DTT by end June 2009? Announcements over next few days?

BowWow

"Sunday Business Post."

RTE plans to invest €120 million in new digital network roll-out
02 March 2008 By Samantha McCaughren Business Correspondent

RTE plans to invest €120 million in a new transmission network, which will pave the way for the switch to digital television.

At present, free-to-air television is received through aerials, but this analogue system is being phased out over the coming years. It will be replaced by a more efficient digital network.

The Sunday Business Post has learned that RTE’s transmission subsidiary, RTENL, has put a cost of €95 million on the first phase of the rollout of digital terrestrial television (DTT). This first phase will bring the new system to 90 per cent of the population.

RTENL will charge commercial operators €3.5 million to broadcast a bundle of eight stations on the system, known as a multiplex. Initially, RTE will have one multiplex and commercial operators will have three.

RTE will pay its subsidiary €5.8 million in return for its stations being carried on the digital network, according to a document just published by RTENL. This price may change, depending on regulatory requirements.

RTENL expects that more than 75 per cent of the population will have digital television by the second quarter of next year, increasing to 90 per cent by 2010. Progress on digital television is gathering pace, with several developments taking place in the coming days, including the launch of the government website digitaltelevision.ie.

Communications minister Eamon Ryan said: ‘‘The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) will shortly be commencing its process to issue commercial DTT contracts in 2008, and it is expected that the commercial sector will work, together with RTE and the BCI, to develop an attractive range of DTT services well ahead of 2012.”

Ads will be placed on Friday for parties interested in applying for the commercial multiplexes. The BCI’s recently published policy document on digital television states: ‘‘With regard to the promotion of the DTT platform, it is the view of the Commission that a ‘DTT Champion’ is highly desirable, if not essential, to the success of the platform.

‘‘Given the importance of a coherent approach to the promotion of the platform, it is the commission’s expectation that the successful applicants for commercial DTT licences shall, in cooperation with RTE, work to promote the DTT platform.”

RTE has held talks with a number of parties with regard to joint ventures for the operation of the DTT platform. While RTE will be free-to-air on DTT, it looks increasingly likely that there will be a modest charge to access British channels.

byte

Hmm, I wonder how much this "modest" charge will be, and which British channels it will be! There is still no confirmation if the main 4 will be carried.

I notice that digitaltelevision.ie site is live, though it could do with more work.

BowWow

BowWow wrote: »

RTE will pay its subsidiary €5.8 million in return for its stations being carried on the digital network, according to a document just published by RTENL. This price may change, depending on regulatory requirements.

This looks like the document -

http://www.rtenl.ie/downloads/080220.pdf