."

    "Whether people are interested in sport, drama, history or culture, both BBC and RTÉ offer a wide range of compelling programming and I am delighted that households in Down will be able to access all of these programmes after the analogue TV signals are switched off in the years ahead."

    "In recent weeks we have seen evidence of the gulf that still exists between communities within Northern Ireland. It is also clear that there is a lack of understanding between people living in the north and south of the island. So it is very much in the interest of fostering cultural understanding and development between all communities that these channels should be freely accessibly across the island. The Good Friday Agreement and St Andrews Agreement recognise the importance of the unique cultural and linguistic diversities that exist on the island of Ireland, and this will help to promote and protect those diversities."

    "The Green Party first called for there to be an all-island digital 'free to air' broadcasting service carrying RTÉ and BBC channels back in 2007, before entering Government in the Republic of Ireland. It is fantastic to see this commitment becoming a reality," Cllr Enright said

    "When we went into power with Fianna Fail in the Republic we made sure that included in the agreed Program for Government were cross-border issues that directly concerned us here in County Down. Issues like mobile phone charges, banking competition, public transport and targets for renewable energy on the all-Island Grid. With this latest announcement, we have successfully ticked another item off the list and it will delight many voters across South Down," he said.

    Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan and Ben Bradshaw, Secretary of Culture, Media and Sport signed a Memorandum of Understanding in London on Monday, 1 February 2010. This provides a framework for the changes that are taking place in Northern Ireland and Ireland to the technologies used in the reception of television services. Switchover in Northern Ireland is planned for 2012 with digital TV rollout being planned for Ireland on a similar timescale.

    http://www.greenparty.ie/en/news/latest_news/greens_welcome_rte_bbc_deal


  • #129
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,476 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    channelsurfer2 wrote: »
    all mention of bbc being available free to air has been removed from the DCMNR website.

    http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Boost+for+Irish+Language+Broadcasting.htm

    methinks onevision had a word with em........ ah well it was too good to be true..

    The reference to free-to-air BBC also removed from the UK's Dept. for Media, Culture and Sport and Northern Ireland Office websites.

    Old Text in the Press Releases
    The Memorandum commits the two Governments to facilitating the widespread availability of RTE services in Northern Ireland and BBC services in Ireland on a free-to-air basis. It will also ensure the continuing widespread availability of the Irish language channel TG4 in Northern Ireland following the digital switchover.

    New Text in the Press Releases
    The Memorandum commits the two Governments to facilitating the widespread availability of RTE services in Northern Ireland on a free-to-air basis and BBC services in Ireland on a paid for basis. It will also ensure the continuing widespread availability of the Irish language channel TG4 in Northern Ireland following the digital switchover.


  • #130
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    Thanks Guys. Screenshot of original green party announcement taken just before they kick their webmaster in the hole for not wiping his masters prints off the mess he created in Belfast . This is the second retraction by that lying moron Eamon Ryan in just a week .

    Did anybody hear what happened when Ireland Offline mentioned his website http://www.broadband.gov.ie/ where 75% of the ISPs listed no longer existed ??? Read that here.
    "It is somehow apt that the 'smart' and 'green' policies espoused by Minister Ryan are represented by a website that directly compares nothing to absolutely nothing,"?said Eamonn Wallace, Ireland Offline chairman. "These companies and their packages generally no longer exist, just like the broadband policy in his own department no longer exists. The website has not been touched since 2007."

    greenwafflenshyte.jpg


  • #131
    Elmo
    Registered Users Posts: 23,641 ✭✭✭✭Elmo


    BBC NI News on BBC online.
    Digital switchover is due to happen in 2012. The British and Irish governments have agreed to work together to ensure that people in NI can still receive RTE when the analogue signal is switched off. Currently many people in Northern Ireland receive RTE's output via so-called "analogue overspill." The analogue signal is due to be switched off in the next two years, meaning the channels will only be available on digital equipment. The governments said they want RTE to remain "widely available" in NI. In a memorandum of understanding the two governments said they also want to make sure that BBC services remain available in the Irish Republic. The governments specifically want the channels to be available on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) which will be the platform viewers use to receive free-to-air television when the analogue signal ends. DTT is widely available in Northern Ireland as Freeview. A DTT system is now starting to be built in the Irish Republic. The governments want arrangements to be put in place to allow for the development of digital reception equipment which is compatible with the technical standards applied in both jurisdictions. They also want to make sure that space is available on the DTT systems in the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland for BBC and RTE respectively. The governments said they will consult with the broadcasters on costs and rights issues.


  • Advertisement
  • #132
    Apogee
    Registered Users Posts: 3,762 ✭✭✭Apogee


    When the Greens went into government, the reason they gave for dumping 95% of their manifesto promises was that by securing two senior ministerial positions, they could be more effective in promoting change through those positions.

    Once again we see just how effective the Greens, and Ryan in particular, are as government ministers.


  • #133
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,476 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    Sponge Bob wrote: »
    Thanks Guys. Screenshot of original green party announcement taken just before they kick their webmaster in the hole for not wiping his masters prints off the mess he created in Belfast . This is the second retraction by that lying moron Eamon Ryan in just a week .

    Did anybody hear what happened when Ireland Offline mentioned his website http://www.broadband.gov.ie/ where 75% of the ISPs listed no longer existed ??? Read that here.

    And this also last week
    Minister puts stay on appointments to broadcasting boards
    HARRY McGEE Political Correspondent

    Fri, Feb 05, 2010

    MINISTER FOR Communications Eamon Ryan has put a stay on the appointment of candidates recommended by an Oireachtas committee to the boards of both RTÉ and the new Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) because of a legal difficulty that has emerged.

    In what has been portrayed as an “embarrassing cock-up” by the Opposition, Mr Ryan has received legal advice that the appointment of people to the boards who themselves are involved with, or have an interest in, broadcasting may not comply with the Broadcasting Act 2009, which provides for the appointments process.

    The Irish Times understands that the legal difficulty may extend to members that Mr Ryan has already appointed to the new boards of RTÉ and the BAI during the autumn of 2009. They have already participated in meetings of the new boards.

    The new system for appointments allows the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, chaired by Fianna Fáil TD MJ Nolan, to recommend four candidates for each of the boards of RTÉ, the BAI and TG4. After a public consultation process, over 280 people applied for the positions on RTÉ and the BAI. After what one member described as a rigorous and thorough process, the committee unanimously agreed to recommend eight candidates in December.

    The Minister was due to ratify the appointments in January but it did not happen. The legal issue emerged after committee member Liz McManus TD (Labour) raised the delays in appointing the members twice on the Dáil Order of Business, most recently last Tuesday.

    Yesterday, a spokeswoman for the department said the reason for the delay was because of legal advice that the appointments of those with an interest in broadcasting may not be in compliance with the Act.

    She said the matter had been referred to Attorney General Paul Gallagher and that no appointment could be made pending advice received from him. She said that Mr Ryan had also sought a meeting with the committee to be held “in camera”. Asked why it should be held in private, she said the sole reason was because it would involve a discussion of named individuals.

    Those affected are believed to include film-maker Alan Gilsenan,independent producer Stuart Switzer, and broadcast producers Aileen O’Meara, Larry Bass and Siobhán Ní Ghadhra.

    Ms McManus, her party’s communications spokeswoman, said yesterday that the process had descended into a mess.

    “It all sounds extraordinary to me that this issue should only emerge now after the committee has completed a very lengthy, careful and complex process. It smacks of incompetence. The Government could not run a bath.”

    Simon Coveney, of Fine Gael, said it was a “hugely embarrassing cock-up” for the Government.

    “This is extraordinary. People chosen as suitable for the board are deemed ineligible for the board now. If the Act excludes people with an interest in broadcasting, it’s nonsensical,” he said.

    © 2010 The Irish Times

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0205/1224263813634.html


  • #134
    high heels
    Registered Users Posts: 306 ✭✭high heels


    I wonder will the BBC Iplayer be part of this.... it would be great if thats part of the deal


  • #135
    10000maniacs
    Registered Users Posts: 4,788 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    high heels wrote: »
    I wonder will the BBC Iplayer be part of this.... it would be great if thats part of the deal

    There is no deal for people in the South. Eamon Ryan reneged on it for purely commercial reasons.
    He went to his website and changed the wording, hoping nobody would notice.

    The Memorandum commits the two Governments to facilitating the widespread availability of RTE services in Northern Ireland and BBC services in Ireland on a free-to-air basis.
    to

    The Memorandum commits the two Governments to facilitating the widespread availability of RTE services in Northern Ireland on a free-to-air basis and BBC services in Ireland on a paid for basis.


  • #136
    Elmo
    Registered Users Posts: 23,641 ✭✭✭✭Elmo


    Simon Coveney, of Fine Gael, said it was a “hugely embarrassing cock-up” for the Government.

    “This is extraordinary. People chosen as suitable for the board are deemed ineligible for the board now. If the Act excludes people with an interest in broadcasting, it’s nonsensical,” he said.

    Interest in broadcasting means people who are working in the industry not those who happen to have an interest. Larry Bass as an example is not a good choice due to the fact that he is an independent producer who will or could apply for sound and vision funding, if shinawhil were to win such funding from the licence payer then there would be a conflict of interest, the same goes if Larry had been appointed to the boards of TG4 or RTÉ. Last year RTÉ appointed Steve Carson as Director of Programming (TV), he at the time was involved in Mint Productions hence Mint was closed due to what could have been seen as a conflict of interest.*

    However the former chairperson of the BCI was a solicitor (for Bertie Ahearn BTW), not only had he possibly no interest in the BCI but he possible had a conflict of interest as BAs solicitor.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055795059


    *I am looking for a better term for Conflict of Interest.


  • #137
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,476 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    Possible capacity for RTÉ/TG4 on Mux A (BBC HD Mux) in NI until DSO?

    The problem is the channels will have to move to the commercial muxes following DSO and so will not be available on the relays after DSO. An interm solution maybe.

    http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/tvlicensing/letters/
    http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/News/MostEmailed/982504/BBC-Arqiva-given-approval-launch-two-digital-TV-channels/


  • #138
    mrdtv2010
    Registered Users Posts: 556 ✭✭✭mrdtv2010


    The Cush wrote: »
    Possible capacity for RTÉ/TG4 on Mux A (BBC HD Mux) in NI until DSO?

    The problem is the channels will have to move to the commercial muxes following DSO and so will not be available on the relays after DSO. An interm solution maybe.

    http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/tvlicensing/letters/
    http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/News/MostEmailed/982504/BBC-Arqiva-given-approval-launch-two-digital-TV-channels/

    If Picnic is licensed by Ofcom (decision due March with the determination on the wholesaling arrangements for Sky's channels to other operators) it is likely that Sky will win any auction hands down and it already has arrangements in place with Arqiva to fold its existing FTA services into Picnic if this authorised. However this is uncertain. The commercial muxes will be radiated at 50kW ERP post DSO which should up the current pathetic NI DTT coverage from 53% to about 90% for them. It remains to be seen how this auction pans out: can't see RTE getting involved in any auction.


  • #139
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,476 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    mrdtv2010 wrote: »
    current pathetic NI DTT coverage from 53% to about 90% for them. It remains to be seen how this auction pans out: can't see RTE getting involved in any auction.

    Slightly higher at 58% but won't reach 90% (6 Mux) until DSO.

    Could Ofcom/UK Government gift the space until DSO?


  • #140
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,078 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    Question; Are we FTA Astra 2D viewers safe from all this Kerfuffle ?


  • #141
    Souriau
    Registered Users Posts: 788 ✭✭✭Souriau


    10000maniacs wrote: »
    There is no deal for people in the South. Eamon Ryan reneged on it for purely commercial reasons.
    He went to his website and changed the wording, hoping nobody would notice.

    The Memorandum commits the two Governments to facilitating the widespread availability of RTE services in Northern Ireland and BBC services in Ireland on a free-to-air basis.
    to

    The Memorandum commits the two Governments to facilitating the widespread availability of RTE services in Northern Ireland on a free-to-air basis and BBC services in Ireland on a paid for basis.

    If an agreement was agreed, can one change afterward?


  • Advertisement
  • #142
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,476 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    Camelot wrote: »
    Question; Are we FTA Astra 2D viewers safe from all this Kerfuffle ?

    Yes.


  • #143
    FREETV
    Registered Users Posts: 1,673 ✭✭✭FREETV


    The agreement should be witheld. I have no problem with Northern Ireland being allowed to receive TG4, RTE1 and RTE2. It will be good for the country as a whole. We should also be allowed to receive all of the BBC channels 1-4 and UTV should be in the mix also. Remember the present government in charge is mostly to blame for the state that the country is in and then the Minister cannot stand steadfast on his own two feet and keep the agreement. He is a disgrace and their should be an outcry by the general public. Isn't it initially what the Green Party wanted? Channels from Rte in N.I. and BBC in the Rep? He should stick to what he agreed on. Whether a commercial DTT proposition is agreed upon with Onevision or not, the initial agreement to allow the BBC channels here should go ahead. I wouldn't pay for BBC channels that can be got from FTA Satellite and terrestrial overspill. Talk about letting the public down and giving us the finger! Why make empty promises and lies? Can we not even get a few extra channels FTA? Then again these muppets in government wouldn't listen to a certain very well known gingerhaired Economist seven months before the recession began in September 2008 that the bubble was about to burst, the so called Celtic Tiger fallacy was coming to an end and the banks would be in trouble. Commercial DTT will not work in Ireland I think and may never happen unless there is a much greater variety of channels i.e. sports, movies, other entertainment channels at a very reasonable rate and far cheaper than SKY or UPC. The stb's would need to be free. Most of the country has either UPC OR Sky or both if they have multiroom viewing. Have they forgotten about FREESAT, Freeview overspill and FTA satellite? Rolling out a DTT service in Ireland called Saorview with only five stations is insufficient and pathetic. Onevision have had their chance and should bow out or give another group a chance. They are holding up the proceedings. How much longer will the saga have to go on for? Another year perhaps? We need DTT officially launched by the end of the year at the latest or sooner if possible. The whole process is a shambles methinks.


  • #144
    Minstrel27
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,818 ✭✭✭Minstrel27


    10000maniacs wrote: »
    There is no deal for people in the South. Eamon Ryan reneged on it for purely commercial reasons.
    He went to his website and changed the wording, hoping nobody would notice.

    What a load of horse ****. Who exactly are these government yahoos looking out for?


  • #145
    mrdtv2010
    Registered Users Posts: 556 ✭✭✭mrdtv2010


    The Cush wrote: »
    Slightly higher at 58% but won't reach 90% (6 Mux) until DSO.

    IIRC it was 58% for the PSB muxes, but agreed it is a woeful coverage number. Divis is very underpowered compared with many UK pre-DSO transmitters which ran at 10-20kW to serve densely populated areas whereas its max pre-DSO ERP is about 2.3kW. After DSO PSBs will be 100kW and COMs will be 50kW which will make a huge difference to the quality and coverage of the ROI overspill.

    Could Ofcom/UK Government gift the space until DSO?

    No. BBC and NGW (now taken over by Arqiva) were granted rights to exploit the capacity when Freeview was established and were charged with maximising spectrum efficiency. Prior to the recession national slots on Freeview were going for £12 million a year. Those figures will be lower now but the BBC and Arqiva will be interested in two things: a) Enhancing the overall Freeview proposition and b) ££££...


  • #146
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    The NI population is under 3% of the overall UK population, probably 2%.


  • #147
    The Cush
    Registered Users Posts: 15,476 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    Sponge Bob wrote: »
    The NI population is under 3% of the overall UK population, probably 2%.

    Northern Ireland has a population of 1.75 million (approximately 3% of the UK population).


  • #148
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,336 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    If BBC 1,2 were added to the pub mux FTA, I do not see how this would affect OneVision, as they alone would not make much difference to subscribers. Furthermore, Onevision would not have to pay the royalties or transmission of them, leaving space on their own mux to add more interesting and popular channels. So the public mux would carry 7+ channels, and the commercial muxs would carry 25 or so channels. They should be delighted to see the public mux carry the Beeb.

    Short sighted.:)


  • #149
    marclt
    Registered Users Posts: 844 ✭✭✭marclt


    Sam Russell wrote: »
    If BBC 1,2 were added to the pub mux FTA, I do not see how this would affect OneVision, as they alone would not make much difference to subscribers. Furthermore, Onevision would not have to pay the royalties or transmission of them, leaving space on their own mux to add more interesting and popular channels. So the public mux would carry 7+ channels, and the commercial muxs would carry 25 or so channels. They should be delighted to see the public mux carry the Beeb.

    Short sighted.:)

    Popular channels like what???


  • #150
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,336 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    marclt wrote: »
    Popular channels like what???

    I was being a little ironic, but with the best channels there and paid for, it should be easier to get some other interesting and useful channels. Surely there are some. On FTA satellite, there are thousands. [of channels - not interesting ones.]


  • Advertisement
  • #151
    marclt
    Registered Users Posts: 844 ✭✭✭marclt


    I know what you mean Sam ;-)


Advertisement