RTE on UPC no subscription?

marathont

Hi I have UPC broadband. I don not want to pay for the TV package. I heard somewhere that I can get RTE without a subscription if I get a UPC cable tuner box (maybe subscribe for a while and then cancel). Is this true. (terrestrial reception is really bad)

GerardKeating

marathont wrote: »

Hi I have UPC broadband. I don not want to pay for the TV package. I heard somewhere that I can get RTE without a subscription if I get a UPC cable tuner box (maybe subscribe for a while and then cancel). Is this true. (terrestrial reception is really bad)

The basic analogue service is present for any bb customer, but using using it is a theft of service.

If you subscribe to UPC and get a "UPC cable tuner box", they will want it back when you un-sub, also they will cancel the view card, so it wont work anyway.

lensman

marathont wrote: »

Hi I have UPC broadband. I don not want to pay for the TV package. I heard somewhere that I can get RTE without a subscription if I get a UPC cable tuner box (maybe subscribe for a while and then cancel). Is this true. (terrestrial reception is really bad)

if you are getting your BB from UPC then the analogue tv package is also available to you but as GerardKeating says it's illegal to view unless you pay for it,...in reality they will never know your sitting there watching analogue TV so what they have done is to charge an extra €6 per month (BB only) supplement, or as they now call it (student BB),..I am not telling you to avail of the analogue TV for free you understand,...advise like that is frowned upon on this forum, :rolleyes:;)

Widescreen

lensman wrote: »

if you are getting your BB from UPC then the analogue tv package is also available to you but as GerardKeating says it's illegal to view unless you pay for it,...in reality they will never know your sitting there watching analogue TV so what they have done is to charge an extra €6 per month (BB only) supplement, or as they now call it (student BB),..I am not telling you to avail of the analogue TV for free you understand,...advise like that is frowned upon on this forum, :rolleyes:;)

UPC should get brave and offer the terrestrial channels Free of Charge to any subscribers who cancel their subscription. That would then put pressure on Sky to do the same. At least if someone lost their job and had to cancel his tv service he would still get the Irish channels.

Surely it is important to both RTE and TV3 that as many people as possible watch their broadcasts.

Especially as the analogue will go soon enough and many people even now, have a crap analogue service.

In reality anyone with Sky or UPC who cancels for financial reasons is more likely to just get rid of sports and/or movies and keep most of the standard entertainment channels.

This would be a radical move if UPC could do it and could net them loads of new customers.

It is a disgrace in Ireland that anyone who cancels UPC or Sky cannot get their own domestic channels properly. ie. in proper widescreen and a crisp clear picture! This would also take the pressure off having to bother getting a separate DTT service which,lets face it, will only be taken up by the people who don't believe in paying for extra TV channels.

mikedragon32

Surely it is important to both RTE and TV3 that as many people as possible watch their broadcasts.

Indeed, but it is not important to UPC... They would want payment for relaying a signal for "free" to an ex-subscriber.

Mossy Monk

Widescreen wrote: »

UPC should get brave and offer the terrestrial channels Free of Charge to any subscribers who cancel their subscription. That would then put pressure on Sky to do the same.

Why would Sky care?

200motels

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Why would Sky care?

In Cork with Chorus they give you the Irish channels even if you cancel. I stand corrected if this is not the case anymore.

bk

The Irish government should make it a requirement that all TV carriers in Ireland offer the Irish national channels for free on their platform.

We are already paying the license fee to receive these channels and not everyone has an aerial (apartment, etc.).

Apogee

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Why would Sky care?

They might care if RTÉ threatened to end their contract with them completely. Although given their current supine position, that seems unlikely.

200motels wrote: »

In Cork with Chorus they give you the Irish channels even if you cancel. I stand corrected if this is not the case anymore.

This is still the case.

marathont

I thought you needed a separate tuner for upc. Does the analogue service connect straight to the tv?

GerardKeating

bk wrote: »

The Irish government should make it a requirement that all TV carriers in Ireland offer the Irish national channels for free on their platform.

So if there is a cable fault with a non-subcriber, do you expect UPC to fix the fault for free...

bk wrote: »

We are already paying the license fee to receive these channels and not everyone has an aerial (apartment, etc.).

Which is NOT UPC's problem. Any legislation which requires company to provide services to the public for free wont stand a constitutional chalange...

marathont

GerardKeating wrote: »

So if there is a cable fault with a non-subcriber, do you expect UPC to fix the fault for free...



Which is NOT UPC's problem. Any legislation which requires company to provide services to the public for free wont stand a constitutional chalange...

You are right. It justs annoys me that a private company is making money off providing RTE. When it should be available to everyone who pays a TV licence.

Mossy Monk

marathont wrote: »

You are right. It justs annoys me that a private company is making money off providing RTE. When it should be available to everyone who pays a TV licence.

How much of the population genuinely have no terrestrial coverage of RTÉ?

GerardKeating

marathont wrote: »

You are right. It justs annoys me that a private company is making money off providing RTE. When it should be available to everyone who pays a TV licence.

But they are not, they are making the money off providing BBC/UTV/SKY and the like, i really doubt if many people subscribe just for RTÉ.

GerardKeating

200motels wrote: »

In Cork with Chorus they give you the Irish channels even if you cancel. I stand corrected if this is not the case anymore.

Cork went all digital the other year, ye get noting with out a stb..

marathont

GerardKeating wrote: »

But they are not, they are making the money off providing BBC/UTV/SKY and the like, i really doubt if many people subscribe just for RTÉ.

I know lots of people, who would be perfectly happy with the 4 irish channels. But are forced to pay a subscription, because of crappy analogue reception.

Elmo

UPC could if they wanted provide Unencrypted RTE ONE, TWO, TV3 and TG4, as soon as you cancel they cancel your sub but leave you with the 4 channels and the STB. Should you want to return to the UPC service it is a easy as ringing them up (If you get through)

But FTW/FTC (Free through Wire/Cable) can't happen according to some on boards.

Is it cheaper to go with just your Broadband Connection and get rid of your TV service?

Apogee

GerardKeating wrote: »

Any legislation which requires company to provide services to the public for free wont stand a constitutional chalange...

You don't need legislation. You just make it one of the conditions of their licence.

GerardKeating wrote: »

But they are not, they are making the money off providing BBC/UTV/SKY and the like, i really doubt if many people subscribe just for RTÉ.

Their service becomes much less attractive if the 4 terrestrials are not available. Why do you think their major competitor Sky went to the trouble of paying for the carriage costs of the 4 terrestrials on Astra if they didn't think it was economically beneficial to them?

GerardKeating wrote: »

Cork went all digital the other year, ye get noting with out a stb..

But they are still available on analogue cable.

bk

GerardKeating wrote: »

So if there is a cable fault with a non-subcriber, do you expect UPC to fix the fault for free...

It is a good question, it is actually in the cable companies interest to keep the cable working, so people can sign up at a future date if they like.

Also it isn't as big a problem as you might think, any break outside the UPC box on the side of your house would need to be repaired anyway, since cable is shared it means any such break would effect the entire neighborhood.

Breaks from the cable box to inside are relatively rare. Perhaps a fixed repair fee for non subscribers. No different then having to pay an aerial guy to come out and fix your aerial and wiring.

Widescreen

bk wrote: »

The Irish government should make it a requirement that all TV carriers in Ireland offer the Irish national channels for free on their platform.

We are already paying the license fee to receive these channels and not everyone has an aerial (apartment, etc.).

Spot on. Its amazing how many nay sayers don't think this could or should happen.

We pay €158(i think!) a year for the licence. Transmitting RTE etc digitally,whether a customers sub is active or not,should be an official requirement for UPC and Sky from the BCI or whoever cracks the whip.

Look at the UK. They know how to do things properly in relation to the way their terrestrials are broadcasted to the masses by Freeview,Freesat etc.Notice the word "Free". Don't think that is used much here!

As it stands now,someone in Ireland,who gets Sky, becomes skint,loses their job and lives in a bad reception area for analogue will still have crystal clear uk channels! Makes no sense to me folks!

Elmo

€160 but still your point is taken and I am in agreement with you.


I think Sky may have an issue since they are not regulated by the BCI. But then they seem happy enough to allow Irish Subscribers on benefit from ITV or Five on their EPG even though their regulator would state otherwise. IMO.