DTT in Ireland - trial this year?

Charles Slane

An interesting article on the Sunday Business Post site. The full article can be found at http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=MEDIA%20AND%20MARKETING-qqqs=mediaandmarketing-qqqid=13256-qqqx=1.asp

Digital TV remains on the starting blocks

09 April 2006 By Adam Maguire
The development of digital television in this country remains clouded in uncertainty.

The tender process for the Government Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) trial is due to conclude by the end of April, with the pilot programme on track for an autumn 2006 launch.

But broadcasting representatives have said that a mixture of caution amongst the networks and a lack of political progress since the Broadcasting Act of 2001 have left RTE, TV3 and TG4 unable to develop plans for new services and ideas.

At present, the government has control over the DTT pilot but planned changes to the existing structure of RTE, TG4 and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) set out in the Broadcasting Act 2001 have also failed to materialise in the last five years...........


.....Padhraic O Ciardha, an executive at TG4 said plans for progress in digital television were currently stalled by a failure in political circles.

‘‘At present we are working as part of RTE but have been assured of complete independence under the Broadcasting Act. Until those promises are followed through on and our status is finalised it is difficult for us to make plans on our future.”

As part of the original RTE plan, a second Irish language station was proposed for the digital platform; however, priorities in TG4 have now changed.

‘‘Most people here would see a second channel as something that is way into the future - the plans from 1999 are now largely obsolete and things have moved on,” he said.........

........For Ireland’s biggest commercial station things are just as murky. Peter Ennis, director of operations and technology at TV3, said that after their eight years in the market, the digital question remained unanswered.

‘‘When we launched in 1998, DTT in Ireland was probably more of a reality than it is now,” Ennis said. ‘‘At the moment we’re waiting for the government to finalise their plans before we can make a commitment.”

Ennis also raised concerns that the scale of the existing pilot is slowing down progress.

‘‘The current plan seems to be aimed at creating a multichannel service to rival existing cable and MMDS services,” he said.

‘‘There is an argument for putting a simple DTT service online to replace analogue.

‘‘It could consist of just two multiplexes rather than the higher number proposed and run on the UVF frequency to ensure maximum coverage at a lower cost. A service like this would meet EU demands on the digital switchover too.”

lawhec

........For Ireland’s biggest commercial station things are just as murky. Peter Ennis, director of operations and technology at TV3, said that after their eight years in the market, the digital question remained unanswered.

‘‘When we launched in 1998, DTT in Ireland was probably more of a reality than it is now,” Ennis said. ‘‘At the moment we’re waiting for the government to finalise their plans before we can make a commitment.”

Ennis also raised concerns that the scale of the existing pilot is slowing down progress.

‘‘The current plan seems to be aimed at creating a multichannel service to rival existing cable and MMDS services,” he said.

‘‘There is an argument for putting a simple DTT service online to replace analogue.

‘‘It could consist of just two multiplexes rather than the higher number proposed and run on the UVF frequency to ensure maximum coverage at a lower cost. A service like this would meet EU demands on the digital switchover too.”

A very sensible idea to such an approach.

DTT doesn't have to launch with all guns blazing. A replication of current analogue services would do alright for a start.

Ireland has 6 multiplexes cleared to play with, along with some unused UHF analogue allocations. The spare capacity could be kept for future plans, possibly HDTV, additional channels from RTÉ or TV3. The idea of a second channel similar to TG4 is right now fanciful. Maybe the BCI could "licence" channels on a Freeview style rollout on multiplexes, giving a similar service to that of the UK. Or maybe in the future a Pay-TV system coul be brought in if its felt there's demand.

The UK got it wrong once and relaunched without all channels disappearing.

To me, it's a sorta disgrace that the only way for licence payers in the Republic can watch RTÉ in widescreen (alright, anamorphic widescreen) is through a subscription service.

watty

It would cost almost as much to engineer for 2 multiplexes as for 6.

If it simply duplicates existing analogue, who would pay for it?

It also needs to be on UHF. VHF is needed for DAB and other services.

Mostly the article says what I have been sayaing, but when it ventures into opinion as to what should be done it is very ill-informed.

The biggist issue is who is to pay for the massive rollout of a parallel Digital network in Mega Millions. The 2nd issue is hwo to fund the extra Irish channels . The broadcasters don't have the money.

So with folks getting served with BBC/ITV by an re-invigorated Cable co. and the very successfull Sky roll out, plus unknown FTA Satellite there is little political incentive to do anything.

Also maybe now we need Polish and Latvian DTT. The Cyfra+ dishes outnumber non-Sky FTA about 2:1 in some areas and in "little poland" of Limerick City they outnumber Sky Dishes. No doubt the census will make interesting reading.

flogen

watty wrote:

Mostly the article says what I have been sayaing, but when it ventures into opinion as to what should be done it is very ill-informed.

I don't want to come across as defensive but the article just quotes what the people in each broadcaster are saying; it's not an opinion piece and the comments made aren't my or the newspapers words.

byte

SBP wrote:

It could consist of just two multiplexes rather than the higher number proposed and run on the UVF frequency to ensure maximum coverage at a lower cost. A service like this would meet EU demands on the digital switchover too.

Since when did loyalist paramilitaries own frequencies?

I would think however that DTT with 2 muxes is a bit pointless.

If it were to simply duplicate what's on analogue, I'd still probably buy a DTT STB, simply for widescreen and possibly interactive content? (I read some years ago that RTE had bought some sort of software/hired a company to run a digital text service, though I see nothing yet).

But there are other channels that would possibly like carriage, like Sky News, maybe music channels or whatever.

flogen

byte wrote:

Since when did loyalist paramilitaries own frequencies?

I would think however that DTT with 2 muxes is a bit pointless.

If it were to simply duplicate what's on analogue, I'd still probably buy a DTT STB, simply for widescreen and possibly interactive content? (I read some years ago that RTE had bought some sort of software/hired a company to run a digital text service, though I see nothing yet).

But there are other channels that would possibly like carriage, like Sky News, maybe music channels or whatever.

As I have said to Watty in the thread on Broadcasting, Peter Ennis made it quite clear to me in the interview that the introduction of UTV or ITV to Irish terrestrial TV would not be taken lightly by TV3; that's not to say it won't happen but it might just slow the process down even more than it already is (rights issues etc.)... At the same time there are plenty of UK FTA channels that wouldn't cause such problems, Sky News being a pretty likely one (would they extend their Irish broadcasts?) and music channels; not forgetting the possibility of Irish Digital-only broadcasts.

DMC

It is a well rounded article.

It does clearly show that there isnt the will amougst the broadcasters to go to DTT, and definatly not at their expense.

There is no doubt that a fully-backed Freesat bundle from BBC/ITV could make DTT here stillborn, if its well advertised.

At the moment, I would favour DTT with at least one extra RTÉ station, and interactive screens. If people like Setanta, Channel 6 etc got on board, then it could be a success, but just a mirror of analogue will not have the desired effect of analogue cut off by 2012.

flogen

DMC wrote:

It does clearly show that there isnt the will amougst the broadcasters to go to DTT, and definatly not at their expense.

I don't think the will of the broadcasters has been truely tested as of yet; there's supposed to be an impending Broadcasting Bill which should (while no details are really known about it) pave the way for the changes needed once and for all... at that point I'd imagine the broadcasters commitment to DTT or any potential variant will be put to the test.

watty

‘‘There is an argument for putting a simple DTT service online to replace analogue.

‘‘It could consist of just two multiplexes rather than the higher number proposed and run on the UVF frequency to ensure maximum coverage at a lower cost. A service like this would meet EU demands on the digital switchover too.”

This bit at the end is not fact, nor researched. It is as I said above, ill-informed opinion. And TV3 are like King Canute regarding UTV. UTV had 70% of Irish household before TV3 existed! Also UTV is now and will continue to be FTA over the whole Island whatever they think of it. Irrespective of EPG.

They need to do Irish programming (not meaning particularly Gaelic), rather than just be a more UK orientated version of Channel6. Then they don't need to fuss.

RTE are keen enough for DTT, just don't have the money.

flogen

watty wrote:

This bit at the end is not fact, nor researched. It is as I said above, ill-informed opinion.

I know; my point was that it wasn't the article itself that was ill-informed, it was the quoted person that you have issue with

bk

Of course TV3 would love for a limited service to be launched, TV3 don't want any competition.

A basic DTT service consisting of just the basic 4 channels would fail completely, the majority of people wouldn't spend money on new boxes (and potentially new aerials) just for 4 channels they already have.

A limited service with the 4 channels plus C6, Setanta, City Channel and a few extra RTE channels (News, Music, The Den, etc.) might be some what successful.

A full blown Freeview type service with lots of the main UK channels for free would guarantee success.

The most realistic outcome is the second option above, along with the UK channels broadcast via a subscription service to replace UPC MMDS service.

You know it is funny, but C6 is already shaping up to be a much better channel then TV3.

Antenna

watty wrote:

It also needs to be on UHF. VHF is needed for DAB and other services.

I presume the references to VHF is Band 3, as I don't think anyone would suggest Band 1 be used.

Watty,
What are the ‘other services’ that Band 3 should be used for??

2-way radio – as in the UK????
Usage of traditional 2 way radio has in fact reduced considerably in the past 10 years, due to high equipment and licence costs against the massive growth of mobiles phones. The 68-87MHz region for example is considerably less used than it was say 10 years ago with many repeaters that were used by business now gone, so I don’t consider there to be any need to reallocate Band 3 for that purpose.

Perhaps you want to see part of Band 3 given to amateur radio (as was done with a small section "1.25 metres" in the USA) ??

Either way tell us more

watty

I'm afraid a 220MHz Amateur / Wireless Experimenter licence would be unlikely.

RTE did do DTT VHF trials but Comreg, RTE and Gov. rule out VHF DTT. One use is DAB. Since DAB is NI already...

RTE keen on DAB. DAB per se is OK, it is too many channels on too little Multiplex spectrum that results in low bitrate and poorer than FM radio quality.. I don't think we will see that problem.

Bsically it is less of a problem if we utilise spectrum the same as Wales, Cornwall and N.I. on VHF. Which we don't at the moment.