RTE HD Channels on UPC

guv999

Does anyone know if the RTE HD channels will launch on UPC a the same time as the will on Terrestrial digital?

poker--addict

anyone

Apogee

RTÉ have told an Oireachtas hearing that HD content will be exclusive to DTT, at least initially.

watty

At a Guess, sometime in 2013
RTE1, TG4 and TV3 likely will not be HD till late 2013 on any platform.

RTE2 was supposed to be HD from May/June 2011, but the outgoing Government has thrown a spanner that may set it back to later in 2011 or mid 2012. RTE themselves seem unsure.

celticbest

Will UPC even be adding the RTE News Now channel anytime soon?

Mountjoy Mugger

Doubtful, as it hasn't been formally launched.

patrickmooney

I've been told carriage will be secured for the new channels. Not sure about HD or Aertel.

watty

So called Analogue Teletext will likely end in 2012 on all Irish Channels (It's actually EBU Teletext and Digital even on Analogue TV!)

UPC has it's own "middleware", it's unlikely any Saorview MHEG5 application, Text or others, will ever be on UPC. RTE may later support Sky's "Open TV" with basic version of the Interactive Text for Sky subscribers as they Tendered for that over a year ago (supplied to Sky as XML). There is no facility for 3rd parties to supply that information to UPC.

who is this

Apogee wrote: »

RTÉ have told an Oireachtas hearing that HD content will be exclusive to DTT, at least initially.

I have a real issue with that. I don't see what purpose it serves. No one (realistically) is going to stop subscribing to UPC or Sky because they can only get the HD/extra channels on DTT. At best they'll use both, which just inconveniences the consumer.

If someone gives up their cable/satellite subscription because of the new channels, it'll be because they no longer feel the need for their other channels, in which case there's no need for the exclusivity anyway.

STB

who is this wrote: »

I have a real issue with that. I don't see what purpose it serves. No one (realistically) is going to stop subscribing to UPC or Sky because they can only get the HD/extra channels on DTT. At best they'll use both, which just inconveniences the consumer.

If someone gives up their cable/satellite subscription because of the new channels, it'll be because they no longer feel the need for their other channels, in which case there's no need for the exclusivity anyway.

Most people who subscribe to UPC/Sky do not reliase that 9 out of the top 10 Tv stations watched are actually free to air and therefore DO not require subscription to such money grabbing companies.

If you choose to subscribe to PAY companies to watch free to air services, bigger fool you.

icdg

who is this wrote: »

I have a real issue with that. I don't see what purpose it serves. No one (realistically) is going to stop subscribing to UPC or Sky because they can only get the HD/extra channels on DTT. At best they'll use both, which just inconveniences the consumer.

If someone gives up their cable/satellite subscription because of the new channels, it'll be because they no longer feel the need for their other channels, in which case there's no need for the exclusivity anyway.

Its not really an issue. In the short term, "RTE HD" will mean RTÉ TWO HD Select. Which thanks to the recent ministerial decision to require it to be carried on the second mux, will be some months from launch. Even when it does launch it will be mainly sports programmes and imports that will be in HD. Expect it to be years away before you see the Late Late Show or RTÉ News in HD.

As for RTÉ News Now, it shows very little that cannot be seen on RTÉ One or RTÉ Two. Its loops of the last RTÉ News bulettin most of time. And you can get that on the internet.

STB

icdg wrote: »

Its not really an issue. In the short term, "RTE HD" will mean RTÉ TWO HD Select. Which thanks to the recent ministerial decision to require it to be carried on the second mux, will be some months from launch. Even when it does launch it will be mainly sports programmes and imports that will be in HD. Expect it to be years away before you see the Late Late Show or RTÉ News in HD.

As for RTÉ News Now, it shows very little that cannot be seen on RTÉ One or RTÉ Two. Its loops of the last RTÉ News bulettin most of time. And you can get that on the internet.

ALL PSB stations will be "HD" sooner than many think. The first one will be this year. Who is to say that they arent presently kitting out HD studios in RTE !

icdg

Well RTÉ are, actually! They are trying to use the move to HD (or lack thereof) as leverage to get their "Project 2025" proposal approved - claiming that it is necessary for the move to HD. Of course they could move to HD in their present studios...

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2010/1105/1224282715859.html

rlogue

They moved from 405 lines to 625 lines and then from b/w to colour and then from 4:3 to 16:9 all in the same studios.

Claiming HD production is dependent on Project 2025 is pure nonsense and RTE know that. A fraction of the money spent on the project so far could pay for legal diaspora access to RTE.

who is this

STB wrote: »

Most people who subscribe to UPC/Sky do not reliase that 9 out of the top 10 Tv stations watched are actually free to air and therefore DO not require subscription to such money grabbing companies.

If you choose to subscribe to PAY companies to watch free to air services, bigger fool you.

That's not relevant. We get cable, I'm perfectly happy with what we pay for (based on what ISN'T free by sat) and just happen to use it to deliver FTA channels as well because it makes sense.

Pay TV users still pay for a TV licence just like everyone else. I was making the point that restricting new channels to terrestrial only serves no purpose. The only reason you've offered is "teach them a lesson" out of vindictiveness which I don't accept as a valid reason. I already pointed out, no one is (realistically, or in large numbers) going to switch over what RTÉ are proposing. They'll just end up with two services at best.

RTÉ have must-carry status on one hand, and now they want platform-exclusivity on the other? Talk about wanting to have your cake...

Minstrel27

Saorview is not competing with Sky or cable. It is only a replacement for the analogue terrestrial system.