BAI advertise for expressions of interest for free to air services for Irish DTT

In accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 67 of 2011 and Section 26(5) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 (the Act), the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (the Minister) has conferred a number of additional functions on the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (the Authority). These relate to:

 Consulting with RTÉ on DTT multiplex capacity and cost,
 Consulting with other parties in relation to the provision of broadcasting services on the RTÉ DTT multiplexes,

...
3. Terms of Carriage on the RTÉ DTT multiplexes

The Ministerial Order conferred the Authority with the role of consulting with RTÉ with regard to capacity and costs of carriage on DTT multiplexes. Details of indicative costs for carriage on the RTÉ DTT multiplexes may be provided by RTÉ NL.

The following issues will be matters for agreement between broadcast content providers and RTÉ should they be designated by the Minister:

 Commercial terms of carriage on the multiplex;
 Capacity in terms of Mbps for each programme offered;
 Technical conditions of carriage e.g. guaranteed minimum quality of service, channel number on electronic guide (EPG); and,
 Delivery of content to the DTT head end.

Following receipt of the BAI’s report and recommendations as to the extent of interest from service providers the Minister will decide on the additional content to be carried on the RTÉ multiplexes. The closing date for completed submissions is 28th March 2011.

watty wrote: »

You can easily make your own very short list with two columns:
A: The Wish thinkers that have no viable plan. B: The Experienced Operators with a plan

Minister Rabbitte welcomes publication of BAI Report

Dublin 17 August 2011

Findings of the Expressions of Interest for additional Broadcasting Services on Saorview announced


The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Pat Rabbitte, TD, welcomed the publication today of the BAI’s Report on its search for new services for Saorview, Ireland’s free to air digital terrestrial television network.

The findings of the report clearly highlight a widespread interest in providing new services on the Saorview network. These services would be additional to the existing range of services currently available on Saorview and could be available as early as mid-2012. A number of new radio channels may be possible in the shorter term.

Expressions of Interest were received from a number of parties including TG4, TV3, community television, several music TV channels, individuals and several radio channels. The Oireachtas and the Irish Film Board indicated their continued interest in the development of an Oireachtas Channel and an Irish Film channel respectively, subject to funding.

In welcoming the publication of the report, the Minister said, “I am delighted that this report shows that there is a clear interest in the development of Saorview from both existing broadcasters and potential new entrants to the Irish broadcasting sector.

I will continue to work with the BAI to progress this process and to identify proposals for consideration for carriage on the RTÉ Saorview network. In this regard I will be contacting those who received positive recommendations from the BAI with further information”.

The Minister added, “There are an estimated 250,000 households reliant on the analogue TV network and at least another 250,000 homes who use the network on secondary TV sets or as a back up to their pay TV service. These homes will need to upgrade to digital TV, either by purchasing a Saorview TV or set top box or by moving to a subscription TV service, before the analogue TV network closes in Q4 2012.”


Ends


Notes to Editors:

Saorview is the national digital terrestrial television (DTT) network. It is owned by RTÉ and has been has been built to replace the RTÉ national analogue TV network which offers reception of RTÉ 1, RTÉ 2, TV3 and TG4. The analogue network, originally built in 1960 is nearing obsolescence. In addition, analogue networks throughout the world are being replaced by digital networks as they are more efficient, can offer more services, including programme guides, information services, more content in less space and high definition content. In order to receive Saorview, TV viewers will need to upgrade from analogue TV equipment to digital either by purchasing a Saorview-approved digital TV set or set top box.

Saorview is available to c. 97% of the population from 51 DTT enabled sites around the country. The RTÉ website http://www.saorview.ie/ has a coverage map where people can check if they are covered by Saorview.

Saorview currently offers reception of RTÉ 1, RTÉ 2(HD), TV3, TG4, 3e, RTÉ 1+1, RTÉ jr, RTÉ News Now, RTÉ Digital Teletext, and 10 RTÉ radio channels.

Further information on the Saorview service is available on http://www.saorview.ie/

Section 130(a)(iv) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that the Minister may designate other television services, having the character of a public service, for carriage on the RTÉ Saorview service.

Any person seeking to have a proposed service designated would be required to submit the proposals, including a fully-developed business case, to the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural, Resources to be considered for designation by the Minister. Any service designated by the Minister would be required to apply to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for a content provision contract, in accordance with section 71 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, and also to agree relevant carriage terms and conditions with RTÉ.

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Minister+Rabbitte+welcomes+publication+of+BAI+Report.htm

I will continue to work with the BAI to progress this process and to identify proposals for consideration for carriage on the RTÉ Saorview network. In this regard I will be contacting those who received positive recommendations from the BAI with further information”.

Any person seeking to have a proposed service designated would be required to submit the proposals, including a fully-developed business case, to the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural, Resources to be considered for designation by the Minister.

warlikedave wrote: »

We need to set our own trend and give a good free alternative through an ariel.