Saorview Trial Service Launched - 29 Oct 2010

Welcome to SAORVIEW

In spring 2011, RTÉ will launch a new free-to-air digital television service named SAORVIEW.

Digital television has been available as a satellite subscription service across the country and as a cable subscription service in certain parts of the country for a number of years. SAORVIEW will be Ireland’s first free-to-air national digital television service.

On the 29th of October 2010, SAORVIEW will be turned on as a trial service. From that date, RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4 and RTÉ News Now will be broadcast as trial digital services. More channels, services and enhancements will follow as part of the full launch of the SAORVIEW service in spring 2011.

In turning on the trial service, RTÉ Director-General, Cathal Goan said:

“SAORVIEW is a major step change in Irish broadcasting, offering viewers across the country: more channels; high definition (HD) pictures; higher quality sound; on-screen programme menus and digital teletext – all free-to-air. When the full service is launched next year I believe it will be a very attractive proposition for TV viewers.”

“The SAORVIEW service is an important piece of national digital infrastructure. From a national economic perspective, moving to digital will free up valuable space for other important communications services such as broadband, mobile TV or other mobile services. I am proud that RTÉ is playing a critical role in this important evolution.”

RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3 and TG4 will continue to be available via the existing analogue signal until the end of 2012, the final date the EU has mandated for Analogue Switch Off (ASO).

Note: ‘saor’ is the Irish word for ‘free’

About

Digital Switch Over (DSO) is national and EU policy. The Government department with lead responsibility for DSO is the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR). The BAI and ComReg also have responsibilities (as specified in the Broadcasting Act 2009) in relation to DSO.

In August 2010, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Eamonn Ryan T.D. established a structure, comprising a DSO Steering Group, with additional working groups, to manage the DSO process.

The EU has mandated the end of 2012 as the final date for Analogue Switch Off (ASO), by which time Ireland needs to launch a replacement digital transmission system to ensure all Irish audiences can continue to receive free-to-air television.

Broadcasting legislation makes clear that RTÉ has the primary responsibility for providing the new free-to-air digital transmission system to replace the existing outdated analogue transmission system which has been in operation since December 1961.

SAORVIEW is the brand name for the new Irish DTT service.

RTÉNL (a wholly owned subsidiary of RTÉ) is responsible for building and operating the new digital transmission infrastructure.

Roll Out

From the 29th of October 2010 SAORVIEW will be turned on as a trial service and will be available to 90% of the population.

This is being done to verify the engineering integrity of the systems and to confirm coverage. The trial service will operate for varying durations and will be subject to some variations and interruptions. Permanent transmissions will not commence until the full SAORVIEW service is formally launched in spring 2011.

By 2012, SAORVIEW will be available to 98% of the population. It is worth noting that under the current analogue system RTÉ One and RTÉ Two are available to c. 98% of the population, TG4 is available to c.95% of the population and TV3 is available to c.85% of the population. By 2012, SAORVIEW will offer 98% coverage for all channels. This will be a significant improvement in free-to-air television coverage.

Channels/Services

On the 29th of October 2010, SAORVIEW will be turned on as a trial service. From that date, RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4 and RTÉ News Now will be broadcast as trial digital services. The following radio services will also be available on the trial service: RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, RTÉ 2FM, RTÉ Lyric, RTÉ RnaG, RTÉ Pulse, RTÉ 2XM, RTÉ Choice, RTÉ Gold, and RTÉ Chill / Junior.

More channels, services and enhancements will follow as part of the full launch of the SAORVIEW service in spring 2011.

RTÉ has proposed a number of new services for SAORVIEW including: High Definition (HD) sport, drama and film; news services; interactive services and dedicated children’s services.

It is the responsibility of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources’s to approve the channel/service line up for the new digital services on SAORVIEW.

RTÉ’s proposed service offering is currently going through the regulatory process with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The final channel/service line up is due to be agreed in early 2011.

Receiving SAORVIEW

SAORVIEW is a free-to-air service. This means there are no monthly subscription fees or contracts. To receive SAORVIEW you will need an aerial and a set top box/ integrated digital television.

Aerial
The majority of homes will receive SAORVIEW through an existing aerial (either rooftop or set-top (rabbit's ears). In most cases, you do not need a new aerial.

For more information regarding receiving the SAORVIEW signal please download this information booklet from RTÉ Transmission Network Limited (RTÉNL).

Set Top Box/Integrated Digital Television
To receive SAORVIEW you will need a suitable Set Top Box (STB) or Integrated Digital Television (iDTV) connected to an aerial.

RTÉ has set up a receiver (STBs and iDTVs) approval process to reassure consumers that receivers are SAORVIEW compliant. Receivers that have been approved will carry the SAORVIEW logo. For more details on the process see below.

At present there are a small number of SAORVIEW approved STBs or iDTVs, see below. Others are currently going through the testing process.

In the lead up to the full launch of SAORVIEW in spring 2011 there will be a wider range of approved receivers available from retailers and TV installers across the country.

Consumers should seek advice from their specialist retailer or manufacturer if looking to make a purchase in the immediate future. Please note that the majority of UK "Freeview" boxes and iDTVs will not decode the SAORVIEW service.

RTÉ recommends that consumers wishing to avail of the SAORVIEW service only purchase receivers that carry the SAORVIEW approved logo.

Current SAORVIEW approved receivers:

Walker Technology Products Ltd

Walker WP10DTP & WP11DTP set top box receivers
Walker WPxx (19”-46”) MP4 range of iDTV sets

Glossary

Digital Switch Over (DSO) – Digital Switch Over (DSO) is the name of the national process of switching from analogue to digital television transmission. In August 2010, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Eamonn Ryan T.D. established a structure, comprising a DSO Steering Group, with additional working groups, to manage the DSO process.

Analogue Switch Off (ASO) - Analogue Switch Off (ASO) is the date when RTÉNL will stop broadcasting the existing analogue television signal. The EU has mandated the end of 2012 as the final date for Analogue Switch Off (ASO). Aside from improvements in pictures, sound and range of services, digital transmission allows for far more efficient use of valuable radio spectrum than analogue transmission. From a national perspective, moving to digital will free up radio spectrum for use by other important communications services such as broadband, mobile TV or other mobile services

Contact

Until spring 2011, SAORVIEW is a trial service. In the lead up the launch of the full service the SAORVIEW website will provide much more detailed information regarding receivers, coverage, channels/services, etc. In the meantime should you have a query please send an email to the following address and we will get back to you as quickly as possible:

saorview@rte.ie

Saorview Digital Television

SAORVIEW (Ireland’s free-to-air digital television service)

From 29th October 2010 SAORVIEW will be turned on as a trial service and will be available to 90% of the population.

In spring 2011, RTÉ will launch a new national free-to-air digital television service, named SAORVIEW. RTÉNL is rolling out the necessary national digital transmission system in preparation for the introduction of the new service.

Digital Switch Over (DSO) is national and EU policy. The Government department with lead responsibility for DSO is the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR). The BAI and ComReg also have responsibilities (as specified in the Broadcasting Act 2009) in relation to DSO.

The EU has mandated the end of 2012 as the final date for Analogue Switch Off (ASO), by which time Ireland needs to launch a replacement digital transmission system to ensure all Irish audiences can continue to receive free-to-air television.

Broadcasting legislation makes clear that RTÉ has the primary responsibility for providing the new free-to-air digital transmission system to replace the existing outdated analogue transmission system which has been in operation since December 1961.

Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is the technology being used to transmit the new free-to-air digital service. This is a proven technology that has been successfully deployed across many European countries.

It is worth noting that under the current analogue system RTÉ One and RTÉ Two are available to c. 98% of the population, TG4 is available to c.95% of the population and TV3 is available to c.85% of the population. By 2012, SAORVIEW will offer 98% coverage for all channels on the service.

RTÉNL is responsible for building and operating the new digital transmission infrastructure.
For more information on SAORVIEW please go to: www.saorview.ie

Receiving SAORVIEW

SAORVIEW is a free-to-air service. This means there are no monthly subscription fees or contracts. To receive SAORVIEW you will need an aerial and a set top box/integrated digital television.

Aerial
The majority of homes will receive SAORVIEW through an existing aerial (either rooftop or set-top (rabbit's ears). In most cases, you do not need a new aerial.

For more information regarding receiving the SAORVIEW signal please download this information booklet:

Please click here.

Set Top Box/Integrated Digital Television
To receive SAORVIEW you will need a suitable Set Top Box (STB) or Integrated Digital Television (iDTV) connected to an aerial.

RTÉ has set up a receiver (STBs and iDTVs) approval process to reassure consumers that receivers are SAORVIEW compliant. Receivers that have been approved will carry the SAORVIEW logo. For more details on the process see below.

At present there are a small number of SAORVIEW approved STBs or iDTVs, see below. Others are currently going through the testing process.
In the lead up to the full launch of SAORVIEW in spring 2011 there will be a wider range of approved receivers available from retailers and TV installers across the country.

Consumers should seek advice from their specialist retailer or manufacturer if looking to make a purchase in the immediate future. Please note that the majority of UK "Freeview" boxes and iDTVs will not decode the SAORVIEW service.
RTÉNL recommends that consumers wishing to avail of the SAORVIEW service only purchase receivers that carry the SAORVIEW approved logo.

SAORVIEW Receiver Approval Process

Ireland has joined with countries within the Nordic region (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) to agree a common specification for digital television receivers.

NorDig is the name of the organisation that has agreed these specifications. Download the specification here:

NorDig Unified ver 2.0. equipment requirements
Minimum Receiver Requirements

RTÉ has appointed Teracom AB to conduct receiver compliance testing for SAORVIEW receivers, both STBs and iDTVs. Those receivers which pass the tests thereby meeting the SAORVIEW specification will be eligible to be licensed to use the “SAORVIEW” logo, which will confirm to consumers that the receiver is SAORVIEW compliant.

Manufacturers/distributors wishing to use the SAORVIEW logo should contact Teracom (irdtest@teracom.se) to arrange testing. When a receiver passes the tests, it will then be eligible to be licensed by RTÉ to carry the SAORVIEW logo.

Current SAORVIEW approved receivers:
Walker Technology Products Ltd
Walker WP10DTP & WP11DTP set top box receivers
Walker WPxx (19”-46”) MP4 range of iDTV sets.

Please click here to download full explanation brochure.

Minister Ryan announces switch-on of Digital Television

Minister Ryan announces switch-on of Digital Television
Dublin 29 October 2010

€500 million benefit to Ireland from modernisation of transmission

Communications Minister Eamon Ryan announced today that the RTE Digital Terrestrial Television service is now available to 90% of the Irish population, The Digital Television service will launch today from 24 sites around the country on a trial basis.

Today’s announcement means that TV viewers will have 2 years to upgrade to digital in advance of switch off of the analogue terrestrial television network operated by RTÉNL. This analogue switch off will take place at the end of 2012 in Ireland. Over 1 million viewers currently use the analogue terrestrial television service in their homes.

The channels on the trial service will initially include RTÉ ONE, RTÉ Two, TV3 and TG4. More channels and radio services will be added to the channel line up as part of a national launch of the RTE operated Free-To-Air DTT service – SAORVIEW – which will take place next year. SAORVIEW will be Ireland’s first free-to-air national digital television service.

Minister Ryan said, “Digital Television will improve the television experience for the viewer, with more channels, high-definition pictures, higher-quality sound, on-screen menus and digital teletext.

For Ireland, the switch-off of the analogue signal releases valuable spectrum which can be used for wireless broadband and new mobile services. It is estimated that Ireland will benefit to the amount of €500 million over the next decade as a result of this digital dividend.

Today’s launch of the RTE digital television service, on a trial basis, is another important milestone in the advent of free-to-air digital television to Ireland. Television viewers and the country in general will benefit from this modernisation of our television service.”

In preparation for the full launch of SAORVIEW in the spring of next year, RTÉNL will prepare the technical infrastructure and achieve full coverage for the population of Ireland.

For further information on SAORVIEW go to: www.rte.ie/saorview

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Minister+Ryan+announces+switch-on+of+Digital+Television.htm

Update October 2010

DTT Trial Launched

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan today (29th October 2010) announced the launch of the RTE Digital Terrestrial Television service on a trial basis. The service will launch from 24 sites and serve 90% of the population.
The announcement means that TV viewers will have 2 years to upgrade to digital in advance of switch off of the analogue terrestrial television network operated by RTÉNL. This analogue switch off will take place at the end of 2012 in Ireland. Over 1 million viewers currently use the analogue terrestrial television service in their homes.
The channels on the trial service will initially include RTÉ ONE, RTÉ Two, TV3 and TG4. More channels and radio services will be added to the channel line up as part of a national launch of the RTE operated Free-To-Air DTT service – SAORVIEW – which will take place next year. SAORVIEW will be Ireland’s first free-to-air national digital television service.

For further information please visit www.rte.ie/saorview

http://www.bai.ie/licensing_digital.html

New digital service starts on trial basis

RTÉ's new Digital Terrestrial Television service, SAORVIEW, is available on a trial basis.

RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4 and RTE News Now are being broadcast from today.

The full SAORVIEW service, which will include other channels and services, will be launched in the spring of next year.

RTÉ Director-General Cathal Goan said SAORVIEW will be a major change in Irish broadcasting.

Mr Goan said it will offer more channels, HD pictures, higher quality sound and other enhancements free-to-air.

Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan said the country in general will benefit from this modernisation of the television service.

Minister Ryan also said the switch off of the analogue system in 2012 will release valuable spectrum which can be used for wireless broadband and new mobile services.

It is estimated that Ireland could benefit to the tune of €500m over the next decade as a result of this 'digital dividend'.

Further information on SAORVIEW will be at www.saorview.ie.

In the lead up to the launch of the full service, the website will provide information regarding receivers, coverage, channels and services. If you have a query you can email SAORVIEW directly at saorview@rte.ie.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1029/dtt.html

mburke wrote: »

Walker website lists the receiver in its brochure but doesn't price it.
Any idea of the price ?

reaper180 wrote: »

nearly sure i was told it was the castlbar relay on uhf channel 22