Ireland going Digital!

FreedomJoe

So finally we have the news OFFICIALLY!!!

Communications Minister Eamon Ryan says Ireland will have full digital terrestrial TV by autumn of next year.

Speaking in Dublin today, the minister said the €100m system would give viewers a better picture and allow a number of new free-to-air channels to be broadcast.

http://iol.breakingnews.ie/news/default.aspx?c=ireland&jp=mhqlkfsnkfkf

So whos ready to place bets it will all go to plan?

If its anything like Broadband it will be more like the autumn of 2043 for some of us!

Foggy43

I did see the report and what interested me was when he said that now they, RTE and Boxer, will have to put a transmission network in place and mentioning that there are no receivers available yet. These receivers will be mass produced and be very cheap.

How cheap and when?

Mossy Monk

FreedomJoe wrote: »

So whos ready to place bets it will all go to plan?

Lots of transmitters being surveyed/upgraded and three transmitters already broadcast DTT so I think it will go to plan.

channelsurfer

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/obrien-group-told-january-dtt-launch-is-a-fantasy-1444310.html

boxers plan is already is trouble!!!

watty

Digital is NOT about a better picture. It's about Widescreen and more channels. The best analogue TV was better than Sky Digital before they degraded Analogue by feeding it with re-sampled cropped version of Widescreen signal.

You need higher bitrates than most broadcasters are prepared to use to have better quality.

You have a noisy poor signal? Then you need a better aerial for Digital, which would fix your analogue, or eles you may be outside area for Digital reception at all.

The main RTE channels will be indistinguishable in quality for most people most of the time. The extra channels, especially some of the Pay TV will be at a lower bitrate(poorer quality)


RTE's part is going to plan. Not so sure about the pay Tv part.

FreedomJoe

What makes me Laugh about Boxers plans is that they think they can charge people to receive the BBC and ITV.

Most people know that these channels are free on either Freesat or Sky, and most people who want these channels can either receive them on SKY, Freesat or even NTL-Chorus.

Boxer hopes to have pay per view audience with around 225,000 subscribers, but what do they really think they can offer that will attract 225,000 people who havent already been attracted to the likes of SKY or NTl?

Unless Boxer can offer something that SKY or NTL cant then I cant see Boxer doing well out of this!

Sure people will pick up the boxes for the FTA showing but lets face it those who want the BBC or ITV will not pay for it when its free elsewhere!

icdg

Moved to Terrestrial.

scath

Having thought further on it, I think Boxer's draw is €10x12 plus local radio=€120 compared to €150 with Sky which'll actually be more if you look for a combo box of DTT & Satellite. Mind you, you might have RTÉ International and Oireachtas TV but maybe not the Irish Film Channel for programme rights reasons, so you could skip DTT altogether.

So in that sense in year 1, Boxer will be cheaper. But, over time, its more expensive and also with satellite you get more channels.

I think the real solution to this is give the UK terrestrials one mux for their channels in return for a Freeview NI mux in post ASO. Also come to an agreement where by ROI and UK rights will be jointly bought by a broadcaster from each jurisdiction such that the consumer can watch either channel of the programme in either jurisdiction. And to satisfy cable, let it combo with DTT, but with the pay DTT disabled for UPC to sell subs on top of. Indeed this may be what Sky can do to save on carriage costs and disable pay DTT on a combo box. RTÉ could decide to do that sort of deal with the approval of TV3 etc. UPC had an issue with that earlier in the year, but if they're going to save royalties and piggy back on DTT they could sell FTA DTT as relabelled FTA cable ready combo boxes and cede the MMDS to Boxer for DTT subs in some sort of deal to save spectrum costs.

Indeed the BCI could if it wished decide, we'll hold 1 mux, reduce your fees for 1 less mux and do this swap for Irish channels with Ofcom's agreement.

FreedomJoe wrote: »

What makes me Laugh about Boxers plans is that they think they can charge people to receive the BBC and ITV.

Most people know that these channels are free on either Freesat or Sky, and most people who want these channels can either receive them on SKY, Freesat or even NTL-Chorus.Boxer hopes to have pay per view audience with around 225,000 subscribers, but what do they really think they can offer that will attract 225,000 people who havent already been attracted to the likes of SKY or NTl?Unless Boxer can offer something that SKY or NTL cant then I cant see Boxer doing well out of this!

Sure people will pick up the boxes for the FTA showing but lets face it those who want the BBC or ITV will not pay for it when its free elsewhere!

plica06

Did anyone understand that last post? I certainly did not. There weren't enough 3 letter acronyms for a start.

Mossy Monk

plica06 wrote: »

Did anyone understand that last post? I certainly did not. There weren't enough 3 letter acronyms for a start.

Understood it perfectly.

Myxomatosis

I understood it too but I think scath at times goes off on massive tangents, making all sorts of predictions and assumptions of none of which will ever happen

biologikal

FreedomJoe wrote: »

Most people know that these channels are free on either Freesat or Sky...

Sadly, I don't think many people are aware that those channels are free. Even I was unaware until about a year ago. And I can't see that any organisations here will be promoting that their free either.

People that frequent the boards here will know, but outside of that, there will be SFA. When you tell people that they can get the BBC's/ITVs/C4s/etc for free, they immediately think you mean putting up a massive ariel and pointing it north, or east across to Wales.

byte

biologikal wrote: »

Sadly, I don't think many people are aware that those channels are free. Even I was unaware until about a year ago. And I can't see that any organisations here will be promoting that their free either.

People that frequent the boards here will know, but outside of that, there will be SFA. When you tell people that they can get the BBC's/ITVs/C4s/etc for free, they immediately think you mean putting up a massive ariel and pointing it north, or east across to Wales.

But that trend can change quickly, if not through the internet, then through word-of-mouth, etc.

scath

Hehe...I appreciate the honesty above :-D..I have a convuluted way of saying things instead of being brief.

No I'm a guy who prefers to suggest solutions, that perhaps you have interpreted as predictions. But who can predict with accuracy?

What I suggested above is a solution.Do I think it will happen? No, not unless people group together to say, no, we're not paying for UK terrestrials we got for free, go back and do a deal with BBC and ITV or we'll get you at election time and punish you. Only that may change course.

Remember RTÉ tried there best on this. Many often criticise RTÉ, but they're programming has improved since C Goan got the DG, and DTT is on course and they tried for us to get fTA UK terrestrials. UPC hadn't the foresight to create a FTA cable out of DTT and save royalties. I remember emailing this to them. Well, stony silence. What I wonder is will Boxer accommodate those who only want premium channels and not the UK channels?

But I suppose the egos of those in the market means that they prefer to traditionally compete rather than ally where it benefits both and then compete where it doesn't. To me I see two Irish platforms up against a cheaper powerful foreign one. If they don' combine then they could be outgunned by a cheaper foreign one. Sky would be daft not to say, listen, we'll give you a €150 box, install for you and even giving free Sky+ or upgrade for a free equipment for a year contract at €21-€61 per month. For €150 you get free UK channels. We give you the most channels for the best price. Why go elsewhere-Sky, believe in better!!!! That's what I'd do if I worked for them.

That'd blow Boxer and UPC out of the water. How many will object to a satellite if they're now gonna save money? when they learn f reduced overspill? This could kill out Boxer who'll try to compete on price. I suspect Sky will pay Irish broadcasters to stay on satellite or over them pay DTT disabled combo boxes.

I think we'll be stuck with what's on offer, charged UK terrestrial on the Irish platforms and free for 1 off cost on freesat/skyfreesat. I think Boxer will eek out business out of unaware consumers. I expect there will be a political outcry about this. I think pressure will come on the Dept of Comms and Minister Ryan for not giving 1 mux to UK broadcasters to offer for free and the alternate in NI. However up there, Boxer may cover some of the North according to the coverage maps? However, if TV3 buy out UTV then this may ease things a little.

I think Boxer may squeeze UPC's business. UPC will try to beat it on price. But mobility and convenience are big challenges and wait to get hooked up. I think Freesat will pick up quite a number and because of a cheaper box, that will be Sky. Sky will be the winners, Boxer will make a few bucks and UPC will get squeezed. Then they might start coping on and combo with DTT for a free UK channel deal. By that time, it'll be hard for them.

But for now, I think we're stuck with what we are getting! I noticed Minister Ryan was asked about free overspill UK channels now to be charged. He side-stepped that it was being charged. UPC are the ones to blaim on this apparently, instead recognising that they could save on fees, a strategic blunder that'll cost them I reckon down the road as subs are lost to Freesat and the more convenient boxer. After all, unlike DTT and satellite, cable has no Free-to-air, its subscription or nothing isn't it I think?

They could have redeemed the issue had Easy TV won, it would have been easily solved and methinks that may have been the plan. But that failed. Again only my guess, got no real inside track on it.

What do ye think of the US ASO website compared to Digital UK see: https://www.dtv2009.gov/ nice but not as clear I think!

Myxomatosis wrote: »

I understood it too but I think scath at times goes off on massive tangents, making all sorts of predictions and assumptions of none of which will ever happen

scath

See: http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/tv3s-836410m-takeover-move-for-channel-6-clears-first-hurdle-1445268.html

God back in 2006, C6 had fine ideas: see: http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/channel-6-targets-two-more-stations-90605.html That is until they discovered Bubble Hits were doing music, and were planning Bubble Hits Ireland in 2007. I'd say next you'll hear is that TV3 take a stake in Bubble Hits like 4 Music from C4.

Any of ye note, Chanel 4 have plans for a channel here: see: http://www.channel4.com/4talent/event.jsp?id=15521 called Buzz TV. Will it go on Boxer next year? Some sort of Youtube type channel kinda, I suppose along the lines of DCTV (Dublin Community TV) but with ad breaks. And til lately ITV looking at C6, eh all the UK terestrials bar BBC poking around here for some profits to make!

scath

See: http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/tv3s-836410m-takeover-move-for-channel-6-clears-first-hurdle-1445268.html

Must be music to TV3's ears, getting the early hearings. Maybe we could see C6 reincarnated on DTT before the end of the year or in Spring 09.

God back in 2006, C6 had fine ideas: see: http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/channel-6-targets-two-more-stations-90605.html That is until they discovered Bubble Hits were doing music, and were planning Bubble Hits Ireland in 2007. I'd say next you'll hear is that TV3 take a stake in Bubble Hits like 4 Music from C4.

Any of ye note, Chanel 4 have plans for a channel here: see: http://www.channel4.com/4talent/event.jsp?id=15521 called Buzz TV. Will it go on Boxer next year? Some sort of Youtube type channel kinda, I suppose along the lines of DCTV (Dublin Community TV) but with ad breaks. More along the lines of City Channels. I wonder would Channel 4 buy out City Channels and provide programming under the City Buzz TV name? Lol. City/National channel ie local/national ie local opt-in

And til lately ITV looking at C6, eh all the UK terestrials bar BBC poking around here for some profits to make!

channelsurfer

channelsurfer wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/obrien-group-told-january-dtt-launch-is-a-fantasy-1444310.html

boxers plan is already is trouble!!!

Bullcrap to be honest.
Thats just another waffle loaded attack by the O'Reilly group against their arch nemesis O' Brien who has been criticising them and twarting them right left and centre for the last few years ever since he started building up a shareholding in their precious media group.

BowWow

moved to Broadcasting

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=56775430&posted=1#post56775430

Mossy Monk

Would the Channel 6 stuff be more suitable to the Broadcasting board?

BowWow

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Would the Channel 6 stuff be more suitable to the Broadcasting board?

Good idea. Done.......

scath

BowWow wrote: »

Good idea. Done.......

I agree, I don't know how to move a thread. I should look around abit more, I see discussion is more organised that me lol and that topic is being discussed at broadcasting :-D

bk

scath wrote: »

That'd blow Boxer and UPC out of the water.

I disagree completely, UPC don't need DTT and Boxer to remain competitive against Sky. UPC's strategy will follow Comcasts in the US and Virgins in the UK. Namely offering services that can't be offered by sat, very high speed BB, phone and VoD all bundled with TV for a very reasonable price.

Just look at UPC's new 20mb BB products and the extremely competitive bundles they have. UPC will not only cement their current position in the TV market, but will likely aggressively steal phone and BB customers from Eircom.

UPC is currently working on DOCSIS 3 tech that will allow BB speeds of 50 to 100mb!!! Things are looking very healthy for UPC. DTT will have little or no impact on them.

scath wrote: »

I think Boxer may squeeze UPC's business. UPC will try to beat it on price. But mobility and convenience are big challenges and wait to get hooked up. I think Freesat will pick up quite a number and because of a cheaper box, that will be Sky. Sky will be the winners, Boxer will make a few bucks and UPC will get squeezed. Then they might start coping on and combo with DTT for a free UK channel deal. By that time, it'll be hard for them.

UPC have just introduced a new Digital TV package, for €20 pm you get 60 channels (40 TV + 20 radio), including all of the 23 channels channels that boxer plan on charging €23 pm for!!!

So UPC already offer almost double the number of channels for €3 less then boxer. Trust me UPC won't be losing any customers to boxer.

If the €10 UK only charge package proves popular, I've no doubt that UPC can and will introduce an equivalent package, probably for less money and with more channels (perhaps their current analogue line-up in digital for €10?).

I honestly can't see anyway that UPC will lose customers to Boxer, it just doesn't ad up.

UPC will likely continue to lose some MMDS customers to Sky and Freesat, but not to boxer and UPC will likely make up for these loses with the addition of phone + BB customers in cabled areas.

icdg

scath wrote: »

See: [url]C4.

Any of ye note, Chanel 4 have plans for a channel here: see: [/url]http://www.channel4.com/4talent/event.jsp?id=15521 called Buzz TV. Will it go on Boxer next year? Some sort of Youtube type channel kinda, I suppose along the lines of DCTV (Dublin Community TV) but with ad breaks. More along the lines of City Channels. I wonder would Channel 4 buy out City Channels and provide programming under the City Buzz TV name? Lol. City/National channel ie local/national ie local opt-in

Have you seen Buzz TV. You don't want it on DTT.

It's on Chorus NTL channel 131 and is quite frankly the worst non-shopping television channel ever seen. Hours of "Psychics Live" and some very old programmes from the 1950s, including The Lucy Show and Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe. Its of limited interest. City Channel is a lot better.

I had no idea Channel 4 was behind it though. Seems very unlike them.