The license fee should go to the BBC

10000maniacs

After another glorious day of watching World Cup football, tennis and Glastonbury on BBC HD and ITV HD, going back to RTE for the 9:00 headlines is like stepping back into the dark ages.
We should be paying BBC the license fee instead of the docile idiots in RTE.

Minstrel27

10000maniacs wrote: »

After another glorious day of watching World Cup football, tennis and Glastonbury on BBC HD and ITV HD, going back to RTE for the 9:00 headlines is like stepping back into the dark ages.
We should be paying BBC the license fee instead of the docile idiots in RTE.

No. I am enjoying watching the BBC for free thanks.

watty

The licence fee is really a tax on having a TV set.

Of course for 10 years we did only have BBC as we were practically last in Europe to start a TV service.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_introduction_of_television_in_countries
(we are 1961, one year later and most of Africa would have beat us)
also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Television

Maybe we should make funding our own Infrastructures a higher priority:
1/3 of sewage is septic tank
Bottom in OECD in Broadband
DTT anyone?
Satellite services?
50 years behind on Road building and we still don't know what a Motorway service area is.

Lets not give the UK more money. We need it here.

Pity about all the Money put in to "saving" Anglo Irish Bank. That would pay for Fibre Broaband for all and a complete 100% nationwide HDTV DTT rollout.

snaps

10000maniacs wrote: »

After another glorious day of watching World Cup football, tennis and Glastonbury on BBC HD and ITV HD, going back to RTE for the 9:00 headlines is like stepping back into the dark ages.
We should be paying BBC the license fee instead of the docile idiots in RTE.

Have to agree with you, a lot of my mates as well are saying that the HD coverage of this world cup has been brilliant. I would say it wont do sky sales any harm as soon as the world cup is over for people looking for HD fixes.

Shame Ireland has nothing to compete with the UK's HD/Satellite services.

Sam Russell

snaps wrote: »

Shame Ireland has nothing to compete with the UK's HD/Satellite services.

It is possible for RTE to go HD only with DTT from October. They have specified the equipment (iDTVs and STBs) to be HD, and they have the spare MUX, so it could be done. All SD programme can be upscaled.

The benefit to all of us would be that a later transition to HD would be avoided, and the consequent simulcast of SD and HD content. The Beeb has an HD channel that is partly simulcast and is not listed in the TV guides. An avoidable situation.

Lets hope they do go with HD.

Elmo

10000maniacs wrote: »

After another glorious day of watching World Cup football, tennis and Glastonbury on BBC HD and ITV HD, going back to RTE for the 9:00 headlines is like stepping back into the dark ages.
We should be paying BBC the license fee instead of the docile idiots in RTE.

What jobs do the BBC provide in Ireland? We do need our own service, but I am sure that will be denounce as Nationalistic clap trap. Why not give it to Sky?

10000maniacs

Elmo wrote: »

What jobs do the BBC provide in Ireland? We do need our own service, but I am sure that will be denounce as Nationalistic clap trap. Why not give it to Sky?

You are mixing up FAS with RTE.
A national broadcasting service is not a quango for providing employment. Its sole purpose is to provide entertainment to the population.
Why not give it to Sky or the BBC if they are willing to providing a superior service.

Elmo

10000maniacs wrote: »

You are mixing up FAS with RTE.
A national broadcasting service is not a quango for providing employment. Its sole purpose is to provide entertainment to the population.
Why not give it to Sky or the BBC if they are willing to providing a superior service.

Well then the BBC should be closed. :rolleyes:

Funny you seemed to be missing "to Inform and to Educate".

Personally I like to keep money circulating in Ireland. While it isn't the job of any TV service to do this, it is nice to see productions coming from Ireland which do help the economy. No British service provides employment in Ireland or circulates money around the economy. Next you will be asking that the BBC's regions and nations are axed and that everything is centralized in London.

Sam Russell

Elmo wrote: »

No British service provides employment in Ireland or circulates money around the economy.

Father Ted? Ballykissangel?

Pikasso

Sam Russell wrote: »

Father Ted? Ballykissangel?

Primeval

Elmo

So what we are going to name all of the British shows produced in Ireland? All of which use Section 481. It is unusual to get a British show produced in Ireland. BallyK (hasn't aired since 2001) is purely Monarch of the Glen in Ireland, Fr. Ted (since 1998) being more Irish and Primeval only just beginning to film here. To add to your list I will give you George Gently. But then in the 15 years since Fr. Ted their have been far more productions from RTÉ and TG4. Section 481 is very good for the industry here for international and Irish producers. I believe that the German's produced a series here a few years ago, Proof was co-produced with Denmark's TV2 and Showtime has the Tudors.

Your also not counting News, Sport, Documentary etc.

Oh and also Rock Rivals

Pikasso

Elmo wrote: »

Oh and also Rock Rivals

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

And here was I finally living a peaceful life due to a year of psychotherapy after watching only one episode.

Now, where did I leave my tablets....

10000maniacs

Elmo wrote: »

Well then the BBC should be closed. :rolleyes:

Funny you seemed to be missing "to Inform and to Educate".

.

Good debating skills there Elmo.
If people want to be educated or informed, no better organisation than the BBC to do that.
People want more "bang" for their €165 than they are getting from RTE at the moment, and quite frankly if RTE cannot provide a service that is fit for the needs of 2010, give the franchise to someone who can.
I would love to see RTE pull up its socks and start providing a modern television service, but I'm quickly losing patience.
Pat Kenny for me is probably the only one in the organisation providing quality programming. The Frontline is top notch. But its not worth €165 P/A on its own.

watty wrote: »

The licence fee is really a tax on having a TV set.

But its where that money goes thats my issue.

Elmo

You stated that RTÉ are only there to Entertain. PSB is not just there to entertain, I was purely point out the other 2 criteria Information and Education.

You point out what you like on the BBC which is seems to be purely about technology i.e. HD. Unlike the BBC RTÉ broadcast all of the World Cup, ok it wasn't in HD. and no RTÉ did not show Glastonbury but then RTÉ 2FM and 2XM will both provide extensive coverage of Electric Picnic. RTÉ don't hold the rights to Wimbledon having taken the decision that most that were interested watch on the BBC.

Your comparing 2 organisations that should not really be compared. RTÉ gets 200million in the licence fee each year this is the nearly total budget for BBC 3 and BBC 4, which rely heavily of repeats from BBC 1 and BBC 2 plus their own repeats. And BBC 3's function as as PSB should be questioned. While Children's TV gets 52million V 13million in production costs.

The main problem for RTÉ is DTT. And that has been discussed across this fourm and IMO often it hasn't been RTÉ's lack of commitment for DTT rather that has come from successive governments and during a recession a government is going want to ignore this issue even more.

I think that TV has been dismal right across TV land in the last year, bar US cable dramas nothing really significant has come from TV from 2009 to 2010 so far.

From what I gather RTÉ plan to start broadcasting RTÉ Two's sporting coverage in HD either in Feb 2011 (rugby) or Summer 2011 (GAA). However you will still be watching RWC in SD unless tuning to a UK station since RTÉ don't have RWC rights.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055948380 I took this poll in the TV forum to see how many people had HD services from be BBC, however it back fired since the majority of people watched on RTÉ Two, but it gives an idea of the continued use of FTA satellite in particular HD services via FTA HD.

watty

I'd not watch the US Cable Drama if I was paid to.

We have reverted to buying old TV series on Box Sets. We don't watch Daytime TV and often now any decent "classic" shows are daytime repeats. The result of Multichannel and 24 hr TV. Less TV to watch.

BrianD

It would be interesting to know the level of HD viewership in the UK? Plenty of people can receive HD services but don't have a compatible set (and vice versa). Given that the UK's population is aging I wonder if they take up of HD services is as strong as broadcatsers would like it to be.

Elmo

BrianD wrote: »

It would be interesting to know the level of HD viewership in the UK? Plenty of people can receive HD services but don't have a compatible set (and vice versa). Given that the UK's population is aging I wonder if they take up of HD services is as strong as broadcatsers would like it to be.

BBC HD 0.2%
ITV 1 HD 0.3%

http://www.barb.co.uk/report/monthlyViewing?_s=4

It will be interesting to see June's HD audience.

Cannot find details bout Sky HD and Channel 4 HD. Histroy HD and Nat Geo HD are list but are lower than 0.1% to be listed.

I am sure the media would be out raged if RTÉ HD was only getting 0.2% of the audience.

STB

10000maniacs wrote: »

After another glorious day of watching World Cup football, tennis and Glastonbury on BBC HD and ITV HD, going back to RTE for the 9:00 headlines is like stepping back into the dark ages.
We should be paying BBC the license fee instead of the docile idiots in RTE.

Do you think that the quality and resources are down to its large licence payer database that generates a load of money ? They have a population of 66m!

I dont need to tell you that we are 2 different countries. Without being in anyway nationalistic (or mentioning that certain people might turn in their graves at what you just suggested!), why would an Irish person pay for the upkeep of a British broadcast system - its not directed at Irish culture for a start !

There is no doubt that they make brilliant TV especially music documentaries! Be thankful for the Beebs free availability. We are not the only country in Europe to benefit from its sat pattern and availability.

Personally I think that RTE does some good for Irish culture. Your obviously sports mad like myself, well, you wont find GAA on the BBC.

HD is not the be all and end all. Most people are happy with a clear unfuzzy reception.

10000maniacs

I'm just saying that even though I pay my €165 per year, I have to go elsewhere to be entertained and informed by the media I am purporting to be paying for.
If RTE cannot supply a modern efficient television service thats value for money but are still offering what was barely just acceptable 30 years ago, a core change is needed within Irish Broadcasting.
It wouldn't be acceptable in any other industry. They get the license fee and the lions share of advertising. They should be thriving. Yet they are struggling to keep their heads above water.
I pay my license fee. I demand an acceptable Irish television service for my money.:cool:

Elmo

10000maniacs wrote: »

I'm just saying that even though I pay my €165 per year, I have to go elsewhere to be entertained and informed by the media I am purporting to be paying for.
If RTE cannot supply a modern efficient television service thats value for money but are still offering what was barely just acceptable 30 years ago, a core change is needed within Irish Broadcasting.
It wouldn't be acceptable in any other industry. They get the license fee and the lions share of advertising. They should be thriving. Yet they are struggling to keep their heads above water.
I pay my license fee. I demand an acceptable Irish television service for my money.:cool:

€160.

The licence fee doesn't just go towards TV services. And as discussed the problems surrounding DTT and RTÉ have been the cause of successive governments. Do you think that the BBC wants to role out DTT in ROI?

They get the lions share of the advertising? They get 50% across 2 channels, TV3 get 21%. What are TV3 doing with their 21% and for that matter what are the British TV opt-outs doing with their 20%?

Anyway a huge number of people pay for the BBC via Cable and Satellite services, while RTÉ buys in plenty of productions from BBC Worldwide.

10000maniacs

Elmo wrote: »

€160
Do you think that the BBC wants to role out DTT in ROI?

As if €5.00 is going to swing the argument in your favour.
Who knows what the BBC want to do or not?
Anyway I don't really care as long its somebody who is capable and willing to do it for my €160 or whatever. And giving us a modern HD service too.

Elmo

10000maniacs wrote: »

As if €5.00 is going to swing the argument in your favour.
Who knows what the BBC want to do or not?
Anyway I don't really care as long its somebody who is capable and willing to do it for my €160 or whatever. And giving us a modern HD service too.

You would just have bunch of other people saying why should the national PSB rolling out HD, and why should they invest money into programming that is only going to be watched by 0.3% of the audience.

I would agree with you that RTÉ should invest in HD and not be so short sighted but I would also be of the opinion that RTÉ should produce programming and I would be against extra channels that ad nothing to RTÉ in terms of production.

The BBC don't need the €160 that we pay to RTÉ. I personally think that HD and DTT has cause the BBC to reduce the quality of programming that it produces.

Oh and that €5 extra would mean an awful lot to RTÉ. (Perhaps the price of a HD service).

BrianD

10000maniacs wrote: »

I'm just saying that even though I pay my €165 per year, I have to go elsewhere to be entertained and informed by the media I am purporting to be paying for.
If RTE cannot supply a modern efficient television service thats value for money but are still offering what was barely just acceptable 30 years ago, a core change is needed within Irish Broadcasting.
It wouldn't be acceptable in any other industry. They get the license fee and the lions share of advertising. They should be thriving. Yet they are struggling to keep their heads above water.
I pay my license fee. I demand an acceptable Irish television service for my money.:cool:

Are you referring to the quality of the programme content or the technical aspects (e.g. availability of HD eytc).

The data would seem to indicate that RTE is satisfying audience demand for entertainment and information. They cover all our major sporting events that are free to air. Their news service is a good as any one elses - certanly the beeb and ITV have greater resources for foreign event coverage.

In regard to the BBC and Glastonbury. That's great if you have the resources. If RTE was to devote a huge amount of resouces and "red button" channels to, say, Oxegen oe Electric Picnic, I think that one would have to question value for money and use of resources (I'd watch it though).

The BBC simply have massive resources and are able to drop money into projects that could not be justified on a commercial basis and are even difficult to justify on a public service remit.

10000maniacs

BrianD wrote: »

Are you referring to the quality of the programme content or the technical aspects (e.g. availability of HD eytc).

.

Actually both.

Pat Gleeson

watty wrote: »

. The result of Multichannel and 24 hr TV. Less TV to watch.

Absolutely, totally 100% agree with you there, Watty. It seems the multitude of channels are recycling the same programmes ad-infinitum. Some programmes I haven't seen in years, and others are shown 100s of times a year - every year.

carrolls

Elmo wrote: »

Oh and that €5 extra would mean an awful lot to RTÉ. (Perhaps the price of a HD service).

1000maniacs had the license fee down as €165 (probably a typo on his part) and you use that to defend your argument against his post.
I don't know elmo.:rolleyes:
He does have a point in what he said. RTE could do better for the amount of income they take in.

Minstrel27

carrolls wrote: »

RTE could do better for the amount of income they take in.

Let's do a list of improvements that can be made. You first.

Elmo

10000maniacs wrote: »

....

People want more "bang" for their €165 than they are getting from RTE at the moment.......

But its not worth €165 P/A on its own.

carrolls wrote: »

1000maniacs had the license fee down as €165 (probably a typo on his part) and you use that to defend your argument against his post.
I don't know elmo.:rolleyes:.

I only pointed out since he had mentioned it prior to that, I was ignoring it up until Maniacs mentioned it again.

I was just correcting manics. Manics took it further to say so what about €5 and I said allot to RTÉ.

Neither statements were set up as an argument against Manics proposed usage of the licence fee. The rest of my posts clear set out my main objections to such a proposal.
I don't know Carrolls. :rolleyes:

carrolls

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Let's do a list of improvements that can be made. You first.

The improvements cannot be made now as they are broke. Its too late. They have frittered away any capital that they had over the last 20 years on luxuries such as Marian Finucane, Eurovision, Ryan Tubridy, Eastenders, Joe Duffy, one manager for every six people in the organisation, FIVE orchestras, two presenters for the national lottery program. An average salary of €80,000. etc, etc.
The jury is out on Pat Kenny. €1,000,000 is high but he actually is a decent presenter.

watty

So then he should be paid 70,000 instead of the 40,000 to 65,000 that should be maximum presenter salary.

Why not
"The Presenter"

A reality TV show were the contestants compete to be Radio and TV presenters and Interviewers. Only RTE production/Engineering/Direction staff needed. No on or off screen RTE presenters.

Categories of Winners:

• Newsreader (Will read current news on show)
• Radio phone in host (Will take phone-in calls on self chosen topic on show)
• DJ (Will play own choice of music and do patter)
• Incisive Current Affairs Interviewer (Will interview real Politicians)
• TV chat show host (Will interview the Judges)
• General Presenter (Will present the episode and all introductions)

Contestants must have no Third Level Education and be unemployed.
Winners are employed for 1 year on €55,000 + expenses. RTE can keep them longer if desired.
Judges are drawn from Local & Community Radio*, different for each episode. After 1st year Judges include previously winning contestants also.

I am absolutely sure the quality would rise.

(I'm happy to take only 1% revenue as my Licence fee. )
(*Judges to get no expenses or payment, they are getting free publicity for themselves and their station!)

Minstrel27

carrolls wrote: »

The jury is out on Pat Kenny. €1,000,000 is high but he actually is a decent presenter.

Pat Kenny was given a pay increase? Last I heard he was on about €600,000

Cantona's Collars

Where I am I have a clear view of the RTE transmitter on Mt.Leinster yet can't get RTE on analogue so it's Sky for me.Wonder if I got the license inspector up and showed him the quality of picture and argue that part of my Sky sub goes to RTE anyway so theres no need for me to pay tv license again seeing as the analogue signal is unwatchable.I have to laugh at people who reckon RTE is great-U.S. imports I've seen on SKY (at a reasonable hour,not the middle of the night),UK soaps and current affairs that would drive you to drink are not my idea of entertainment.The statement "as long as I get my soaps" galls me.If RTE lost them,how many viewers would they lose.

watty

Sky doesn't pay RTE a cent.

We had TV licence before Irish TV even existed. Reception of RTE is irrelevant.

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Pat Kenny was given a pay increase? Last I heard he was on about €600,000

That is x10 too much

Elmo

carrolls wrote: »

The improvements cannot be made now as they are broke. Its too late. They have frittered away any capital that they had over the last 20 years on luxuries such as Marian Finucane, Eurovision, Ryan Tubridy, Eastenders, Joe Duffy, one manager for every six people in the organisation, FIVE orchestras, two presenters for the national lottery program. An average salary of €80,000. etc, etc.
The jury is out on Pat Kenny. €1,000,000 is high but he actually is a decent presenter.

Eurovision = Riverdance, I think RTÉ did alright out of that one.
EastEnders = But sure the BBC produce that and isn't that the point of this whole thread?
2 Orchestras, 1 Quartet and 2 Choirs= Do you think RTÉ want them? Oh and the BBC have 4 orchestras and 1 Choir, but I suppose that is just a waste of BBC money.
BBC spend allot more on there stars.

As for Winning Streak who cares how many presenters it has? I have more of an issue with the show itself. I have a similar view of "In it to win it".

Watty why are you suggesting RTÉ do a version of Total Exposure?

Minstrel27

zerks wrote: »

If RTE lost them,how many viewers would they lose.

You would be surprised. If RTÉ lost the soaps I certainly wouldn't be bothered.

Not everyone wants to get their news and current affairs from the UK. Believe it or not a lot of people don't watch RTÉ for US imports.

The tv licence is not for your reception of RTÉ. It is for having a television tuner capable of receiving any television signal.

STB

zerks wrote: »

Where I am I have a clear view of the RTE transmitter on Mt.Leinster yet can't get RTE on analogue so it's Sky for me.Wonder if I got the license inspector up and showed him the quality of picture and argue that part of my Sky sub goes to RTE anyway so theres no need for me to pay tv license again seeing as the analogue signal is unwatchable.I have to laugh at people who reckon RTE is great-U.S. imports I've seen on SKY (at a reasonable hour,not the middle of the night),UK soaps and current affairs that would drive you to drink are not my idea of entertainment.The statement "as long as I get my soaps" galls me.If RTE lost them,how many viewers would they lose.

RTE 1 commands 23.7% of viewership figures (the highest). In comparison RTE 2 command 10% of Irish viewing habits (the third highest).



And of that RTE output these are actually the most viewed programs:


1. Prime Time Tuesday 486k
2. Prime Time Thursday 486k
3. Prime time investigates Monday 449k
4. Fair City Monday 415k
5. The Frontline Monday 413k
6. Fair City Sunday 413k
7. The Sunday game live 401k
8. Fair City Wednesday 399k
9. Desperate Housewives 399k
10. Room to improve Wednesday 380k
11. My Showhouse Tues 360k
12. Eastenders Tues

2 IMPORTS in top 12. Rest is news or home produced content. Another myth dispelled ?

The likes of neighbours/CSI Miami.Home & away etc only command a reach of 170k and below

Cantona's Collars

I did mention the current affairs programmes,they cheer us up no end.I know knowledge of whats going on in the country is essential but the depressing tone of them hardly helps,Fair City!! God help us.Without the GAA coverage and World Cup the selection is pretty poor.BTW I don't rely on 'foreign' providers for my news coverage.Theres a similar thread on digital spy on the UK tv license.RTE pay inflated wages to presenters that a whole generation aren't interested in any more-stand up Pat Kenny.If any other service was of the quality of RTE a lot of people would get rid.Dunphy on the world cup panel is worth the money-love him or hate him we all listen to what he says,how many other personalities on RTE can claim that.RTE 2 goes for the younger demographic and the dominance of RTE 1 just proves the viewing age for RTE is old and getting older.

Minstrel27

zerks wrote: »

RTE 2 goes for the younger demographic and the dominance of RTE 1 just proves the viewing age for RTE is old and getting older.

It proves nothing. Younger people will watch a far wider number of television channels.

Elmo

zerks wrote: »

There's a similar thread on digital spy on the UK tv license.RTE pay inflated wages to presenters that a whole generation aren't interested in any more-stand up Pat Kenny.If any other service was of the quality of RTE a lot of people would get rid.Dunphy on the world cup panel is worth the money-love him or hate him we all listen to what he says,how many other personalities on RTE can claim that..

Pat Kenny seems to have a love/hate relationship going on here in this thread.

I could just as easily turn around and say

I hate soccer (spectator sports in general) and Dunphy is an insufferable bore. Why should my licence fee go on so much sports? And on the inflated wages of a Panel of Sporting experts. For that matter why should RTÉ spend money on Children's TV I never watch it, iCarly feck off. And Daytime TV FFS waste of money people should be at work. Fair City and the Soaps axe them all. Lets see more Quality Drama and Documentary in HD and close the Newsroom so that RTÉ can pay for it.

However I understand that there are more people out there than just me and my TV viewing habits.

watty

RTE current affairs and News would be even better if they treated FF the same way as they treated Labour or FG.

News, Documentary, Current affairs and Local Sport are indeed the most important for any indigenous or PSB broadcaster.

None of the highly paid people on ITV, BBC or RTE are "worth the money", in the sense the that the programs would be as good or better with anyone else sensibly chosen and paid a 1/10th or less of the obscene salaries. The only talent and skill they have (and some oddly not even that) is to be able to talk.

STB

zerks wrote: »

RTE 2 goes for the younger demographic and the dominance of RTE 1 just proves the viewing age for RTE is old and getting older.

The figures above are accross all demographics and are both RTE 1 and 2 content.

BrianD

zerks wrote: »

Where I am I have a clear view of the RTE transmitter on Mt.Leinster yet can't get RTE on analogue so it's Sky for me..

Is Mt. Leinster the transmitter covering your area. Just because you can see it serves you. Have you explored the reasons as to why the poor reception? In regard to paying for TV delivery by Sky it doesn't excuse the neccesity for the licence. Plenty of people pay for UPC in cabled areas etc.

zerks wrote:

RTE 2 goes for the younger demographic and the dominance of RTE 1 just proves the viewing age for RTE is old and getting older.

Which is inline with the general population - it is aging!

Cantona's Collars

To clarify things,my TV license is paid EVERY YEAR. My main gripe is the fact that a huge amount of the population have to pay twice to view RTE.Be it with SKY or UPC because the reception is so poor.And yes MT.Leinster does service where I live,you'd think with a mast that size I'd get decent reception without having the outside of the house ending up like NASA. That is a common problem nationwide,I was in a house lately and the owner had a 50" plasma with rabbits ears "to see the soaps"-the reception was shocking,she thought because the picture was so good in the shop that it would be like that at home.I couldn't get through to her that the picture on it in store was from satellite.A waste of a good tv.The other posters are right,a huge amount of money is being wasted on 'personalities' to talk inanely at us.As for daytime tv it's soul destroying rubbish but each to their own.

Minstrel27

zerks wrote: »

My main gripe is the fact that a huge amount of the population have to pay twice to view RTE.Be it with SKY or UPC because the reception is so poor.

I do not believe that. Sure some areas of the country have dire reception but a huge amount of the population? Most people with bad terrestrial reception have it because of poor aerial installation.

Cantona's Collars

Trust me it's more widespread than you'd like to believe.That's not a spurious claim-if you met as many people with bad RTE reception as I have you wouldn't blame poor ariel installation for the problem and accept that it is poor in a lot of Ireland. Here's hoping the DTT rollout will cure this.

Minstrel27

zerks wrote: »

Here's hoping the DTT rollout will cure this.

It should do. I can get faultless reception of the trials with an aerial in my attic that hasn't been setup correctly.

dunworth1

zerks wrote: »

Trust me it's more widespread than you'd like to believe.That's not a spurious claim-if you met as many people with bad RTE reception as I have you wouldn't blame poor ariel installation for the problem and accept that it is poor in a lot of Ireland. Here's hoping the DTT rollout will cure this.

how would you know its widespread did you go driving around the country with an Ariel and check the reception?
because there is know way you could know how good people are receiving rte

Sam Russell

If you look at any housing estate with aerials on rooftops, they all point in slightly different directions, sometimes in significantly different directions. They have obviously been put up without a meter to get best direction, meerly to get a signal that was 'good enough'. I have seen apalling reception in peoples house, some where the TV was set up with completely wrong setting for shape, contrast, brightness and colour, all on the same set. What the aerial was doing was not that important as perfect reception would be ruined anyway.

With DTT, at least 'good enough' should be good enough.