Something interesting for C4 on DSAT/DTT here

L1011

Been reading Channel 4's commissioning contracts (don't ask, I had a reason to though), and when you sell a show to them, you grant them rights for their broadcasting territory. Which consists of, to quote:

"The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland"

they even have seperate sections dealing with Irish repeat rights at that (I believe they're handled differently in law here to the UK).

Now, I'm guessing this is a recently changed version of the contract, seeing as it specifies More4 as as catch-up service; but it means that Channel 4 aren't commissioning any shows without full Irish rights anymore. I wonder why

L1011

Oh, and it specifically states it covers all known and future transmission modes to its territory, including, and I found this odd that a UK firm would even remember it exists, 'multichannel directional points systems' (MMDS).

And you grant them rights to be broadcast on 'free satellite', whatever they mean by that is anyones question to be honest...

Mossy Monk

so why not go on satellite now then?

byte

Maybe it's preparing itself for when its contractual term with Sky ends in a few years?

And maybe carriage on Irish DTT?

One can only dream.

watty

Sky contracts are wierd. You can't even keep paying Sky till 2008 (I think, but trhat might be RTE) and go FTA now. The contract LOCKS you into encryption as encryption of "good" channels helsp Sky's platform.

You can only go FTA when the crontract expires. Even if you were willing to keep paying for something you arn't getting.

BBC/ITV/C4 and Five WILL be on Irish DTT. The actuall real questions are:
1) When will Irish DTT happen?
2) How?
3) Will UK terrestrials be free or pay channels on DTT?

I have my views on these but I'm not running the DTT network.

rogue-entity

If Channel 4 includes rights for Ireland in all new contracts (and renewed contracts) for its programmes, then why dont they just enable Irish viewers to receive the channel by not restricting it to the UK? I know that BBC/ITV/C4 scrambled to stop overspill reception for legal reasons, but that is no longer needed thanks to that new EU legislation. BBC went FTA when the contract expired, ITV did the same and its likly that C4 and five will follow suit. But what I am wondering is, why didnt ITV/C4/five just unblock Ireland from viewing the channels if they dont have to worry about rights. I dont mean they could have stuck it on the EPG, but just let us tune it in manually and watch.

On the DTT note, we have 5 local channels (6 if you add city chanel), there will probably be a few extra channels such as an RTE news channel and maybe a second TG4 or something. But as I said before, and watty will agree, the system wont be successful if it doesnt carry the UK terrestrial channels (the BBCs, ITVs, C4 and five) for free. I believe if it also carried channels like Sky News and Film4 which are free on the UK system as well as pay channels like Sky1 and Discovery for less then the cost of a cable/sat sub, it would further tempt people into buying a receiver.

Just having a channel package consisting of the UK/Irish terrestrials for free would get most people to upgrade. Adding some of the best channels from the current UK DTT service would certainly be a good thing. And if they could add the pay channels available on NTLs digital package (or better still Sky's family pack) for less then what NTL and Sky charge for it would probably pull a lot of customers from those services if they can get good coverage.

watty

The BBC/ITV encryption was nothing to do with legal reason or legislation, purely civil contracts with content providers.

Sky charge extra for Irish EPG and Sky contracts are fairly inflexible, hence C4 situation is not likely to change till contract expires.


I totally hate the use of the word "free" in conjunction with Pay TV (Satellite, MMDS or Cable). It is free only if you can receive it without a contract.

I also object that now that technology allows it we still do not have ala carte pay channel selection but have to pick artificially constructed packages. Originally Pay TV could only support one to three groups of package. Now with digial and the billing systems used there is no reason other than monopoly abuse to not offer exactly the channels you want.

We are all paying extra fro channels we never watch.

L1011

Oddly enough, if Sky don't see you as 'important' or you're encrypted on a pay package you get the Irish EPG entry free...

watty

Eh? Oh yes!

marksi

Last night's Big Brother had a graphic with RoI text/vote numbers on it. NOt seen them do that before.

Mossy Monk

they have been doing that for years. not sure exactly how long but i do remember Dermot O Leary even mentioned RoI once or twice a year or 2 ago

byte

I didn't realise they showed graphics onscreen to vote from ROI.

I recall people having to start threads to find where the voting numbers were.

Mossy Monk

only happens on shows that are shown on E4 so i have been told

marksi

So it hasn't been happening on C4 "for years" then...

Mossy Monk

marksi wrote:

So it hasn't been happening on C4 "for years" then...

it has been happening on a C4 channel

marksi

But not on C4.