Minister Carey Issues Consent for New RTÉ Services

Apogee

Dublin, 23 February 2011


Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Pat Carey, today announced his decision in relation to the new television services being proposed by RTÉ in the context of the rollout of the Public Service ‘Free to Air’ Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).


Minister Carey said, “As a result of a thorough examination of the RTÉ proposals, which included a public consultation process on the public value of the proposals and a sectoral impact assessment, I have approved, subject to certain conditions laid down in my decision, the following new RTÉ services:

RTÉ Two High Definition (HD) Select
RTÉ Aertel Digital
RTÉjr
RTÉ Plus (Phase 1)
RTÉ News Now


The Minister extended his thanks to the respondents to the consultation process and to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for their analysis of the sectoral impact on the proposals. “The responses received to the public consultation process informed my decision and it was very encouraging to see the level of interest in this statutory process with 29 respondents from the public, representative bodies and from the broadcast industry.”


The Broadcasting Act 2009 requires the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to undertake a detailed review of any new services or channels proposed by either RTÉ or TG4 prior to granting consent. The Act sets out a range of issues to be considered in analysing the public value of any proposals. It also requires the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to carry out a sectoral impact assessment of proposed new services to assess the impact of these services on the broader broadcast and media sector.


Minister Carey added, “These additional 5 channels will give increased choice to TV viewers throughout Ireland over all platforms including the national ‘free to air’ Saorview DTT network which is currently being rolled out by RTÉ.”


The Minister’s decision and other documentation containing the submissions received are available on the Department’s website, www.dcenr.gov.ie/Broadcasting.


On the Saorview DTT network, the Minister added, “The national ‘free to air’ Saorview DTT network is currently being rolled out by RTÉ and this decision will ensure that the channels are available in time for the national launch of the service in May of this year. The Saorview DTT network will replace the existing analogue TV network when this closes in Q4 2012 and this target date remains on track. Consideration of the issues of information and assistance for TV viewers affected by analogue switch-off is being advanced”.





Notes for Editor


RTÉ’s new digital network, Saorview, which is currently operating on a trial basis and is planned to launch nationally in May 2011, can carry more services than the current analogue TV network. This provides RTÉ with an opportunity to offer new services to the Irish public. Additional information on the Saorview DTT network is available from RTÉ at www.saorview.ie


The procedure for assessing new RTÉ and TG4 services and channels is carefully set out in national and EU law. Section 103 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 requires the Minister’s consent for all new services and channels and sets out the procedures to be followed in analysing the public value of these services and channels and which must be conducted before any such consent can be granted.


In November 2010, the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources launched a public consultation seeking views on the public value of the new RTÉ service proposals. There were 29 respondents to this consultation process from a wide range of people, representative bodies and media industry groups.



Minister’s Decision


The Minister’s Decision; a document which amalgamates the submissions to the public consultation; and other submissions which informed the decision are available on the website, www.dcenr.gov.ie .


In summary the Minister’s decision, and the conditions attaching to that decision, are as follows:


The Minister has decided to consent to the following channels and services:

RTÉ Aertel Digital,
RTÉ Two HD Select, (working title)
RTÉ News Now,
RTÉjr, and
RTÉ Plus (working title) Phase 1 only.


This consent is subject to the following conditions:


Conditions attaching to Specific Channels


1. RTÉ Two HD Select channel is required to be carried on the second multiplex;


2. The knowledge gained from technical trialling of the HD channel will be shared with other broadcasters;


3. RTÉ should aim to provide for full HD versions of RTÉ One and RTÉ Two as soon as practicable and by mid 2013 at the latest;


4. The RTÉjr/RTÉ Plus channel shall be carried on the first multiplex until 1 September 2011 and from 1 September 2011 shall be transferred to the second multiplex;


5. No advertising is permitted on the RTÉjr or RTÉ News Now channel;


6. In respect of RTÉjr and RTÉ News Now, RTÉ shall review Phase 2 of these channel proposals on foot of the suggestions set out in the public consultation in order to further enhance the public value of the channels.


7. RTÉ Plus: Phase 1 only is approved and for a period of 4 years only until February 2014.


General Conditions


1. Investment (comprising set up costs, operating costs (excluding broadcast charges and depreciation) and any other expenditure directly attributable to these channels) is limited to no greater than €8.3m over 5 years.


2. RTÉ must act so as to ensure the new services and channels are made available on all platforms as soon as practicable in accordance with the “must offer”/“must carry” obligations set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009;


3. RTÉ must ensure that the new services and channels (and the content provided thereon) are provided in compliance with RTÉ’s obligations under the Broadcasting Act 2009.


4. RTÉ must ensure that the new services and channels comply with all applicable accessibility rules and that, subtitling audio-descriptions services etc. are provided, regardless of the platform on which they are carried;


5. Because the RTÉ multiplexes are capable of carrying a large number of RTÉ and non-RTÉ channels, the Minister requires that the numbering of channels shall be designated on the basis of a set of principles and criteria to be developed by the Content Working Group of the Digital Switch-over Steering Group established by his Department and that such principles and criteria shall be subject to the approval of his Department in consultation with the BAI. In particular, these shall include the principles that priority in numbering is accorded to the four national ‘free-to-air’ television channels (i.e. RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3 and TG4); and that non-RTÉ services shall not be unfairly discriminated against.


6. All the approved services and channels shall be reviewed by RTÉ within 4 years (i.e. no later than February 2014) and a report on these reviews shall be submitted to the Minister by June 2014 at the latest. This review shall, interalia, study the continuing need for these services and channels in light of technology and societal developments and the potential for enhancing the public service value of these services and channels.


7. Requests for substantial modifications to the approved services and channels will require the consent of the Minister under section 103 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.


7. RTÉ is required to submit a report to the Minister and the BAI on an annual basis, (by end February each year) detailing the development of the services and channels (e.g. viewership, service and channel enhancements) and how they are operating in accordance with the conditions set out above.



BAI Expressions of Interest Process


One of the immediate benefits of the introduction of Digital Terrestrial Television is the opportunity to provide additional channels and services on a ‘free to air’ basis to the public over and above those channels that are currently being provided on the existing analogue system (i.e. RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4).


In addition to the new channels from RTÉ, there is a clear opportunity for the provision of additional non-RTÉ services. On this basis, the Minister has provided additional functions to the BAI (under SI 85 of 2011) to seek Expressions of Interest from the broadcast and media industry in regard to the provision of new or additional content on the Saorview system on a ‘free to air’ basis. The process will also examine the possibilities regarding the establishment of the proposed Irish Film Channel and the Houses of the Oireachtas Channel which are mentioned in the Broadcasting Act 2009.


The BAI will be initiating this process over the coming days and is expected to be in a position to report to the Minister on the outcome of this process in advance of the national launch of the Saorview service in May 2011.

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Minister+Carey+Issues+Consent+for+New+RTÉ+Services.htm

Apogee

DCENR wrote:

1. RTÉ Two HD Select channel is required to be carried on the second multiplex;

4. The RTÉjr/RTÉ Plus channel shall be carried on the first multiplex until 1 September 2011 and from 1 September 2011 shall be transferred to the second multiplex;

This seems to contradict RTÉ plans where RTÉ2 HD would be on the 1st mux?



And #4 appears to indicate that the second mux will be operational by September?

KELTICKNIGHTT

looks good

galtee boy

Should see tests/trials of RTE JR and RTE Plus soon.

watty

The Advertising and 2nd Mux limitations are interesting.

http://www.techtir.ie/blog/watty/saorview-content-approval


[RANT MODE!!!!]
Could it be that DCENR thinks RTE should simulcast RTE2 till RTE2 is HD full time? If so they are idiots.

Why STILL no signing of ASO date?

Why did it take DCENR till now (a month late by their own timetable)? Why was this not settled by September 2010?

Is it a case of delaying it as long as possible so RTE info campaign couldn't start so more unsuitable TVs can be dumped on poor Irish Consumer?

We should have had the Info campaign starting last August/ September. The whole process has been unbelievable. The PSB process should have started in December 2007 when RTE started roll out. Absolute stupidity to have everything PSB related on hold till all three pay TV licence proposals failed. Should have been no coupling.

[/RANT MODE!!!]

KELTICKNIGHTT

be good too get more choices on free too air specially after paying for tv licences

KELTICKNIGHTT

watty wrote: »

The Advertising and 2nd Mux limitations are interesting.

http://www.techtir.ie/blog/watty/saorview-content-approval

in what way ?
because of what apogee said

Apogee

watty wrote: »

Could it be that DCENR thinks RTE should simulcast RTE2 till RTE2 is HD full time? If so they are idiots.

I can't see the benefit of spreading the channels over two muxes when one would suffice. It's not like they are also demanding a concomitant higher resolution/bitrate for the SD channels. Just more hassle where 2x DVB-T tuners will be required for full PVR recording.

As for DCENR being "idiots" - these are the same people ultimately responsible for the wonderful rollout of broadband in the country.

I rest my case.

KELTICKNIGHTT

as i have one dvb-s tuner and one t-tuner, having too have 2 t-tuner be a prob for me and not going too buy another box just too have 2 t-tuners,maybe might be option too use a usb t-tuner as second,i dont know but not thinking about it till rte get it all sorted

watty

We know there is going to be 2 x Mux sooner than later, that's not the point, it's not DCENR's job to decide which FTA channel gets carried on which PSB mux. Or it shouldn't be. They can decide how many 8MHz RF channels can be allocated for PSB Muxes and who is allowed to be a TV channel. They are not able to do anything technical and shouldn't be anyway.

If your TV HAS a compatible Tuner, then it's like VHS days, you only need single tuner in PVR. If your TV is essentially not a TV, but a Monitor, then you need two DTT tuners. There is going to be at least 2 Mux. The RTE guys thought that after ASO there could easily be a 3rd FTA Saorview Mux, it is apparently driven purely by demand of Broadcasters to air FTA channels. The Spectrum will be available Post ASO below Channel 60 to have more than six Multiplexes.

Apogee. I have sat in DCENR office with Ryan and staff and had the NBS excuses first hand before it rolled out. They knew it was rubbish but doing it purely because it would be doing something and doing "proper stuff" or anything at ANY higher amount of money "was too expensive and not quick enough". Yet Metro North would buy a 4G mobile network AND Fibre to home for everyone.

Idiots doesn't come close to a description.

fat-tony

watty wrote: »

The Advertising and 2nd Mux limitations are interesting.

http://www.techtir.ie/blog/watty/saorview-content-approval


[RANT MODE!!!!]
Could it be that DCENR thinks RTE should simulcast RTE2 till RTE2 is HD full time? If so they are idiots.

Why STILL no signing of ASO date?

Why did it take DCENR till now (a month late by their own timetable)? Why was this not settled by September 2010?

Is it a case of delaying it as long as possible so RTE info campaign couldn't start so more unsuitable TVs can be dumped on poor Irish Consumer?

We should have had the Info campaign starting last August/ September. The whole process has been unbelievable. The PSB process should have started in December 2007 when RTE started roll out. Absolute stupidity to have everything PSB related on hold till all three pay TV licence proposals failed. Should have been no coupling.

[/RANT MODE!!!]

Could it be that RTE Two HD Select is a new channel? i.e. Not RTE Two as is right now (HD res), but a separate channel replaying only "real" HD material and simulcasting sports events in HD? Doesn't seem to make sense if RTE have gone to the trouble to up the bitrate on RTE Two in the current mux 1 and warned people that RTE Two Temporary was going off air in April. Could it be that TV retail trade have got to DCENR to retain RTE Two SD for the time being? If it smells like **** ...

watty

Press release from Saorview
http://www.saortv.info/2011/02/23/saorview-welcomes-ministers-announcement/

Apogee

Maybe Mary Curtis should also thank the Minister for requiring RTÉ to transmit the channels over two muxes and p*ss away more money on electricity/transmission costs.

KELTICKNIGHTT

looks like they like too waste money and time with dual mux setup

mike65

Apogee wrote: »

BAI Expressions of Interest Process



In addition to the new channels from RTÉ, there is a clear opportunity for the provision of additional non-RTÉ services. On this basis, the Minister has provided additional functions to the BAI (under SI 85 of 2011) to seek Expressions of Interest from the broadcast and media industry in regard to the provision of new or additional content on the Saorview system on a ‘free to air’ basis. The process will also examine the possibilities regarding the establishment of the proposed Irish Film Channel and the Houses of the Oireachtas Channel which are mentioned in the Broadcasting Act 2009.

The BAI will be initiating this process over the coming days and is expected to be in a position to report to the Minister on the outcome of this process in advance of the national launch of the Saorview service in May 2011.

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Minister+Carey+Issues+Consent+for+New+RTÉ+Services.htm

How much does it cost to provide a channel on DTT?

watty

A minimum of maybe €3.5M a year for carriage.

fat-tony

watty wrote: »

Press release from Saorview
http://www.saortv.info/2011/02/23/saorview-welcomes-ministers-announcement/

No mention of RTE Two other than RTE Two HD? So no simulcast, then? That's my take on it.

fat-tony

Having re-read the RTENL submission and the Minister's response I don't see any way of inferring that there will be a DTT simulcast of RTE Two on SD and HD. RTE's reference to "existing" RTE Two service in their document was to the existing analogue service - not the Saorview version. So it looks as if the Minister has "green lighted" the HD service, but apparently only on a second mux. I don't see the reasoning for this and it would be interesting to find out why. Perhaps it's to make room for the temporary location of RTE jr and RTE plus?

Of more interest is that almost no mention is made in the Minister's statement of the 29 submissions during the consultation process and how they impacted on the decision and how they modified his conditions.

STB

There is no Simulcast.

Of course its all space related. You couldnt squeeze anything more in without having the quality of a poor satellite channel.

I would imagine its all about having content content content without compromising on PQ. Saorview will have to be appealing after all.

Atlantic Dawn

http://www.breakingnews.ie/election/news/tv3-slams-decision-to-allow-five-new-tv-channels-on-rte-494613.html

TV3 slams decision to allow five new TV channels on RTE

23/02/2011 - 19:55:26Television station TV3 has reacted to the decision of Minister Carey, announced today, to approve five new channels for RTE.

TV3 plans to call on the incoming Government to immediately rescind this decision which they say will destroy jobs, growth and investment in the media sector while costing taxpayers huge sums of money.
The approved channels are:
- RTÉ Two High Definition (HD) Select
- RTÉ Aertel Digital
- RTÉjr
- RTÉ Plus (Phase 1)
- RTÉ News Now

I really don't understand what TV3 are complaining about, Saorview will give them the opportunity to broadcast to the nation (or most of it) in HD and allow people outside cable and satellite to receive 3E, surely this has to be of benefit. The channels RTÉ announced today in my opinion offer little competition to TV3 and of those the vast majority of people will be concerned with RTE1 and 2HD and possibly the Plus channel if they missed something.

Atlantic Dawn

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

http://www.breakingnews.ie/election/news/tv3-slams-decision-to-allow-five-new-tv-channels-on-rte-494613.html



I really don't understand what TV3 are complaining about, Saorview will give them the opportunity to broadcast to the nation (or most of it) in HD and allow people outside cable and satellite to receive 3E, surely this has to be of benefit. The channels RTÉ announced today in my opinion offer little competition to TV3 and of those the vast majority of people will be concerned with RTE1 and 2HD and possibly the Plus channel if they missed something.

I'd just give TV3's licence to UTV and be done with it. No loss.

watty

TV3 would be happiest if NO terrestrial broadcasting.

Save them a fortune.

UTV can apply for carriage anyway, though no doubt TV3 would complain.

carrolls

watty wrote: »

TV3 would be happiest if NO terrestrial broadcasting.

Save them a fortune.

UTV can apply for carriage anyway, though no doubt TV3 would complain.

True.
Also, they were the company that forced Ryan to re-edit the Memorandum Of Understanding last Feburary to stop BBC services being provided free to air on Saorview.
Maybe its because viewers would swap BBC 1 for TV3 any day.

watty

That's mythical.

BBC could never be FTA on Saorview

If you had 2 x BBC channels only that would be €7M to €8M a year running cost. Who pays for it?

On Satellite we have for once off personal install cost
BBC1, 2, 3,4 Cbeebies, CBBC, Parliament, News 24, BBCHD, BBC1 HD
UTV, ITVHD, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, CITV,
C4, e4, More4, Film4
Skynews, Euronews, CNN etc
Plus a load of other free channels

That alone would cost €15M to €25M a year to transmit terrestrially, excluding rights/Royalites.

I'll believe the 2x RTE + TG4 on 2 x NI transmitters if it starts. Mad waste of money when 45% of NI gets overspill Saorview and 100% will get Saorsat.

Let people that want it (Irish TV in N.I. or UK TV in Ireland) pay once off Satellite Dish install cost instead of making EVERYONE pay annually for ever.

carrolls

watty wrote: »

That's mythical.
If you had 2 x BBC channels only that would be €7M to €8M a year running cost. Who pays for it?

Oh suddenly its a myth now.:rolleyes: Its amazing how a year clouds your memories. It did actually happen.
If legislation required that BBC 1 and BBC 2 were to be allowed on to one of the muxes for free (the BBC and the British Government were 100% committed to the original MOU) , and one of the muxes had spare slots anyway, its not going to cost anybody anything. The fact that someone set the slot price at €3.5 million is irrelevant in the MOU scenario.
Its similar to the €5.00 RyanAir ticket scenario for how they deal with empty seats.
Also who is paying for RTE on Freeview up the North?
The same argument applies.

Apogee

watty wrote: »

T
If you had 2 x BBC channels only that would be €7M to €8M a year running cost. Who pays for it?

Where are you getting €7M from? The RTÉNL tarriff is approx €3.5M per multiplex, not per channel.

Apogee

STB wrote: »

There is no Simulcast.

Of course its all space related. You couldnt squeeze anything more in without having the quality of a poor satellite channel.

I would imagine its all about having content content content without compromising on PQ. Saorview will have to be appealing after all.

There is sufficient space on 1 mux for the proposed channels. In requiring the use of 2 muxes, DCENR have not set a minimum resolution or bitrates - and I doubt it they give a damn either way about picture quality or end-user experience.

This, to my mind, has all the hallmarks of the previous nonsense trial in MPEG2, which was to show the EU authorities the great progress that was being made in Ireland. And now they can pretend they are rolling out a 2 mux system across Ireland.

watty

There is no spare capacity on the two mux for 2 x BBC channels.

Ryan had it on his website a few days. It was a mistake.

I agree TV3 didn't like it, but that is not why it isn't happening.

Even if there is "spare" space it's not free. That's fantasy. We don't have Oireachtas TV on it today because the Government has never assigned the Budget. All the infrastructure and content exists. If Oireachtas or Film channel can't get "free carriage" how on Earth could 2 x BBC. Also there are distribution and rights costs too.


Who is paying for RTE up north? (also that's only two "lite" TX sites, not 51).

watty

Apogee wrote: »

Where are you getting €7M from? The RTÉNL tarriff is approx €3.5M per multiplex, not per channel.

I thought it was €3.5M per channel.

€3.5M for 51sites per mux per year is €178K per Mux-Site? What does that include? Some sites obviously use about 100x more electricity than others.

Also recovery of capital expenditure, spare parts, 24 hr x 7 engineers on standby, regular site maintenance etc...

watty

Apogee wrote: »

There is sufficient space on 1 mux for the proposed channels. In requiring the use of 2 muxes, DCENR have not set a minimum resolution or bitrates - and I doubt it they give a damn either way about picture quality or end-user experience.

This, to my mind, has all the hallmarks of the previous nonsense trial in MPEG2, which was to show the EU authorities the great progress that was being made in Ireland. And now they can pretend they are rolling out a 2 mux system across Ireland.

Maybe not quite when Film Channel OR Oireachtas is running too. But the basic thinking of why they are interfering I agree with.

Also DCENER/BAI can say to other interested parties "Look there is spare space on two multiplexes, no need for rollouts, you can be on air as soon as you give Donneybrook a feed".

Apogee

Published RTÉNL tariffs:



http://www.bci.ie/DTT/easy_tv/append6_tech.pdf

carrolls

watty wrote: »

Even if there is "spare" space it's not free.

To all intents and purposes it is. There is possibly a minimal hardware overhead in much the same way as there is for UPC if they decided to add an extra two channels to their lineup.
And there will be spare space on Mux 2 until they get around to putting a commercial package together. According to reports, RTE plan to put RTE 2 HD on Mux 2. What are they going to do with the rest of the space?

The Cush

carrolls wrote: »

Also who is paying for RTE on Freeview up the North?

The not-for-profit joint venture company that has to be established by RTÉ and TG4 to apply for the Ofcom licence and run the multiplex. As both organisations are funded from the public purse and licence fee we'll all pay for it.

The Cush

watty wrote: »

I thought it was €3.5M per channel.

€3.5M for 51sites per mux per year is €178K per Mux-Site? What does that include? Some sites obviously use about 100x more electricity than others.

Also recovery of capital expenditure, spare parts, 24 hr x 7 engineers on standby, regular site maintenance etc...

Attached is the most recent RTÉNL proposed Schedule of Tariffs for DTT from Feb 2008 when the plan was for up to 188 PSB and 44 commercial sites. Nothing more recent than that.

watty

carrolls wrote: »

To all intents and purposes it is. There is possibly a minimal hardware overhead in much the same way as there is for UPC if they decided to add an extra two channels to their lineup.
And there will be spare space on Mux 2 until they get around to putting a commercial package together. According to reports, RTE plan to put RTE 2 HD on Mux 2. What are they going to do with the rest of the space?

Someone has to pay. Or else TV3 would win in Court.

You might as well say anyone Blonde can ride on a Bus free as long as it's not full.

2013 / 2014 isn't far away. All the main channels will be HD.
If the film channel ever launches, there isn't space for it to be HD or 3e HD if RTE1, RTE2, TG4 and TV3 are all HD.

When there is more need to roll out Broadband I don't see the difficulty of people who don't want pay TV getting a Dish and full Freesat service instead of wasting scarce DTT spectrum on a Foreign service that's free via satellite. Be more point to launch RTE International in UK, USA, Australia, Canada and mainland Europe Satellite than a paltry two UK Terrestrial channels.

watty

The Cush wrote: »

The not-for-profit joint venture company that has to be established by RTÉ and TG4 to apply for the Ofcom licence and run the multiplex. As both organisations are funded from the public purse and licence fee we'll all pay for it.

Well I hope they reconsider. A total waste of Money. At least it probably won't be till end 2012. RTE wouldn't comment on if it would be ditched if Saorsat is good in Ballycastle.

We should be getting more than 51 DTT sites here. Not paying for sites in N.I. when we have under provisioned.

The Cush

This from yesterday's press release

...
7. RTÉ Plus: Phase 1 only is approved and for a period of 4 years only until February 2014.
...
6. All the approved services and channels shall be reviewed by RTÉ within 4 years (i.e. no later than February 2014) and a report on these reviews shall be submitted to the Minister by June 2014 at the latest. This review shall, interalia, study the continuing need for these services and channels in light of technology and societal developments and the potential for enhancing the public service value of these services and channels.

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Minister+Carey+Issues+Consent+for+New+RT%c3%89+Services.htm

My maths aren't the best but isn't Feb 2011 to Feb 2014 = 3 years?

watty

A Canadian Economist was pointing out recently how all our problems are poor maths dating to 2002.

So not surprised.

2011
2012
2013
2014

---

Four Februaries

STB

watty wrote: »

A Canadian Economist was pointing out recently how all our problems are poor maths dating to 2002.

Yeah but lets forget about what happened 8 years ago.

The Cush

watty wrote: »

The Advertising and 2nd Mux limitations are interesting.

http://www.techtir.ie/blog/watty/saorview-content-approval


[RANT MODE!!!!]
Could it be that DCENR thinks RTE should simulcast RTE2 till RTE2 is HD full time? If so they are idiots.

Been browsing through the Ministerial Decision doc and found this

RTÉ Two HD Select

High Definition (HD) channels provide better quality pictures than Standard
Definition (SD) TV. In promulgating the relevant provisions of the Broadcasting Act
2009, the Minister was aware that an upgrade to HD was an essential requirement for
national broadcasters and provided for an additional multiplex to be made available to
RTÉ to ensure adequate capacity for the upgrade and carriage of the terrestrial TV
channels in HD- RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TG4 and, subject to the provisions of section
130(10), TV3.

The thinking appears to be that the second mux was provided for HD services so that's where we're going to put RTÉ 2 HD and the other HD services when they launch.

tlaavtech

I do like the idea of getting the 2nd MUX up and running sooner rather than later. If it is running by September this year, that is a year and a bit before ASO. Most of the non-tech people in analogue-land will leave it until the last minute to upgrade, so both MUX's will be up and running when they are forced to switch. This should reduce the thousands of calls to RTENL if the 2nd MUX was switched on to after ASO to co-incide with subsequent multiple HD launches.

I was hoping for an improvement in the quality (resolution/bit-rate) of the other channels the minute Mux2 was switched on, but this is unlikely to happen if Mux2 is reserved for HD only. We will have to wait for the full launch of RTE1HD/TV3HD to leave room on Mux1.

Slightly OT, but is there sufficient bandwidth in one SaorSat Mux to carry both DTT Muxes?

tlaavtech

tlaavtech wrote: »

Slightly OT, but is there sufficient bandwidth in one SaorSat Mux to carry both DTT Muxes?

From what I've read on here it is believed that the TS on Saorsat will be identical to that on DTT so it can be used as a backup feed should the terrestrial microwave link fail. In that case it would still require two separate muxes, though chances are they'd be on the same physical transponder.

carrolls

watty wrote: »

Someone has to pay. Or else TV3 would win in Court.

You might as well say anyone Blonde can ride on a Bus free as long as it's not full.

TV3 on Saorview and BBC via the MOU on Saorview are two totally different scenarios. If legislation deemed that 2 slots were to be given to BBC 1 and 2 on Saorview in a recipricol arangement with RTE 1, 2 and TG4 on a Northern freeview mux (which was the original MOU plan), then it would have happened without any money changing hands.
TV3 should have not been allowed to influence the decision.

Elmo

Just to say that McRedmond and Dawson were discussing this on TodayFM.

This should be merged with Saorview content speculation.

Usual guff from McRedmond but Dawson really didn't play the right cards.

Elmo

Apogee wrote: »

Published RTÉNL tariffs:



http://www.bci.ie/DTT/easy_tv/append6_tech.pdf

Is that 3.8m for just one channel or one mux?

watty

Karsini wrote: »

From what I've read on here it is believed that the TS on Saorsat will be identical to that on DTT so it can be used as a backup feed should the terrestrial microwave link fail. In that case it would still require two separate muxes, though chances are they'd be on the same physical transponder.

even on Ku you might have 4 or 5 "virtual" transponders (i.e. Carriers) on one physical transponder. No problem at all having two carriers each with a TS that is copy of the DTT mux, and carriers using DVB-S2 modulation instead of DVB-t.

The Irish Spot has about 500Mbps of Downlink to home Capacity. The DTT Muxes are just under 25Mbps each, so Saorsat uses 10% of the capacity (or 5% if you count uplink from home on Internet service)

The Cush

Regarding the recent posts on BBC down here, this is a recent comment from the then Minister for Communications, Eamon Ryan in an adjournment debate in the Seanad - BBC not interested in providing its channels down here.

The MOU also provides for the carriage of TG4 on Northern Ireland’s DTT platform and facilitates the possibility of RTE being transmitted over DTT in the North and for the BBC to be carried in the South. While many viewers in Ireland and Northern Ireland watch the other country’s free-to-air TV channels through overspill, perhaps most significantly the MOU allows the possibility of broadcasting RTE on an all-island basis for the first time in the history of the State. While the BBC has not engaged in the process for the delivery of free-to-air BBC services throughout Ireland and has no legislative remit to offer service to the island of Ireland, I am happy to report that both RTE and TG4 are fully engaged in the process we have set out.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056153898

The Cush

Elmo wrote: »

Is that 3.8m for just one channel or one mux?

Per Mux. See posts #31 & #34 on the previous page.

Since the new 51 site Saorview/Saorsat plan was approved last July we don't know the up to date cost per mux. The charges quoted in the previous posts mentioned are early 2008.

Elmo

The Cush wrote: »

Per Mux. See posts #31 & #34 on the previous page.

Since the new 51 site Saorview/Saorsat plan was approved last July we don't know the up to date cost per mux. The charges quoted in the previous posts mentioned are early 2008.

So per SD channel around 400,000 - 500,000 which is down from 1.5m that TV3 and TG4 currently pay.

carrolls

The Cush wrote: »

While the BBC has not engaged in the process for the delivery of free-to-air BBC services throughout Ireland and has no legislative remit to offer service to the island of Ireland.

Thats how duplicitous weasels like Ryan have conducted themselves over the last five years. Carefully read the statement. Read between the lines.
The only reason that the BBC are not engaged in the process of delivery of free-to-air BBC services is because Ryan pulled the plug on the process on Feburary 2010.
Its called politics. If you cannot see through this rubbish, vote them back in again tomorrow.

Apogee

The Cush wrote: »

Regarding the recent posts on BBC down here, this is a recent comment from the then Minister for Communications, Eamon Ryan in an adjournment debate in the Seanad - BBC not interested in providing its channels down here.

If you believe Eamon Ryan...