RTÉ for free on satellite? RTÉ say "Out Out Out"...

rlogue

It's been suggested in more than one place that were RTÉ to shift all the remaining imported programming and sports from RTÉ One to RTÉ Two then there would be no need to keep RTÉ One scrambled on satellite.

Well, I put this to Peter Feeney of RTÉ and here's what he said:

RTÉ is experiencing considerable financial difficulties as the advertising market contracts as a result of the economic woes being experienced throughout the world. We have to take measures to cut our expenditure in anticipation of a significant drop in income in 2009.

RTÉ for free in the UK? OUT:

Unfortunately the planned start up of an RTÉ service for the UK has had to be put back. We are still committed to getting this service off the ground in 2009, but we do not have a date yet for the planned start of the service. You may describe this as a “disgraceful” decision, but the fact is that we have to be prudent and not spend money we do not have.

RTÉ 1 FTA by moving Sports and Imports to RTÉ 2? OUT:

Your solution of moving all RTÉ originate material to one channel and all acquired programming to the second channel would put us in an even more difficult financial situation as it is the judicious mix of home production and acquired programming on each channel that maximises our audiences and therefore our commercial revenue.

Surely a FTA move would not cost RTÉ anything? OUT:

Your solution also does not take account of the financial cost of satellite carriage costs which apply irrespective of the programme mix.

:mad:

Widescreen

rlogue wrote: »

It's been suggested in more than one place that were RTÉ to shift all the remaining imported programming and sports from RTÉ One to RTÉ Two then there would be no need to keep RTÉ One scrambled on satellite.

Well, I put this to Peter Feeney of RTÉ and here's what he said:



RTÉ for free in the UK? OUT:



RTÉ 1 FTA by moving Sports and Imports to RTÉ 2? OUT:



Surely a FTA move would not cost RTÉ anything? OUT:



:mad:

Did you not think of suggesting that they at least go FTV on Sky because at people then could receive OUR NATIONAL CHANNELS without necessarily having to pay Sky at least €21.00 per month! I mean,we can get all the UK channels for zilch and we don't pay ANY TV Licence to them!

TheDriver

I love the debate about RTE going free, how about the fact it is free with an aerial and also will be free on digital next year when DTT goes live??

Mossy Monk

Widescreen wrote: »

Did you not think of suggesting that they at least go FTV on Sky because at people then could receive OUR NATIONAL CHANNELS without necessarily having to pay Sky at least €21.00 per month! I mean,we can get all the UK channels for zilch and we don't pay ANY TV Licence to them!

Going FTV will cost nothing of course. Oh wait.

evilivor

TheDriver wrote: »

I love the debate about RTE going free, how about the fact it is free with an aerial

Free but inferior, as in 14:9 letterbox, rather than the 16:9 signal available on the digital platforms.

zanardi

What's to stop them running adverts on RTE International? Or is that precluded in the legislation?

My Auntie in London isn't getting any younger.

rlogue

Widescreen wrote: »

Did you not think of suggesting that they at least go FTV on Sky because at people then could receive OUR NATIONAL CHANNELS without necessarily having to pay Sky at least €21.00 per month! I mean,we can get all the UK channels for zilch and we don't pay ANY TV Licence to them!

Yes I have, and to date they have not answered that question at all. I suspect they are trying to avoid the question.

rlogue

TheDriver wrote: »

I love the debate about RTE going free, how about the fact it is free with an aerial and also will be free on digital next year when DTT goes live??

Have you missed the point that many areas have unsatisfactory analogue reception? Never mind digital terrestrial....

TheDriver

rlogue wrote: »

Have you missed the point that many areas have unsatisfactory analogue reception? Never mind digital terrestrial....

DTT will work with less signal than analog on the basis that you don't need 100% signal to get a great picture. Most poeple will be able to get DTT perfectly when it rolls out and hence very few people won't be able to get rte digitally and hence forth not worth their while paying for satellite slots

rlogue

When are RTE proposing to roll out DTT to their transposer sites then?

From reading the DCMR document on rollout places like Moville don't even have a timeframe for rollout, never mind an actual date. If DTT progresses at the same pace as the TV3 analogue rollout we will still be waiting in 10 years time.

Satellite is available now. All that's needed is the will of RTÉ.

channelsurfer

you couldnt put the same question to sky ireland? or is their dublin office just a postbox? at the same time ask them why are they not reducing their prices in line with the fact hte euro is now worth 92p compared to 68p when they set the rat.

GerardKeating

Widescreen wrote: »

Did you not think of suggesting that they at least go FTV on Sky because at people then could receive OUR NATIONAL CHANNELS without necessarily having to pay Sky at least €21.00 per month! I mean,we can get all the UK channels for zilch and we don't pay ANY TV Licence to them!

Buy Sky will charge them for the FTV cards, I am sure they will find this admin work expensive and have to levy RTÉ a monthly charge of at least €21.50 per card...

watty

Sky would charge about 5M to 8M a year to RTE for a FTV card scheme, + €25 a card. Then RTE would also have to pay for Encryption, EPG and Carriage (another 10M to 15M maybe).

About 15M to 23M they don't payout now, irrespective of how many cards issued. FTV card scheme won't happen unless Sky changes price structure.

The public would pay the €25 per card required. The cards would work in UK. Many would be purchased and sent to UK, as they would have to permit up to 5 cards per Irish Address.

rlogue

What about simply allowing cancelled Irish sub cards to decode the Irish channels without actually starting up a formal FTV scheme?

Widescreen

rlogue wrote: »

What about simply allowing cancelled Irish sub cards to decode the Irish channels without actually starting up a formal FTV scheme?

Exactly what I meant earlier,well put. Probably too simpler a solution for the decision makers in the BCI/RTE or whoever it is up to to figure out though!

TheDriver

probably because sky know wayyyyy too many people would un subscribe and i suppose why should a business like sky help to loose customers. Would love if they did this but this discussion has gone on for so many years and yet never a solution. I think DTT is about our only hope in the near future

Onikage

Your solution of moving all RTÉ originate material to one channel and all acquired programming to the second channel would put us in an even more difficult financial situation as it is the judicious mix of home production and acquired programming on each channel that maximises our audiences and therefore our commercial revenue.

This really galls me. Why are you trying to maximise revenue RTÉ? You are not a business. You are a public service broadcaster. You have no business selling ads. You have no business buying foreign shows that are already available to the Irish people through other channels (pardon the pun). Leave business to the business people. Don't have enough original material for a second channel? Then you clearly don't need a second channel.

Zaphod

TheDriver wrote: »

DTT will work with less signal than analog on the basis that you don't need 100% signal to get a great picture. Most poeple will be able to get DTT perfectly when it rolls out and hence very few people won't be able to get rte digitally and hence forth not worth their while paying for satellite slots

While many will have improved picture quality with DTT, fewer people will actually be able to receive the channels via DTT than currently can via analogue.

watty

rlogue wrote: »

What about simply allowing cancelled Irish sub cards to decode the Irish channels without actually starting up a formal FTV scheme?

Sky give freebies that they charged BBC £85Million for?

Yes. Analogue coverage is far worse than RTE claims.
Digital will be less than 80% population. Geographic far worst. Best coverage in cabled areas

Frisian

In other countries the gouvernment would order and force a foreign company to carry the national channels free for any tv licence payer.
On the side.. I used to have a Setanta sub on an ex-sub card but didn't get RTÈ. Why is that?

Digifriendly

Zaphod wrote: »

While many will have improved picture quality with DTT, fewer people will actually be able to receive the channels via DTT than currently can via analogue.

If this is the case and I don't doubt your word, is there not going to be a big problem when analogue signal is switched off e.g. for those who won't get RTE terrestially and cannot afford satellite and are not in an area with cable? Methinks if this was to happen across the Irish Sea there would be a large outcry. At least main PSB channels there are FTA on satellite!

kbell

Frisian wrote: »

In other countries the gouvernment would order and force a foreign company to carry the national channels free for any tv licence payer.
On the side.. I used to have a Setanta sub on an ex-sub card but didn't get RTÈ. Why is that?

Because Setanta dont offer RTÈ as a sub.

Sky offer it free with any package and as your card was an ex-sub, No RTÈ.