Should we abandon Terrestrial TV entirely?

Elmo

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/17476-digital-terrestrial-tv-70m/

Ireland could make better use of the digital dividend opportunity and RTE could avoid spending €70m on digital terrestrial television (DTT) since 80pc of the population already subscribe to cable and satellite services, a telecoms industry executive warned.

Speaking with Siliconrepublic, the managing director of wireless broadband firm Airspeed Liam O’Kelly pointed to the fact that across Ireland 80pc of homes now subscribe to digital services through either satellite or cable and that the key providers already have sophisticated and evolving video on demand (VoD), HD as well as forthcoming 3D TV services.

O’Kelly who has experience in building transmission networks for RTE and TG4 has built a sizeable business providing wireless broadband services ranging in speeds from 20Mbps to 800Mbps across a range of frequencies and platforms, including WiMax.

His company AirSpeed was founded by a group of ex-broadcast and ex-Nokia Siemens engineers and have won considerable business providing wireless broadband to a range of businesses, education institutions and government bodies.

Last month the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan TD announced that analogue services would be shut down forever by the end of 2012.

He said that RTE is already at work building a €70m replacement digital service which is expected to provide full national coverage as well as significant coverage throughout Northern Ireland. The new service will provide coverage to 98pc of the population.

Also last month RTE revealed that as part of the digital switchover plans it will launch a new satellite service to reach the 2pc of the population that falls outside of the terrestrial coverage.

However, according to O’Kelly the €70m could be a waste of taxpayers’ money and that the spectrum that could be freed up by the shutting down of analogue could be put to better use such as spectrum for education usage or emergency service usage.

“Already most of the country is using digital services. If you drive from Dublin to Galway you would notice that TV aerials are disappearing, most people are using either cable or satellite. Why don’t they [RTE] forget about digital terrestrial television and the money can be invested elsewhere.”

O’Kelly said that elsewhere in the world, in countries like France, many people are already watching TV over internet protocol (IP) links whether its DSL, cable, wireless or satellite.

“TV over IP is developed and mature in other markets, it’s just not supplied here. The way that consumers consume content is changing. Any investment in a digital terrestrial network that doesn’t have a strong internet element is a waste of money.

“I have been involved heavily in TV and broadcasting over many years and wish people would cop on. The game has moved on massively and very shortly TV will be an IP-based medium. People will download what they want when they want it and watch it when they want to.”

Last month O’Kelly’s company acquired Magnet Networks’ licensed spectrum in a move that will allow it to expand its WiMax network.

Of course this still means that 70million would have to be spend on RTÉ's network.

slegs

You cant save 70m if most of it already has been spent.

Self serving press release from somebody who has a vested interest.

Has been debated and is generally agreed that we need our own terrestrial service so we are not at the mercy of foreign commercial providors for PSB TV (who will charge for the privilge of viewing)

70m is not a large amount of money in the general scheme of things for a service like this.

STB

“Already most of the country is using digital services. If you drive from Dublin to Galway you would notice that TV aerials are disappearing, most people are using either cable or satellite. Why don’t they [RTE] forget about digital terrestrial television and the money can be invested elsewhere.”

O’Kelly said that elsewhere in the world, in countries like France, many people are already watching TV over internet protocol (IP) links whether its DSL, cable, wireless or satellite

One might say that it would be handier if RTENL didnt carry out its statutory responsibilities to provide FREE TO AIR Digital TV so that Mr O Kelly can have a clear run with IPTV.

You could be forgiven for believing that somebody with Mr O Kelly's CV would have a good idea what the terms DSO, ASO and FREE TO AIR TV actually mean. It is a pity neglected to mention that France operate a digital terrestrial tv service (like ALL European countries) and are subject to the same obligations towards DSO and 2012 like Ireland.

WHO conducts these meaningless "interviews" without asking the questions to substantiate bald statements.

Slicon Republic are not being helpful giving these misguided spins an airing and dont seem to know their arse from their elbow.

As slegs said the money is already spent (on Public Infrastructure for the future). Isnt it a pity that Free Digital Irish TV coupled with Free British Satellite Tv in one receiver will get in the way of another some pay platforms and those delivering IPTV.

Minstrel27

I would very much like to keep terrestrial. It is how I receive RTÉ afterall. Does that man expect the other 20% to pay him for his service? He can **** off.

The Cush

STB wrote: »

WHO conducts these meaningless "interviews" without asking the questions to substantiate bald statements.

Slicon Republic are not being helpful giving these misguided spins an airing and dont seem to know their arse from their elbow.

John Kennedy obviously.

The Cush

Minstrel27 wrote: »

I would very much like to keep terrestrial. It is how I receive RTÉ afterall. Does that man expect the other 20% to pay him for his service? He can **** off.

We won't lose terrestrial, the article is pushing their own agenda.

Deputy Jimmy Devins: I welcome all the witnesses and will be brief. Although I am not into technology in a big way, if I understand this correctly, the stopping of analogue transmission, which is one system, will result in its replacement by two systems, namely, DTT and satellite. The advantage of using the latter is to cover the 2% to 3% who will not be covered by DTT. Why not simply use the single system of satellite transmission to provide 100% coverage? Why must one go down the DTT route?
...

[not answered directly but Bob Collins did make the following reply later]

Mr. Bob Collins: ... Throughout the debate on this issue during the past eight or ten years, a key underlying point of public policy has been that the State should have an Irish-owned transmission system to carry the four national channels, one that would not be dependent on external economic circumstances or an external force. Hence the necessity of a domestic transmission system. The satellite option does everything mentioned by Mr. Hayes, namely, extending coverage and providing a back-up, but one could not dispense with DTT by virtue of the availability of satellite because, in the last analysis, the satellite option is not within the control of the State.

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=MAJ20100714.XML&Ex=All&Page=1

watty

Fantasy stuff.

Only an Idiot Government would abandon Terrestrial. The reasons why have been discussed to death many times.

Certainly not one with no spaceport, Satellite owning companies and space assets.

Nor should RTE NL be privatised or sold off in any way ever. As discussed before it should be completely separate from RTE the Broadcaster. It should work in conjunction with other National Comms assets such as Heanet, eNet/MANs, ESB Telecoms etc.

snaps

Its funny that France is mentioned as a popular IPTV country, It is, as i have 3 friends living in France and they all receive IPTV (I think through Orange). Its a way they dont have to buy a tv licence there, as you still dont need a licence for a computer setup and you are allowed to receive IPTV without a licence, a loophole which im sure will soon be closed, but knowing the French, they wont stand for it.

watty

Magnet is IPTV. You do need a TV licence for it. You don't need a license if you only have Web TV.


It wouldn't surprise me if people are wrong about French lack of need for a Licence. Proper IPTV uses a setbox anyway.

TV via Internet isn't true IPTV.

Most places that have a TV licence, you don't need one if your IPTV is only VOD. But if it's basically a Cable TV service using IP as transport, then you generally need a licence. Technically Digital TV via Satellite, Cable or Aerial is very similar to non-VOD dedicated IPTV over fibre from your ISP.

All real IPTV are never over Internet, but only on the ISP's own internal network.