Oireachtas TV

formerly scottish paddy · 11-10-2015 12:35pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

That is a bit rich giving that the Government set the rules in the Broadcasting act, and that his Dept stands over the crazy restrictions on RTE allowing only two channels carry advertising while allowing TV3 extend the number of minutes advertising per hour. They are willing to pay Sky €250 k but not 2RN €500 k.

Also how much money did the government put into setting up Saorview?
RTE (NL/2RN) had to borrow the millions that the Saorview network cost to build and have to repay that money, while everyone else wants a free ride on the system. :mad:

Sam Russell · 11-10-2015 4:05pm

The Government allocated €0 for Saorview. RTE (or 2RN) own the whole lot, but they are restricted by the BAI and ComReg as well as the Minister in every thing they do.

In the past, TV3 have been favoured in most decisions (they lost the UTVi ones) which has left us with 2 RTE channels not earning revenue and RTE 2 having to get Ministerial approval to stop having kids programmes without adverts while there is RTE Jr is showing the same programmes. No ads on RTE NN either which means there are no journos or programmes on it.

And they have the cheek to complain of not getting a free ride for OTV on Saorview while agreeing to pay a foreign company €250k a year to carry it on satellite behind a pay wall.

Beyond belief.

StreetLight · 18-10-2015 8:36am

Sparks are apparently flying now:

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/dail-sparks-fly-over-oireachtas-coverage-on-tv-34118510.html

Sam Russell · 18-10-2015 10:30am

I think the Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett is confused by the Free in the term Free to Air, and being a long term TD he expects everything to be free.

They make the rules - let them change them.

Hotblack Desiato · 21-10-2015 10:57pm

"The minister, who seems to have a soft sport for RTE, should now intervene to break the impasse and use his powers under the Act and direct RTE to provide a free-to-air platform on Saorview. Otherwise, RTE are most certainly abusing their monopoly hold over Saorview."

What would be abusing their monopoly would be charging some channels to use the service while giving one a free ride.

The Cush · 21-10-2015 11:48pm

The Cush wrote: »

The current contract is due to expire at the end of the year. It's currently held by Pi Communications Limited who were awarded a 3 year contract in Dec 2010 to manage, operate and maintain the technical facilities for the televising of the Oireachtas, the value of the contract was €3.2 million plus VAT (copy of contract). The previous 5 year contract was held by Windmill Lane Ltd.

Tender - https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=88664&B=&PS=1&PP=ctm/Supplier/publictenders
Tender for consultancy in relation to the above contract - https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=88581&B=&PS=1&PP=ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders

Full tender published 9th Oct, closes 9th Nov - https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=93396&B=&PS=1&PP=ctm/Supplier/publictenders
http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:361434-2015:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0

36 month contract with a 24 month renewal option, estimated cost €8m.

The Cush · 19-11-2015 9:51pm

No change

the Oireachtas is still in talks about getting its television channel on free-to-air platform Saorview, which is operated by RTÉ subsidiary 2rn.

“ RTÉ/2rn are seeking significant and in our view unsustainable carriage fees for the service,” says a spokeswoman.

“We are disappointed that this continues to be the case and we are working towards a solution which will be at least cost to the taxpayer.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/oireachtas-gets-fresh-with-seeforyourself-tweets-1.2435050

Elmo · 19-11-2015 10:05pm

The Cush wrote: »

No change

Funny just saw that.

As we know Minister insists TV3 HD on Saorview due to Virgin Media takeover, insists that TG4 HD on saorview will reduce cost of SD to Oireachtas and cost of HD to UTV Ireland.

Of course Oireachtas TV could provide an audio feed on Saorview at the very least.

Sam Russell · 19-11-2015 10:07pm

They set the rules through Comreg. They should change them if they do not like them. All it takes is a statuary instrument (SI). They could also change the definition of SD to mean 720 by 576 or 704 by 576.

They are prepared to pay a foreign supplier €250,000 a year for encrypted coverage by satellite. I think this is not just the money - it is anti RTE.

The Cush · 19-11-2015 10:27pm

Elmo wrote: »

As we know Minister insists TV3 HD on Saorview due to Virgin Media takeover,

Can you clarify this statement?

Elmo · 19-11-2015 10:34pm

The Cush wrote: »

Can you clarify this statement?

Sorry.

The Minister could insist that TV3 HD appear on Saorview when he makes a decision on the takeover of TV3 by Virgin Media, IMO CPCC should have made that a requirement of the takeover, as from a consumer point of view it puts TV3 HD purely in the hands of Virgin Media who could take it off Sky and as it currently does keeps it off a FTA platform thus reducing consumer choice.

ftakeith · 20-11-2015 7:15am

http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2015/1119/746592-comreg/

saorview is catching up on virgin media tv

saorview should be the TV market leader like in the UK

RTE and the state made a mess of DSO

formerly scottish paddy · 20-11-2015 10:58am

ftakeith wrote: »

RTE and the state made a mess of DSO

I don't think that is strictly true. Yes the government of the day kept going up the blind alley of a commercially run Pay DTT service only to have it fall apart each time. In the end RTE in the shape of 2RN had to step in, pick up the pieces and build a DTT network from scratch in order for this country to meet it's EU obligations in regard to ASO. The government then promptly sold off spectrum for the "digital dividend".

Elmo · 20-11-2015 5:19pm

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

I don't think that is strictly true. Yes the government of the day kept going up the blind alley of a commercially run Pay DTT service only to have it fall apart each time. In the end RTE in the shape of 2RN had to step in, pick up the pieces and build a DTT network from scratch in order for this country to meet it's EU obligations in regard to ASO. The government then promptly sold off spectrum for the "digital dividend".

We could replay this argument. All stakeholders are to blame for DSO.

Successive governments and legislators not taking an interest.
TV3 really not wanting it or having anything to do with.
The Departments DSO campaign, it spent money on a campaign with no website and had to provide the website in house, it disappear the day after DSO and the campaign did little after that, a total waste of money for a badly driven campaign, which ran along side a completely different campaign from RTE for saorview.
The government's inability to consider at the very least setting up OTV with IFB TV as a shared broadcaster with IFB starting at 7pm and running until 1am (3 films per day), with OTV having the rest. At this stage both having the ablity to stand on their own.
TG4 HD why its only available as a trial on Virgin Media is just daft.
3 years for a decision on RTEjr
and the list goes on and on and on

Not to mention Irish TV broadcasters are loosing viewers at a rapid pace this year alone.

expectationlost · 20-11-2015 6:54pm

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/oireachtas-gets-fresh-with-seeforyourself-tweets-1.2435050 “

Meanwhile, the Oireachtas is still in talks about getting its television channel on free-to-air platform Saorview, which is operated by RTÉ subsidiary 2rn. RTÉ/2rn are seeking significant and in our view unsustainable carriage fees for the service,” says a spokeswoman.
“We are disappointed that this continues to be the case and we are working towards a solution which will be at least cost to the taxpayer.”

among a silly little article

Sam Russell · 20-11-2015 7:46pm

2RN are not seeking any fees from OTV that was not set down by Comreg. Comreg decided, presumably with the approval of the Dept, that 2RN would get €12m per year for running Saorview broadcasting system, and the costs would be distributed according to the bandwidth used. Unused bandwidth would be ignored. As a consequence of this, there are no free rides, mates rates, or any of that kind of thing.

The solution is simple - pay the agreed rates or change the rules set down by Comreg - simples.

By the way, it was RTE that built the network from their own resources. And it was the government that snaffled the proceeds of the sale of the spectrum. It was TV3 that threw their toys out of the pram when they were billed for transmission charges for Saorview. It was the Government that allowed a write off of €80 million of TV3 debts and a buy back of more of their debts at a discount. It is the Government that is paying Sky to be on satellite encrypted (and so behind a pay wall). And it is the Government that is trying to get a free ride on Saorview. It is clear there is an anti RTE bias in there somewhere.

And they have the temerity to blame RTE for this stand off. Only Irish politicians ....

Hotblack Desiato · 21-11-2015 12:08am

Sam Russell wrote: »

It is clear there is an anti RTE bias in there somewhere.

Either that, or Hanlon's razor.

stereomatic · 22-11-2015 10:52pm

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Either that, or Hanlon's razor.

Either that or Occam's_razor

Johnboy1951 · 26-11-2015 2:45pm

In whose power is it (should they wish) to drop offers of SD Saorview channels and insist that all Saorview TV channels must be HD? ..... I don't mean the content, but the 'space' sold.

Could 2RN do this?

Sam Russell · 26-11-2015 3:04pm

I think the first step is to go from 576 by 504 to 576 by 704 (or 576 by 720).

The whole signal side is governed by Comreg or the DCENR/Minister. A Statutory Instrument would probably do the job.

Elmo · 26-11-2015 3:59pm

One of the easiest ways to resolve this issue is for the Minister: -

1. When approving Virgin Media's TV3 takeover that TV3 must provide its service on Saorview in HD along with TV3 +1 sighting consumer choice
2. Telling TG4 that it must go on Soarview in HD and that the Deparment fund its HD and the department expects it to be on Soarview in HD.

This would reduce the cost of HD for UTV Ireland and SD for all SD channels.

1. RTE ONE HD
2. RTE2HD
3. RTE NEWS NOW
4. RTEjr/RTE ONE +1
5. OTV

1. TV3 HD
2. TG4 HD
3. UTV Ireland
4. Irish Film Board
5. TV3 +1
6. 3e

lgs 4 · 26-11-2015 7:44pm

Elmo wrote: »

One of the easiest ways to resolve this issue is for the Minister: -

1. When approving Virgin Media's TV3 takeover that TV3 must provide its service on Saorview in HD along with TV3 +1 sighting consumer choice
2. Telling TG4 that it must go on Soarview in HD and that the Deparment fund its HD and the department expects it to be on Soarview in HD.

This would reduce the cost of HD for UTV Ireland and SD for all SD channels.

1. RTE ONE HD
2. RTE2HD
3. RTE NEWS NOW
4. RTEjr/RTE ONE +1
5. OTV

1. TV3 HD
2. TG4 HD
3. UTV Ireland
4. Irish Film Board
5. TV3 +1
6. 3e

I totally agree

Hotblack Desiato · 26-11-2015 9:58pm

No point doing a film channel in SD, and TV3 would say it's unfair to allow UTVi to continue in SD and we all know how much they like everything to be fair :rolleyes:

ftakeith · 26-11-2015 10:33pm

lgs 4 wrote: »

Elmo wrote: »

One of the easiest ways to resolve this issue is for the Minister: -

1. When approving Virgin Media's TV3 takeover that TV3 must provide its service on Saorview in HD along with TV3 +1 sighting consumer choice
2. Telling TG4 that it must go on Soarview in HD and that the Deparment fund its HD and the department expects it to be on Soarview in HD.

This would reduce the cost of HD for UTV Ireland and SD for all SD channels.

1. RTE ONE HD
2. RTE2HD
3. RTE NEWS NOW
4. RTEjr/RTE ONE +1
5. OTV

1. TV3 HD
2. TG4 HD
3. UTV Ireland
4. Irish Film Board
5. TV3 +1
6. 3e

I totally agree

I hope it happens like the above

But it won't, I hope I am wrong

Elmo · 26-11-2015 10:53pm

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

No point doing a film channel in SD, and TV3 would say it's unfair to allow UTVi to continue in SD and we all know how much they like everything to be fair :rolleyes:

They can bring that up when they get a chance to lobby the minister on the takeover of UTV by ITV as they did when UTV Ireland set up. And when RTE2HD set up, and when RTE Plus was suggested, and RTE NEWS NOW and when RTE wanted to move RTEjr from RTE2 and so on.

TV3 will be a much, much larger company in comparison.

Hotblack Desiato · 26-11-2015 11:41pm

At least they don't have the "pity us, we're the little guy" excuse anymore.

stereomatic · 26-11-2015 11:52pm

I don't think the Irish Film Channel is going to happen

I don't think TV3 +1 is going to happen

I'm not sure if UTV Ireland will stay or not

I'm not even sure that 3e will survive

I also don't think OTV will be on Saorview

I'm not sure if I'm being a pessimist

Elmo · 27-11-2015 12:05am

stereomatic wrote: »

I don't think the Irish Film Channel is going to happen

I don't think TV3 +1 is going to happen

I'm not sure if UTV Ireland will stay or not

I'm not even sure that 3e will survive

I also don't think OTV will be on Saorview

I'm not sure if I'm being a pessimist

IFB won't an SI should be signed to remove it from the act.

UTV Ireland will be fine just will see cuts under ITV

3e costs pennies and is prob holding up TV3

OTV should be.

Realism pessimism?

MarkK · 27-11-2015 2:15pm

Elmo wrote: »

3e costs pennies and is prob holding up TV3

Plus it keeps UTV Ireland off 105 on Sky and on the second page of the Sky EPG.

icdg · 27-11-2015 4:22pm

SIs can never amend acts, (except if they are on foot of the European Communities Act 1972 and implementing EU legislation). They can only fill in the gaps in primary legislation.

The Irish Film Channel will never happen (and to be honest in the days of Netflix and co it may be that it is an idea that has missed its boat) but it's up to the Oireachtas to remove it.

expectationlost · 15-12-2015 8:55pm

documentary marking 25 years of video recorded oireachtas is online http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/25yearsontv/

very general, a few mentions of oireachtas tv channel and future hopes for it, worth a watch

Elmo · 15-12-2015 9:30pm

Ming Flannigan shown to use it to get on the 6:1 news with his water. Must complain to the BAI.

Think of The Children.

Politician's are good very good actors.

Labour are great lads at supporting right wing Parties. Rather than remain as the biggest Opposition Party.

An interesting view that after 10 years of TV in Ireland it was expected that TV cameras would be in Parliament when I wonder if Stills were allowed, after 50 years of a state.

48 mins

RTE Guide wouldn't even carry RTEjr during DSO.

Anyway skipped most of it too much pats on the back from all concerned.

aliveandkicking · 13-01-2016 6:01pm

Good news at last.

http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/mediazone/pressreleases/2016/name-31310-en.html

brick man · 13-01-2016 6:43pm

A step in the right direction at last for saorview with oireachtas TV

Elmo · 13-01-2016 6:46pm

brick man wrote: »

A step in the right direction at last for saorview with oireachtas TV

As long as the pay there way. Politicians get too much of a free ride on the box as it is

lertsnim · 13-01-2016 6:59pm

It's about time everyone had access to what's going on in there.

brick man · 13-01-2016 9:24pm

Elmo wrote:

As long as the pay there way. Politicians get too much of a free ride on the box as it is

I agree and I wouldn't give them any discount , but improves saorview offering a bit

Elmo · 13-01-2016 9:38pm

brick man wrote: »

I agree and I wouldn't give them any discount , but improves saorview offering a bit

They shouldn't be given pats on the back for this, it should have been on Soarview from the start. 5 years it took them to get a pilot basis. AKA a trail, launching when? Or does it remain a trail like TG4 HD.

dublinman1990 · 13-01-2016 9:42pm

Good news for FTA viewers. What channel number it is on?

lertsnim · 13-01-2016 9:43pm

dublinman1990 wrote: »

Good news for FTA viewers. What channel number it is on?

22

channelsurfer2 · 13-01-2016 9:46pm

I see they mention vodafone as well. Presume its the tv service yet to launch?

Sam Russell · 14-01-2016 12:24am

They certainly live in a bubble. All the media (IT, RTE, etc) live in a world where their TV comes from Sky or UPC and I am talking about the staff. Any discussion always assumes that the normal way anyone watches TV is through a pay platform. The TV guide in the Irish Times carries most of the Sky channels and none of the Freesat channels (like ITV2,3,4, More4, Ch 5 variations, etc.)

The politicians are worse - wanting everything for free - except for Sky where they were paying €250,000 but not Saorview.

mackersdublin · 14-01-2016 6:41pm

aliveandkicking wrote: »

Good news at last.

http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/mediazone/pressreleases/2016/name-31310-en.html

"The availability of Oireachtas TV on Saorview, in addition to its carriage on Sky, Virgin Media, Eir and Vodafone, means that the Channel will have coverage in 98% of Irish households"

I presume it's not going to be on Saorsat then

Sam Russell · 14-01-2016 6:55pm

mackersdublin wrote: »

"The availability of Oireachtas TV on Saorview, in addition to its carriage on Sky, Virgin Media, Eir and Vodafone, means that the Channel will have coverage in 98% of Irish households"

I presume it's not going to be on Saorsat then

I think that whoever released that information was unaware that if it was solely on Saorview, it would have coverage in 98% of Irish households as Saorview can be received in 98% of Irish households.

So why are they paying Sky €250,000 to carry it?

icdg · 14-01-2016 7:13pm

Just because Saorview covers 98% of Irish households doesn't mean it's receivable in 98% of them. There are many households with pay-TV who are not set up to receive any other system. They aren't going to buy an aerial just to receive a channel which (being frank) most of them have no interest in watching for any lenght of time.

Sam Russell · 14-01-2016 7:23pm

Agreed, but it is a co-incidence that the figure of 98% is used. I would have thought that 100% of people can receive it now but only 75% or so could receive it last week. It is lazy of the civil servants to not know the facts.

Even then, the announcement is couched in secret speech that suggests that agreement has not been reached and that the final agreement will involve a large contribution from RTE/2RN after the forthcoming general election.

We shall see.

Johnboy1951 · 14-01-2016 7:29pm

icdg wrote: »

Just because Saorview covers 98% of Irish households doesn't mean it's receivable in 98% of them. There are many households with pay-TV who are not set up to receive any other system. They aren't going to buy an aerial just to receive a channel which (being frank) most of them have no interest in watching for any lenght of time.

That is their choice ..... to receive Saorview or not.

I see no reason at all for it to be on any other service ..... and most definitely not if that carriage has to be paid for!

AwaitYourReply · 15-01-2016 3:41am

http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/mediazone/pressreleases/2016/name-31310-en.html

Yeah, I discovered it by accident on Saorview last night so; I added it to my channel line-up as it would have been a blind channel otherwise in terms of access.

It seems absolutely ridiculous that Houses of the Oireachtas TV were willing to fork out €250,000 to SKY Television but had expected it to be carried for Zero/FREE Of Charge on the Saorview Irish DTT platform even though it has been abundantly clear that all broadcasters here in Ireland (including RTÉ who own and manage the Saorview digital tv platform through it's subsidiary company RTÉNL/2RN) have been experiencing very challenging times in terms of generating revenue from various streams for a prolonged period against a backdrop of more & more competition from both inside and outside Ireland.

The Minister responsible should have intervened long before now and found a way to ensure that this channel paid a similar carriage fee of €250,000 to 2RN to ensure that it went live on Saorview first before it be allowed to agree terms to appear on other paid TV platforms like SKY Television and any other operators either simultaneously or else at a later stage. I know it forms only a small part of a more complex plan as there are other things to be considered and reviewed too but this fiasco has not reflected very well on any of the bodies involved. Finally we have it for now on Saorview LCN No.22 "on a pilot basis" anyway.

This almost sounds like the DAB Trials for RTÉ Digital Radio on a very long pilot basis in Dublin/Cork City/Limerick City only! Rest of the country just keep waiting until someone gets their act together and actually makes a decision or kicks to touch for the next government administration, perish the thought!

I wonder what date will the General Election be taking place? Where is our Taoiseach Enda Kenny when you need him?
My gut feeling is G.E. 2016 is probably gonna be the last Friday in February as any later will clash with timetables of Government Ministers/Taoiseach/Tánaiste travelling the globe for St. Patrick's Week! :-)

Infoanon · 15-01-2016 9:34am

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

That is their choice ..... to receive Saorview or not.

I see no reason at all for it to be on any other service ..... and most definitely not if that carriage has to be paid for!

To make the channel available to the widest potential audience it needs carriage on Sky /Virgin etc

Johnboy1951 · 15-01-2016 12:01pm

Infoanon wrote: »

To make the channel available to the widest potential audience it needs carriage on Sky /Virgin etc

No it doesn't.

It is a channel primarily for those who reside in Ireland.
Saorview is available to 98% of Ireland.
Saorview is Free To Air.

Saorview is the obvious primary service on which it should be carried.
To make it available to the diaspora then an on-line stream is all that is needed. (Is this not already there?)

There is no reason whatsoever to make payment to foreign companies to carry the channel.
If they want to carry it then by all means let them, but making payments to them to do so is ridiculous ...... and could easily be considered to be mismanagement of finances.

Oireachtas TV

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