Saorview website - updated

The Cush

The Receiving Saorview section of the website has been updated and clarifies that the Dept of Communications Irish DTT receiver specification has been available since Feb 2008 (discussed recently) and that RTÉ did not add any further technical requirements beyond what was already required in the Department’s specification.

Old Text

Receiving SAORVIEW

SAORVIEW is a free-to-air service. This means there are no monthly subscription fees or contracts. To receive SAORVIEW you will need an aerial and a set top box/integrated digital television.

Aerial
The majority of homes will receive SAORVIEW through an existing aerial (either rooftop or set-top (rabbit's ears). In most cases, you do not need a new aerial.

For more information regarding receiving the SAORVIEW signal please download this information booklet from RTÉ Transmission Network Limited (RTÉNL).

Set Top Box/Integrated Digital Television
To receive SAORVIEW you will need a suitable Set Top Box (STB) or Integrated Digital Television (iDTV) connected to an aerial.

RTÉ has set up a receiver (STBs and iDTVs) approval process to reassure consumers that receivers are SAORVIEW compliant. Receivers that have been approved will carry the SAORVIEW logo. For more details on the process see below.

At present there are a small number of SAORVIEW approved STBs or iDTVs, see below. Others are currently going through the testing process.
In the lead up to the full launch of SAORVIEW in spring 2011 there will be a wider range of approved receivers available from retailers and TV installers across the country.

Consumers should seek advice from their specialist retailer or manufacturer if looking to make a purchase in the immediate future. Please note that the majority of UK "Freeview" boxes and iDTVs will not decode the SAORVIEW service.

RTÉNL recommends that consumers wishing to avail of the SAORVIEW service only purchase receivers that carry the SAORVIEW approved logo.

Current SAORVIEW approved receivers:

Walker Technology Products Ltd

Walker WP10DTP & WP11DTP set top box receivers
Walker WPxx (19”-46”) MP4 range of iDTV sets

New Text

Receiving SAORVIEW

SAORVIEW is a free-to-air service. This means there are no monthly subscription fees or contracts. To receive SAORVIEW you will need an aerial and a set top box/ integrated digital television.

Aerial
The majority of homes will receive SAORVIEW through an existing aerial (either rooftop or set-top (rabbit's ears). In most cases, you should not need a new aerial.

For more information regarding receiving the SAORVIEW signal please download this information booklet from RTÉ Transmission Network Limited (RTÉNL).

Set Top Box/Integrated Digital Television
To receive SAORVIEW viewers will need a suitable Set Top Box (STB) or Integrated Digital Television (iDTV) connected to an aerial.

The technical requirements for Irish digital terrestrial television (DTT) (now SAORVIEW) receivers were first published by the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources in February 2008. The receiver requirements were one of the key outputs from the Department’s Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Trial which was conducted between August 2006 and July 2008. For more information go to: http://www.digitaltelevision.ie/DTT+Trial/.

Key elements of the receiver specification include the following:

1. The receiver needs to be capable of decoding both Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) MPEG 4 signals. This is important as RTÉ is planning to replace its current SD RTÉ Two service with an RTÉ Two HD service on SAORVIEW. More HD services are likely to follow in the future.

2. The receiver needs to have MHEG5 middleware to decode RTÉ’s proposed new Digital Aertel Service and other possible interactive services.

In December 2008 RTÉ published its Minimum Receiver Requirements. It subsequently appointed a company to test receivers for compliance with the these requirements and instigated an approval process for manufacturers. RTÉ did not add any further technical requirements beyond what was already required in the Department’s specification

RTÉ established the approval process to reassure consumers that receivers are SAORVIEW compliant. Only receivers that have been approved will carry the SAORVIEW logo.

RTÉ recommends that consumers wishing to avail of the SAORVIEW service only purchase receivers that carry the SAORVIEW approved logo.

At present there are a small number of SAORVIEW approved STBs or iDTVs, see below. Others are currently going through the testing process. In the lead up to the full launch of SAORVIEW in spring 2011 we are confident that there will be a wider range of approved receivers available from retailers and TV installers across the country.

Buying a digital set-top box or integrated digital television for Christmas 2010
If looking to make a purchase in the immediate future consumers should seek advice from their specialist retailer or manufacturer.

Consumers should be aware that the majority of UK "Freeview" boxes and iDTVs will not decode the SAORVIEW service (as they use the MPEG 2 standard) and that unapproved receivers may not be fully compatible with all aspects of the SAORVIEW service.

Current SAORVIEW approved receivers:

Walker Technology Products Ltd: www walker.ie

Walker WP10DTP & WP11DTP set top box receivers
Walker WPxx (19”-46”) MP4 range of iDTV sets

homer911

I note the change in wording regarding an aerial...

Old:

In most cases, you do not need a new aerial.

New:

In most cases, you should not need a new aerial.

Subtle piece of CYA

The Cush

Since the Ministerial approval of the new RTÉ channels the Channels/Services page on the Saorview website has been updated

Channels/Services

On the 29th of October 2010, SAORVIEW was turned on as a trial service. From that date, RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4, 3e and RTÉ News Now have been broadcast as trial digital services. The following radio services have also been available on the trial service: RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, RTÉ 2FM, RTÉ Lyric, RTÉ RnaG, RTÉ Pulse, RTÉ 2XM, RTÉ Choice, RTÉ Gold, and RTÉ Chill / Junior.

It is the responsibility of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to approve the channel/service line up for the new digital services on SAORVIEW. On the Wednesday 23 February 2011 the Minister approved the following TV channel and service line up for SAORVIEW:


> RTÉ One
> RTÉ Two HD
> TV3
> TG4
> RTÉ News Now
> 3e
> RTÉjr
> RTÉ One + 1
> RTÉ Digital Aertel


The following radio services will also be available on SAORVIEW:

> RTÉ Radio 1
> RTÉ 2fm
> RTÉ lyric fm
> RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
> RTÉ Choice
> RTÉ Pulse
> RTÉ 2XM
> RTÉ Gold
> RTÉ Chill
> RTÉJr
> Radio 1 Extra

The Minister’s announcement is available here >>.

Old Text

Channels/Services

On the 29th of October 2010, SAORVIEW will be turned on as a trial service. From that date, RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4 and RTÉ News Now will be broadcast as trial digital services. The following radio services will also be available on the trial service: RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, RTÉ 2FM, RTÉ Lyric, RTÉ RnaG, RTÉ Pulse, RTÉ 2XM, RTÉ Choice, RTÉ Gold, and RTÉ Chill / Junior.

More channels, services and enhancements will follow as part of the full launch of the SAORVIEW service in spring 2011.

RTÉ has proposed a number of new services for SAORVIEW including: High Definition (HD) sport, drama and film; news services; interactive services and dedicated children’s services.

It is the responsibility of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources’s to approve the channel/service line up for the new digital services on SAORVIEW.

RTÉ’s proposed service offering is currently going through the regulatory process with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The final channel/service line up is due to be agreed in early 2011.

The Cush

New Saorview website now up and running - http://www.saorview.ie/

The Cush

Some retailers are now listed on the Find a SAORVIEW Registered Retailer page, .e.g. Dublin - Sony Centre on O'Connell St and Swords and Cork - Kellehers Expert in Mallow.