Digital TV network plan major boost in bid to sell concept

dmeehan

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1147018&issue_id=10594


THE introduction by the Government of a digital television network to Ireland is to get a major boost with the launch of a pilot project available to over one million viewers in the greater Dublin area.

Separate digital boxes will be needed in each household at a cost of up to €80 per year but it is understood these may be provided free in many cases to schools, Government departments and libraries.

No final decision has been made on cost but a reluctance to pay for a pilot service by people who already have cable or digital TV is being anticipated.

Planning for the project, expected to be carried out with RTE's co-operation, is advanced and Communications Minister Dermot Ahern is set to announce the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project shortly.

THE DTT demonstration would allow for free-to-air reception of RTE 1, Network 2, TG4 and TV3, broadcasting from Three Rock, Co Dublin. It is also proposed that at least six other channels, probably UK services, would be provided.

DTT is a method of broadcasting digital television services to households using a national TV network upgraded from analogue. It is already offered in Britain, Spain and other EU countries.

A Department of Communications spokesman said the Government is obliged under EU rules to deliver a digital changeover plan within six years. "In simple language that means that every citizen is entitled to get a certain level of TV service in each state from a digital network. This is the first major step in implementing that."

To fully establish a commercial digital TV network the Government would have to foot a bill of €40m. However, a recent report from National Economic Research Associates concluded plans for such a network were now "extremely unlikely" to be viable.

The report said the delay between the first failed attempt by the Government to launch a commercial service in 1999 and the present has undermined the chances of success for a commercial project.

The 1999 government plan to licence a private operator to build a DTT network collapsed over network ownership disputes and the market downturn.

BSkyB's continued penetration into Ireland and the BBC's decision to broadcast its channels unencrypted here have also changed the competitive landscape, it stated. The report added the strength of cable and satellite here provides a strong challenge for an aspiring digital TV operator.

Alison O'Connor
Political Correspondent

dmeehan

i dont see why the stb's cost €80 a YEAR

why isnt it a once off fee?? like freeview in the UK

Scottish paddy

What about RTÉ’s preferred system that would allow a wireless return for internet connection. Surely a system that incorporated internet access and digital TV would be more commercially viable

carrolls

The only viable digital option at this stage for RTE is to encrypt RTE/TV3 on Satellite via a Conditional Access Module(CAM) . This will mean that viewers who buy into the system will not miss out on the BBC channels (Already FTA) and maybe ITV in 6 months time also. Viewers won't be forced to buy into Sky's family pack to get RTE digitally. All they will need is a Satellite FTA box with a CAM slot. Insert the CAM and you have the Irish stations. You will also have all the FTA channels including BBC as a side bonus.
The above mentioned Dublin Terrestrial scheme is doomed to failure, mainly because of rights issues for the UK channels. And of course the €80 per year problem.

icdg

Hmm, they are considering launching it in the worst place possible!

Yes, its cost effective to run it from Three Rock. Its Dublin, it has the largest amount of people served by a single transmitter.

Its also an area where practically every single household has cable, MMDS, or satellite. Hence the market for DTT will be quite low.

If I were the DCMNR, I would launch it in one of the other cities - perhaps Cork or Limerick - first. It will offer nothing new to Dublin consumers.

aersat

Looks as though Dublin will finally get a DTT service from the Three Rock transmitter in the not so distant future.
Expect an announcement shortly from the Communications Minister,Dermot Ahern.

Aersat.

Thread on Digital terrestrial moved from the Broadcasting forum to the the terrestrial forum and merged with other thread on the same topic.

I'll comment later on the topic.

cyclopath2001

Some might be tempted to ditch NTL ....

I have NTL digital & it were not for TV5, I'd have handed it back.

LFCFan

why €80 a year? It should be €80 once off for the box aas we already pay €152 a year for the Irish channels. €80 for DTT would effectively mean a license fee of €232. Can't see too many people ditching Sky or NTL for that.

Elmo

Too little too late me thinks

Time just to role out Digital TV asap and stop the testing. I rather they tested the whole shabang on the whole country.

I assume the 80 euro is for the rights to transmit the Brit Chans.

I am sure NTL won't be to please if this test covers all of dublin.

I don't really care, I hope NTL f off.

watty

SEVEN years too late.

I have a serious D'ja vue about this announcement.

Dublin doesn't need it either.

Sligo, Tralee, Bandon, Letterkenny.. now that would be useful.

Even here in Limerick, I'd never pay €80 extra per year for DTT. Do you lose ALL or just some channels if you don't pay?

I WOULD pay €80 extra per year for an Irish FTV card scheme for Satellite.


Hmm, Abolish Analog TV and TV licence and charge €280 per year for DTT. No pay no TV. Now I know why they want to tax Sky per subscriber signed up.

watty

Originally posted by Elmo
<snip>Time just to role out Digital TV asap and stop the testing. I rather they tested the whole shabang on the whole country.
<snip>

They did plenty of tests years ago. This is not a technology test, but some devious "marketing" test.

Suspicions about TV licence enforcement scheme get stronger...

No-one would take up DTT licence (couldn't make money out of it).

It was taken off RTE. (They didn't have money to roll it out or add new services either)

Has it been "resold" to Government on some other basis?

Mike 1972

Possibly the €80 per year thing was a clueless journalist getting it wrong

or maybe its €80 per year for the UK channels with RTE free

or maybe its a transition from TV licencing to encryption

icdg

Originally posted by LurkingIcon
They did plenty of tests years ago. This is not a technology test, but some devious "marketing" test.

Suspicions about TV licence enforcement scheme get stronger...

No-one would take up DTT licence (couldn't make money out of it).

It was taken off RTE. (They didn't have money to roll it out or add new services either)

Has it been "resold" to Government on some other basis?

It was never offically awarded in the first place. Originally RTE was going to run it, then an RTE-private joint venture, and then a private company. But the relevant section of the Broadcasting Act 2001 was to the best of my knowledge never commenced. (In fact, for an Act that was first published as a bill back in May 1999, a good chunk of it by 2004 still hasn't been commenced. TG4 is still part of RTE. The DTT provisions have gone by the wayside). When (if) the section is commenced, the power to award will rest with the Minister for Communications, Marine, and Natural Resources. COMREG must award a licence to the company the minister designates. It was intended to be a private company but I don't think the act specifically precludes a nationalised industry from doing the job either.

Mind you, they are talking about new primary legislation again, so the DTT provisions may be rewritten (again). The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland is meant to be merged with the regulatory functions of the RTE Authority and RTE being incorporated as a company, but there's yet to be specific details and given what happened with the last act it could be years down the road before this happens...

Elmo

TG4 is still part of RTE.

Note that TG4 would like to be independent at some stage, Much of the commissioning is done in Galway while the finances are sort in RTE, RTE employ 20 people in this department as far as I know. RTE produce nuacht TG4 and other smaller programmes, I assume that this is the 365 hours of TV to TG4 per year.

The act provide a section so that TG4 can become indepent of RTE

Also note that TG4 remains TG4 and not RTE TG4. And does anyone notice a DOG on the screen, well only if you look very closely because it not a huge mother of RTE icon.

Anyway there better of without RTE.

watty

I don't know what the delay is.. TG4 was supposed to be totally independent by now. I'd agree the delay is not likely from TG4 side but more related to Government and Montrose tardyness.

Charles Slane

The 80 Euro a year is extremely suspicious. Who exactly would collect this money ? How would it be collected ? And who would get it ?

It seems to be an arbitrary figure just plucked from the air (no pun intended).

Obviously they'd need some reimbursement for broadcasting the BBC channels, but UTV and Channel 4 should just be happy for any extra ad revenue.

As for any other UK channels - lt's face it, it would probably be QVC or some other shopping channels.

If the project is to succeed they can forget about charging people a yearly fee for a tiny line-up of channels.

Charles to Earthman, what's your opinion of all this, and have you any further info about future DTT developments ?

icdg

Originally posted by Elmo
Note that TG4 would like to be independent at some stage, Much of the commissioning is done in Galway while the finances are sort in RTE, RTE employ 20 people in this department as far as I know. RTE produce nuacht TG4 and other smaller programmes, I assume that this is the 365 hours of TV to TG4 per year.

The act provide a section so that TG4 can become indepent of RTE

Also note that TG4 remains TG4 and not RTE TG4. And does anyone notice a DOG on the screen, well only if you look very closely because it not a huge mother of RTE icon.

Anyway there better of without RTE.

Indeed, TG4 seems to have escaped the "brand everything with RTE" craze sweeping the station since last September. Not even RnaG escaped this time, and like TG4 they're based on the opposite side of the country with a seperate advisory body.

Maybe the DCMNR might be getting cold feet on seperating RTE and TG4. Or maybe its just down to money.

The Cush

Found this link to the governments Digital TV site today

http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/display.asp/pg=1499

byte

I would have preferred that they done tests with some other Tx. Dublin already has two digital services to choose from (ntl and Sky). The likes of Truskmore would be better! No reason why they cant as Truskmore is digitally linked to Montrose anyway.

Perhaps we can look forward to DTT rollout, just as UK look forward to analogue switchoff! :rolleyes:

watty

Originally posted by byte
I would have preferred that they done tests with some other Tx. Dublin already has two digital services to choose from (ntl and Sky). The likes of Truskmore would be better! No reason why they cant as Truskmore is digitally linked to Montrose anyway.

Perhaps we can look forward to DTT rollout, just as UK look forward to analogue switchoff! :rolleyes:

I don't think there will be a UK analog switch off in our lives anyway...
* DTT coverage much worse than expected
* No portable TV systems
* Satellite / FTV a complete messup re: Five / Ch4 and ITV
* Not the anticipated demand for spectrum
* Even 3G phone viability is questioned in the Industry

You are absolutely right, DTT outside Greater Dublin in any of West Cork / Mayo / Sligo / Clare / Clonmel / Donegal / Galway / Kerry would be more to point.

Truskmore, Maghera and Mullaganish.

Of course almost (except Longford) RTE main TX sites are to suit Band I conditions and not enough money for relays in 1960s. For "best" UHF coverage, especially for major population centers the original sites are very poor choice.

Picking all the higest Mountain tops is not nesscessarily the best UHF planning approach!

It beats me how most of west Galway and Mayo is supposed to get decent TV.

Mt. Lienster, Maghera and Mullaghanish are particularly bad sites to serve UHF.

watty

Originally posted by The Cush
Found this link to the governments Digital TV site today

http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/display.asp/pg=1499

Good. Ta.

The Department is committed to the development of digital television in Ireland. The Department's strategy statement 2003 - 2005 reflects this core policy goal:


To seek to retain access to a range of quality programming in analogue and digital form, on a universal and free-to-air basis.


The process undertaken did not result in a successful bid for the multiplexing licence and the DTT network was not rolled-out. The Department is currently looking at fresh options for the implementation of free-to-air digital television in Ireland.

Looks like they are scratching for ideas.

Have we got any?

The Cush

Latest news from www.dtg.org.uk

Dublin DTT pilot gets go-ahead

watty

However, the Communications Department says that under EU regulations, the Government is obliged to deliver a digital terrestrial service within six years. A Department spokesperson says that every citizen is entitled to a certain level of digital television provision and that this new test project is the first major step in putting DTT into practice.

I'm not sure I believe this!

Anybody find the relevent EU "law"?

The Cush

Could not find a regulation but an interesting analogue to digital switchover document here

Document direct link: on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting

The Cush

There may be something here on the EU's Digital Broadcasting website.

Irelands switchover plan here

Mike 1972

It beats me how most of west Galway and Mayo is supposed to get decent TV

Its quite simple really
We dont

The Croaghmoyle ("Castlebar") TX ostensibly a relay is in reality a medium powered transmitter filling the gap between Truskmore and Maghera

It works pretty well nowadays for RTE and TG4 but theres no TV3

Under the original plan Truskmore was supposed to reach right up into the very North of Donegal
Most of the planning was done in the 1960's when the possibility of UHF being used in the future should have been foreseen