"RTE cutbacks hit new digital service"

Charles Slane

From today's Sunday Tribune - "RTE cutbacks hit new digital service"

"RTE budget cuts mean a digital radio service to be launched by the state broadcaster next month will not be available nationwide....

......'The launch of RTE's DAB service is going ahead but not on the same scale as planned' said an RTE source.....

...And while the service has so far managed to avoid the expense of paying out for presenters - as all its stations have been working on an automated jukebox service without DJs - broadcasting legend Larry Gogan is expected to make an appearance at the launch next month fronting RTE Gold, a channel playing golden oldies.

The other digital stations being launched are RTE2XFM, RTE CHoice, RTE Digital Radio News, RTE Junior/Chill, RTE Radio 1 Extra and dance station, RTE Pulse.

Charles Slane

Link to full story -

http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/oct/26/rte-cutbacks-hit-new-digital-service/?q=DAB

galtee boy

Charles Slane wrote: »

Link to full story -

http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/oct/26/rte-cutbacks-hit-new-digital-service/?q=DAB

What do they mean " not on the same scale " ? Does anyone know what transmitters will broadcast Dab, other than Spur Hill, Woodcock Hill and Three Rock ?

L1011

I would suspect this means "none" in the short term. Unfortunately as I'd kill for Kippure...

byte

This is a shame. No DAB for Truskmore either then so.

watty

Without BBC Radio, I find the argument for DAB less than compelling

No doubt there is some virtue in RTE's automated stations, but unlike true WS 16:9 vs 4:3, DAB offers no huge advantage over FM radio.

Elmo

You must be disappoint with FM

I do realize the above is a smart remark so to preempt the following I will say it for you, You can receive BBC radio on FM if you pick it up form their networks either from the North or Wales. But then can we not also receive their DAB?

byte

Thankfully, there's still the option of wi-fi radio. Better than nowt!

mike65

Who needs DAB? wif-fi ftw

Mike

watty

watty wrote: »

Without BBC Radio, I find the argument for DAB less than compelling

Agreed 100%.
DAB is a resource that should be offering BBC radio ESPECIALLY to car dab radios.
It's also no good if it's in selected areas like at present as the minute you hit a highway,you've no guarantee that you will hear the end of your programme if it's not RTÉ

Elmo

Deleted User wrote: »

Agreed 100%.
DAB is a resource that should be offering BBC radio ESPECIALLY to car dab radios.
It's also no good if it's in selected areas like at present as the minute you hit a highway,you've no guarantee that you will hear the end of your programme if it's not RTÉ

That is the very reason that Radio isn't getting an ASO like TV. I amn't sure how DAB is working everywhere else but people in cars with DAB radios must have a bit of trouble. You have to return FM when you move about the country even for the national stations, will this not be the same with Digital.

Will RTE be on DAB in the UK? I ask because if our resources are to be give over to the BBC then they should also have to provide their resources to us. Lets get ours of the ground, we haven't had the BBC on FM since inception. Sure BBC Radio 4 would have been better than Today FM

mjsmyth

Hmmm... oh well, no DAB. I just use my satellite setup to get radio when I want it... Mind you, I only use it for 5 Live for the footy..

easkey

Truskmore is my area and i hope it will get DAB early 2008.
I for one would to see the BBC's on it.:):)

When N.Ireland go digital in 2012 the digital transmitters will up
the power they are using be 400-500%, maybe then a outside
aerial to get DAB (I HOPE SO) from the north.

watty

Elmo wrote: »

You must be disappoint with FM

I do realize the above is a smart remark so to preempt the following I will say it for you, You can receive BBC radio on FM if you pick it up form their networks either from the North or Wales. But then can we not also receive their DAB?

I used to live in N.I. I still visit until the Home Secretary bans me.

I get UK stations via Satellite now. Also R4 LW.

The Cush

easkey wrote: »

When N.Ireland go digital in 2012 the digital transmitters will up
the power they are using be 400-500%, maybe then a outside
aerial to get DAB (I HOPE SO) from the north.

The 2012 date has nothing to do with DAB.
The 2012 date relates to analogue TV switch-off/digital TV switch-over.
Different bands DAB=VHF, DVB (digital tv)=UHF.

Analogue radio switch-off may happen from 2015 onwards, local UK radio licences being renewed now have an expiry date of 2015.

Elmo

I used to live in N.I. I still visit until the Home Secretary bans me.

Cool go for it that does really stand out as an argument for BBC on Irish DAB. Will RTE be available on NI DAB? I realise that RTE Radio is available on FreeSat now. I think it will be not sure. Also I don't thing Five Live will be provided on DAB here even if the BBC was provided, football right maybe held with RTE or Today fm here. so there may be a rights issue.

Will the BBC pay RTE to be on Irish DAB?

L1011

There is close to no chance of there being BBC on Irish DAB let alone the BBC paying for it!

I've no idea why people seem so obsessed with getting BBC radio on DAB when they can a: get it already for similar outlay, either satellite or FM aerials depending on area and b: its nothing different to what we've got here.

R4 = We get on LW
R5 = We get on MW
R3 = Lyric
R2 = Radio 1, with added idiots
R1 = 2fm

R1 and 2 in particular are standard run of the mill radio stations.

Elmo

In fairness to the people arguing for BBC Radio on DAB ROI many view BBC Radio 4 as a world leader in Radio programming.

But you are right BBC Radio is available from various outlets already. If BBC Radio are willing to pay for DAB in the Republic then they should be let broadcast on the service. But under the same conditions as any other Irish service.

watty

The RTE lower guys wanted to put BBC on it (RTE would have to pay BBC, but not much). But hell would freeze before either BBC would pay (against their charter, OK if someone else pays) or higher RTE execs would agree.

Once I would have said that the advantage of R4 on DAB would be better quality Portable / Mobile signal. At home Satellite is possible.

R6 & R7 are arguablely better than R1 & R2.

RTE could improve RTE1 and RTE2 by putting the phone ins and music from 1->2 but that is a another story.

However lately R4 Satellite seems more distorted than R4 LW. Maybe when BBC changes R4, R5 & others on LW/MW to DRM then that will be good.

If DAB is not Nationwide Mobile coverage then there is little point to it, with or without BBC. And as a medium to have more rubbish channels, not much point either.

The Cush

Maybe an all-Ireland mux carrying the our national services and the NI stations might be a solution (it may fall under the Good Friday Agreement).
The multiplex frequency should be available when the national VHF DVB-T allocation is converted into a DAB allocation.

Elmo

The RTE lower guys wanted to put BBC on it (RTE would have to pay BBC, but not much). But hell would freeze before either BBC would pay (against their charter, OK if someone else pays) or higher RTE execs would agree.

I would think it would make more economical sence for RTE to want commercial services (e.g. Today Fm etc) then to provide BBC with free transmission on their network. (I mean to pay the BBC to be on their service lol)

Today FM pay in the region of 1million euro to be on the network, I cann't see them being happy with the BBC getting for free.

There needs to be more regulation in terms of quality. The BCI attitude seems to be the following: -

1996: Radio Ireland sets up as an alternative to RTE Radio 1 with a similar remit.
1998: Radio Ireland rebrands, changes its schedule reduces the amount of news/current affairs/documentries/drama on the service, we get Today FM compeating with RTE 2FM and every other music station in Dublin.

The same goes for Spin which was initally to be a Dance music service, it has now become the same as any other local Dublin radio station.

I look forward to pop music on Phantom. as News Talk introduces their music strand with Tom Dunne.

Sorry this maybe of the topic but can anyone let me know if any of the local stations around the country have start to set up DAB? or even test it? Do they have networks that could help with the role out of the national service?

Elmo

from rte

RTÉ's trials of digital radio services which began in March 2007 come to an end on Sunday, 30 November and the broadcaster intends to have full schedules available for five new services from Monday, 1 December.

RTÉ Radio trialled a selection of services over the past twenty months on the RTÉ NL trial multiplex licence issued by ComReg. The services were evaluated in terms of technical performance, listener appeal and public value. On the basis of these measures and market research RTÉ Radio has decided to proceed with five of these services; three music services, a speech service and a children's only radio service.

The digital radio music services, sister stations to RTÉ 2fm, are RTÉ Pulse, RTÉ 2XM and RTÉ Chill. The speech service, a sister station to RTÉ Radio 1, is RTÉ Choice and the final station aimed at children aged 2 to 10 is RTÉ Junior.

JP Coakley, Head of Operations, RTÉ Radio says,

"Recent EBU and World DMB agreements on European-wide standards for digital radio sets mean that the industry as a whole is now moving together on digital radio. We are keen to make progress but given the present economic climate we have to be patient"

RTÉ's trial digital radio services are currently available to listen to online at rte.ie/radio throughout Ireland and to 44% of the population in the Greater Dublin and North East Coast area, Cork and Limerick cities on DAB digital radio sets available from retailers in those areas. When the schedules go live on Monday, 1 December RTÉ's five new digital radio services will continue to broadcast in those areas and online.

RTÉ has said it intends to roll-out DAB digital radio to 56% of the population over the coming three years however the broadcaster has stated that it will not progress with this roll-out until there is a regulatory framework in place that will allow commercial broadcasters to move to digital radio. This is to ensure that the whole industry moves together for the benefit of the listener.

RTÉ Radio will be providing further information and details of its five new services over the coming weeks.

L1011

Unless the COM mux goes off at the end of October there is NO capacity for the BBC to hypothetically use here, anyway. Even 1, 2, 3 (which really needs a higher bitrate) and 4/5 in mono would need close to half a mux.

Elmo wrote: »

Sorry this maybe of the topic but can anyone let me know if any of the local stations around the country have start to set up DAB? or even test it? Do they have networks that could help with the role out of the national service?

All Dublin ILRs except Country Mix and Radio Kerry are currently on the 'DABIreland Mux2' commercial multiplex; along with the INR stations plus two digital-only services.

L1011

watty wrote: »

RTE could improve RTE1 and RTE2 by putting the phone ins and music from 1->2 but that is a another story.

Veering wildly off topic, I think RTE should do a "France Televisions" on this one, put Joe Duffy + some of the music content on to 2fm; take 2fm's specialist shows to R1, and sell the fecking thing. (France Televisions did this with whats now TF1). 2fm basically competes with TodayFM bar some specialist music content which could be put on R1 or digital anyway.

Zaphod

RTÉ has said it intends to roll-out DAB digital radio to 56% of the population over the coming three years however the broadcaster has stated that it will not progress with this roll-out until there is a regulatory framework in place that will allow commercial broadcasters to move to digital radio. This is to ensure that the whole industry moves together for the benefit of the listener.

So it'll take them 3 years to go from 44% population coverage to 56%? "For the benefit of the listener" my hole.

Elmo

Veering wildly off topic, I think RTE should do a "France Televisions" on this one, put Joe Duffy + some of the music content on to 2fm; take 2fm's specialist shows to R1, and sell the fecking thing. (France Televisions did this with whats now TF1). 2fm basically competes with TodayFM bar some specialist music content which could be put on R1 or digital anyway.

Oh! Non! J'Accuse! You must speak with Mr. Sarkozy, he want to reform the public remit of these channels as they have become wastelands of American TV.

2FM needs to start acting its age again. RTE are doing what BBC3 TV does and that is to view the listener as stupid. Even their Nightly news suggested how stupid Teenagers are :mad: do they still produce that show? At least Dave Fanning brought some culture to 2fm.

RTE Radio 1 has to stop acting like is is everything to everyone, It needs some direction, it can't be everything to everyone.

Yes this is veering of the topic and is more to do with channel remit/policy then what and who gets air space.

All Dublin ILRs except Country Mix and Radio Kerry are currently on the 'DABIreland Mux2' commercial multiplex; along with the INR stations plus two digital-only services.

Is 'DABIreland Mux2' run by RTE or the local Dublin services?

Just looking at east coast FM, they run 6 transmission sites are they DAB ready at all?

More Music

DAB MUX 1 and 2 are national allocations (Block 12A & C). They just haven't been rolled out nationally yet.

MUX 1 and 2 are setup, owned and run by RTE NL. The commercial sector made contributions to the running of MUX2 (not the capital outlay). RTE NL was being generous in this respect and offered the space.

RTE will roll out MUX1 (as a public service broadcaster) but don't want to proceed without the support of the independent sector who will be on MUX2.

RTE have officially secured a license for MUX1 so this will move out of test phase soon, hence the release of schedules etc. The MUX2 trial is also ending, but nobody knows where this will end up.

No sites are actually DAB ready (except the ones on air!) as none of the current FM equipment can be used. That doesn't matter anyway as local radio stations or indeed Newstalk/Today FM will probably never own a DAB transmitter.

A company like RTE NL or say BT will make an application to the BCI when they advertise MUX2. Commercial radio stations will then approach the MUX owner/operator and lease space on it. The MUX operator will then distribute the audio to the different transmitter sites for DAB transmission.

RTE do want to move with the commercial stations to avoid what happened in the UK. The BBC just powered on themselves with any commercial support.

Anyway, given the current downturn it probably suits them to wait 6 - 9 months to see what happens. In that time they will probably only add 1 or 2 big sites to MUX1.

Of course it could happen that RTE NL are awarded the license for MUX2 and will lease that out to the commercial sector.

We haven't even begun discussing the regional MUX allocations!

Finally, what are the chances of BBC rolling out the 4 RTE radio stations across UK DAB? And then paying RTE to do it............?

L1011

There is a suggestion/intention that the BCI operate Mux2 and award capacity (with suitable licence fees needed to cover its costs) to suitable applicants... its in the Comreg docs.

Elmo

http://www.digitalradio.ie/news_articles/Irish%20Marketing%20Journal%20090408.pdf

Nice to see Lucy Gafney of Boxer talking about being a content provider

More Music

MYOB wrote: »

There is a suggestion/intention that the BCI operate Mux2 and award capacity (with suitable licence fees needed to cover its costs) to suitable applicants... its in the Comreg docs.

Do the BCI know about this!