Irish DAB missing from UPC Digital

patrickmooney

Isn't it great to have the full spectrum of BBC DAB/Digital channels on UPC, so you would think at least they would carry RTE's six new DAB channels when they officially launched on Monday. No, not a single one. I wonder if we will ever get our Irish DAB channels on this platform, it makes sense.

Resi12

patrickmooney wrote: »

Isn't it great to have the full spectrum of BBC DAB/Digital channels on UPC, so you would think at least they would carry RTE's six new DAB channels when they officially launched on Monday. No, not a single one. I wonder if we will ever get our Irish DAB channels on this platform, it makes sense.

Ya I was wondering if they were going too, I wasn't getting my hopes up tbh.

ethernet

Do they even have the capacity for new channels?

paulm17781

ethernet wrote: »

Do they even have the capacity for new channels?

AFAIK most of their cable has huge excess capacity. It is 850 Mhz (I think) where as the old NTL cable was only 500 Mhz.

tonywin

patrickmooney wrote: »

Isn't it great to have the full spectrum of BBC DAB/Digital channels on UPC, so you would think at least they would carry RTE's six new DAB channels when they officially launched on Monday. No, not a single one. I wonder if we will ever get our Irish DAB channels on this platform, it makes sense.

You could of course go out and buy a DAB radio and experience the RTE services Direct - AND potentially mobile (with the right receivers) not tied downto a set top box or a computer terminal!

There are well over 150 devices to choose from and more on the market every day!

Soon they will have screens to display EPG and images related to the broadcast content ("Web cam" of the DJ, Album covers, Maps ogf rafficand weather problems etc). DAB is a fantastic opportunity - ENJOY it!

paulm17781

tonywin wrote: »

You could of course go out and buy a DAB radio and experience the RTE services Direct - AND potentially mobile (with the right receivers) not tied downto a set top box or a computer terminal!

There are well over 150 devices to choose from and more on the market every day!

Soon they will have screens to display EPG and images related to the broadcast content ("Web cam" of the DJ, Album covers, Maps ogf rafficand weather problems etc). DAB is a fantastic opportunity - ENJOY it!

Yeah you could do all that. However UPC could also give it to us on the STB.

What's your relationship to DAB in Ireland? You seem keen to pimp it.

icdg

patrickmooney wrote: »

Isn't it great to have the full spectrum of BBC DAB/Digital channels on UPC, so you would think at least they would carry RTE's six new DAB channels when they officially launched on Monday. No, not a single one. I wonder if we will ever get our Irish DAB channels on this platform, it makes sense.

It may be down to RTÉ, they may not yet provide DVB compatible version of the stations for UPC to provide. I'm sure it would not cost RTÉ that much over and above what they are already paying for the stations for them to do so and would bring the stations to a wider audience.

Infoanon

tonywin wrote: »

You could of course go out and buy a DAB radio and experience the RTE services Direct - AND potentially mobile (with the right receivers) not tied downto a set top box or a computer terminal!

DAB now only has the RTE services with the commercial services being pulled on Monday Dec 1st - I would not be promoting anyone to buy a DAB receiver at the moment - even all 80's and Mocha are gone and there seems to be little or no interest in commercial stations commiting to DAB in the current economic environment - of course that the BCI have no structure in place for DAB isn't helping......

December 1st could spell the end of DAB in the short term - I hope not but I doubt if theres many happy DAB radio owners out there at the moment.

patrickmooney

tonywin wrote: »

You could of course go out and buy a DAB radio and experience the RTE services Direct - AND potentially mobile (with the right receivers) not tied downto a set top box or a computer terminal!

There are well over 150 devices to choose from and more on the market every day!

Soon they will have screens to display EPG and images related to the broadcast content ("Web cam" of the DJ, Album covers, Maps ogf rafficand weather problems etc). DAB is a fantastic opportunity - ENJOY it!

Try buying a DAB in Dublin. I was in Arnotts two days looking for them, only one. Bad.

patrickmooney

Infoanon wrote: »

tonywin wrote: »

You could of course go out and buy a DAB radio and experience the RTE services Direct - AND potentially mobile (with the right receivers) not tied downto a set top box or a computer terminal!

DAB now only has the RTE services with the commercial services being pulled on Monday Dec 1st - I would not be promoting anyone to buy a DAB receiver at the moment - even all 80's and Mocha are gone and there seems to be little or no interest in commercial stations commiting to DAB in the current economic environment - of course that the BCI have no structure in place for DAB isn't helping......

December 1st could spell the end of DAB in the short term - I hope not but I doubt if theres many happy DAB radio owners out there at the moment.

Serious! I was banking on all the Dublin stations being on there, as they where during the trail. It was going to be a gift for the parents, no point now if they can't pick up newstalk or 104.

tonywin

Firstly DAB there are a great range of DAB radio's available on line - and that surely has to be a plus. Choice without having to fight the crowds on the streets!

As to the commercial stations pulling out of the RTE Multiplex - DAB can not be blamed for that. It is a commercial decission on the part of the commercial broadcasters - who at the moment are of the mind that it is not worth paying to be on two platforms (FM and DAB) when they have no proof that people are listening on DAB.

It is the same "Chicken and Egg" situation that at some time in the roll out of DAB, exists around the world.
1. Stations are loath to transmit on DAB because there are so few DAB Listeners.
2. Listeners are loath to buy DAB Radios because there are so few DAB stations and so few radios to choice from in the shops.
3. The shops are loath to stock DAB radios as so few cusatomers ask for them.

This is how the situation was in the UK until:-
1. The Govt "Helped" stations to go on DAB by extending their FM licence if they took up a DAB transmission.
2. The Govt and industry bodies activley promoted (the advantages of (DAB)
3. The State broadcaster (BBC) activley promotes DAB across all its platforms.
4. National chains of retailers effectivley stopped stocking Analogue Radios.
5. Niche broadcasters took up DAB only transmissions

The rewards are now showing and the variety of New services is mucg appreciated. The imminent arrival ofthe plethora of Data Services related to the Radio services isnow also hotley expected.

The fact that the European Motor industry has now acknowledged that DAB wil be the standard fit in cars by 2012 is also a great indication of the way ahead.

All that is now awaited is the regulator bitting the bullet and announcing a switch off date for Analogue Radio!

L1011

icdg wrote: »

It may be down to RTÉ, they may not yet provide DVB compatible version of the stations for UPC to provide. I'm sure it would not cost RTÉ that much over and above what they are already paying for the stations for them to do so and would bring the stations to a wider audience.

There should be no technical problem in providing the unpacked stream - both DAB and DVB use the same coding technologies.

tonywin

It may be technologicallyPOSSIBLE for RTE to re encodethe oututs and encorporate them - but why should they. the services are RADIO - and available on a superb platform already - one that provides qulaity and portability. - DAB.

Rather than re encoding the stations (and it WOULD take re encoding) - the cost of the encoders could be diverted to delivering encoders for the commercial stations to be out on DAB - doesnt that make more sense - to put Radio Stations on a RADIO platform?

paulm17781

tonywin wrote: »

Rather than re encoding the stations (and it WOULD take re encoding) - the cost of the encoders could be diverted to delivering encoders for the commercial stations to be out on DAB - doesnt that make more sense - to put Radio Stations on a RADIO platform?

Not if you're trying to get exposure.

tonywin

Exposure for WHAT?

If it is the channels - I repeat that they are RADIO Channels. A great deal of the problem with media these days is that it is becoming "confused". Cable TV is just that and Radio - similarly Radio. If money was not wasted on multiple itterations of the same content - the over all service delivery woutld be greatly expanded, enhanced and enjoyed by a muc wider audience.

This is a perfect example of that - where it was proposed to outlay for additional encoders to deliver RTE oncable TV channels!! The money (which isprobably not available in any case) woutld be much better used expanding Radio services. At the moment - the Irish Listening public would greatly benefit from the money being put to assisting the Commercial stations to a DAB future.

paulm17781

Tonywin, you obviously have an interest in DAB, that's fine but answer me this. Why should I go out and buy a DAB? Give me one reason that makes it worth my while over a conventional radio?

Then, tell me why if it's the same stations I should bother?

If there is anything new to DAB, they should be putting it on UPC get people interested and the consider buying DAB. I have one, it's on my iPod dock, that is coincidence (I liked the dock) and I see no advantage to DAB.

watty

Dab is dying.

There is only RTE on it.
There is no nationwide rollout.
Radios are not pocketable like FM.
It offers no significant difference in Quality.
The Commercial stations don't want the extra transmission cost and extra competiton.

It's very simple and cheap putting Radio channels on Satellite or Cable. You use DVB-s or DVB-c. The data content can be the same.

Also Cable distribution systems won't work with DVB-t or DAB type signals.

patrickmooney

The only radio I listen to these days are those I can stream to my iPod/iPhone on the go or at home via iTunes/AppleTV or UPC. I don't think I even have an analogue radio tunner in my house. Digital Radio should never be restricted to just one platform, DAB, RTE should be giving us licence payers access to their services, Digital Radio should be available on ALL digital platforms include web (on all platforms/formats), iPhone, UPC Digital and Sky Digital. This is the model BBC used. Here in Ireland we can pick up ALL BBC Digital Channels on all of these platforms. Why bother buying new equipment to listen to what is 6 repeats channels from RTE. I'm afraid no DAB hardware for my household this year. I was actually even going to buy a pure receiver this week until I read this thread too!

ciaran76

I heard Newstalk were not going to go ahead with it in the end. Heard this a few weeks ago but not 100% sure.

zilog_jones

How does UPC currently get their radio stations? I was going to just assume they get it from the 28.2°E satellites but then remembered they have loads of regional stations too...