saorview launch delay

darth_maul

Am I the only one that is bemused by the slowness with saorview roll-out, We have seen the proposed launch date come and go and still we are waiting on

- RTE jr and RTE +1 (surely the +1 channel wouldn't take much implementation)
- Still no HD content from RTE 2
- Still no implementation of series link or no definitive announcement on the standard that will be used for it.
- no definitive announcement on saorsat, (anyone got any insider info on what's the latest on this, has testing been completed on ka-sat, have RTE done any trials yet?)

Although I have to say hats off to RTENL for their transmitter upgrades and they really ramped up the speed over the last couple of months and seem now to have all sites upgraded.

Machinehead

The launch date has been discussed here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055935335&page=90

The Cush

If the launch was planned for May 11th could the delay be due to any of the following, otherwise back to the original plan of the end of May

- awaiting the 4 remaining transmitters to go live?
- delay signing transmission contracts with TV3?

rlogue wrote: »

Now TV3 and TG4 are faced with paying RTE NL for their Saorview coverage and I hear a complaint has been launched by one or the other with the BAI over the scale of RTE NL's transmission charges.

HD content on RTÉ 2 from the public launch according to RTÉ.

The series link will be according to the Nordig receiver specification.

On Saorsat all they have officially said is "RTÉNL expect to be able to make more information publicly available about this new service in late 2011". Ka-Sat is not in commercial service yet, expected later this month.

Machinehead

According to the Saorview The trial period ends in May & presumably full launch to take place soon afterwards.

"By the end of the trial period in May 2011 SAORVIEW will be accessible to 97% of the population".

No change there following ministerial response to question last Tuesday.

liamtech

I agree that this delay is unusual and unprofessional: STating a service will be up and running by May should not mean "the end of May".... Saorview should release some more information..

Digital Satellite TV

liamtech wrote: »

I agree that this delay is unusual and unprofessional: STating a service will be up and running by May should not mean "the end of May".... Saorview should release some more information..

Saorview confirmed yesterday to be launching 26th May.

Charles Slane

Digital Satellite TV wrote: »

Saorview confirmed yesterday to be launching 26th May.

At last a concrete date. Where was it confirmed?

mickeyboymel

Charles Slane wrote: »

At last a concrete date. Where was it confirmed?

I have seen a trade email that confirms the following:

SAORVIEW is launching 28th May – Make Sure you’re ready!

The Minister for Communications, energy and natural resources Pat Rabitte will officially launch SAORVIEW on Thursday 26th May.

SAORVIEW will launch the full service platform on Saturday 28th May and will be marketed to Irish TV viewers through Phase 2 of the SAORVIEW consumer information campaign. The official launch will mark the beginning of the second phase of SAORVIEW’s public information campaign which includes a series of new adverts on TV, Radio and online. This will be complemented by a national and regional PR push.

Advertising activity will commence on May 20th and run for an intensive 3 week burst. The campaign consists of a heavy weight multi media, multi format TV, Radio, PR and online campaign to increase consumer awareness of SAORVIEW and to call consumers into action.

Available Channels on SAORVIEW

TV Channels: RTÉ One , RTÉ Two HD, TV3, TG4, RTÉ News Now, 3e, RTÉjr, RTÉ One + 1, RTÉ Aertel Digital

Radio Stations: RTÉ Radio 1 ,RTÉ 2fm ,RTÉ lyric fm ,RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta , RTÉ Choice , RTÉ Pulse, RTÉ 2XM , RTÉ Gold , RTÉjr, Radio 1 Extra


During 2010 the channels available on SAORVIEW broadcast all of the 100 most watched TV programmes in Ireland. All of these programmes and much more will be available for free in sparkling digital quality on SAORVIEW.

TWO high definition live sporting events on RTE Two will be broadcast in HD on SAORVIEW:

To mark the launch, on Saturday and Sunday (28th- 29th May), RTÉ Two HD will broadcast the Magners League Final between Munster and Leinster in Thomond Park on the Saturday and the Munster Hurling Championship Quarter Final between Cork and Tipperary on Sunday.

An Tarbh

seems a bit daft that they won't be showing the champions league final in HD given there would be a native hd feed available.

byte

An Tarbh wrote: »

seems a bit daft that they won't be showing the champions league final in HD given there would be a native hd feed available.

Well, since there was talk that there would be no HD content at all until September, I think it's good to see there will be a few HD broadcasts before then (and I'm not a big fan of rugby or hurling)!

galtee boy

Great news, but a little confusing, is it launching on Thursday or Saturday ?

Machinehead

Saorview's gonna have 2 birthdays just like the Queen;-) 1 for the official launch & another for the HD broadcasts.

Charles Slane

galtee boy wrote: »

Great news, but a little confusing, is it launching on Thursday or Saturday ?

Yeah, Pat Rabbitte is launching it on Thursday, while Saorview are launching it on Saturday. I think I might launch it myself on Tuesday week. That leaves a few days free in between if anyone else here wants to launch it at any time.

The official launch (the 26th) will also mark the beginning of the second phase of advertising which apparently launched in an intensive burst yesterday (the 20th), although I haven't seen or heard any ads myself.

With such a confusing mixture of dates and launches one can only assume someone is using a Tardis or a DeLorean.

Seriously though, it's interesting to see that 3e is definitely now confirmed as part of the line-up.

Gerry Wicklow

This launch seem to be a well kept secret. I haven't seen or heard any adverts other than on News Now. That in itself strikes me as typically Oirish, advertising the new network on itself.
Its also perfect timing to miss some of the most significant events in recent history.

watty

There is an explanation.

But of course I can't tell you it nor even can it be officially admitted to exist.

Apogee

So if it's official, and we're going to get HD content next w/e, will RTÉ2 HD be transmitting on mux 1 as originally planned or on mux 2 as mandated by DCENR?

Gerry Wicklow

BREAKING NEWS...
Is Watty subject to "Super-injunction" :)

irishchris

watty wrote: »

There is an explanation.

But of course I can't tell you it nor even can it be officially admitted to exist.

why say anything if you are going to say nothing????

liamtech

watty wrote: »

There is an explanation.

But of course I can't tell you it nor even can it be officially admitted to exist.

Does it have something to do with evil twin universes where we all have beards, Gay Byrne is Emperor, and the central bank is run by BSkyB?:eek:

Joe7

liamtech wrote: »

Does it have something to do with evil twin universes where we all have beards, Gay Byrne is Emperor, and the central bank is run by BSkyB?:eek:

Nah, someone fUcked up.

liamtech

Its a conspiracy i tell ya..... Will someone please think of the children!

clln

irishchris wrote: »

why say anything if you are going to say nothing????

It never stopped a Boardsie before!:pac::D

The Cush

byte wrote: »

Well, since there was talk that there would be no HD content at all until September, I think it's good to see there will be a few HD broadcasts before then (and I'm not a big fan of rugby or hurling)!

It was just talk, Rory Coveney has said from September on, approx 40% of content on RTÉ2 will be HD, maybe this caused the confusion.

When Will SAORVIEW Start Showing High Definition (HD) Services?

RTÉ plans to have RTÉ Two showing High Definition (HD) sports, movies and drama programming as part of its schedule from the formal launch of the SAORVIEW in May 2011 (RTÉ Two HD Select). By September 2011 RTÉ anticipates that approximately 40% of the content on RTÉ Two will be in HD.

RTÉNL Saorview FAQ

Apogee

It was a bit more than "just talk".

Saorview FAQ wrote:

4.2 When Will SAORVIEW Start Showing High Definition (HD) Services?

RTÉ had planned to have RTÉ Two showing High Definition (HD) sports, movies and drama programming as part of its schedule from the formal launch of the SAORVIEW in May 2011 (RTÉ Two HD Select). However, one of the conditions applied to RTÉ Two HD Select (question 4.1 above) is that it is carried on a second DTT Multiplex.

The second DTT Multiplex is not fully ready at the moment (Feb 2011) and while there may be HD services on RTÉ Two in 2011 it could now be 2012.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=70915906&postcount=95

summerman

RTE are advertising Magners League final next Saturday, and Sunday game hurling next Sunday to be broadcast in HD on Saorview by RTE2

The Cush

Apogee wrote: »

It was a bit more than "just talk".

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=70915906&postcount=95

That's from Rev 1 in late Feb, within days it was removed from the RTÉNL website.

Rev 2, with the quote I posted above included, appeared the day Rory Coveney did the Morning Ireland interview on the Phase 1 launch of the Saorview public information campaign.

Apogee

If it was included in the FAQ it was more than "just talk".

The Cush

Apogee wrote: »

If it was included in the FAQ it was more than "just talk".

The Ministerial Decision re HD on Mux 2 from Sept could be the source of the speculation and the delay until Sept, clarified in any case by mid March in Rev 2 of the FAQ.

Apogee

The Cush wrote: »

The Ministerial Decision re HD on Mux 2 from Sept could be the source of the speculation and the delay until Sept, clarified in any case by mid March in Rev 2 of the FAQ.

Clarified? Is RTÉ2 HD available on mux 2 nationwide?

The Cush

Apogee wrote: »

Clarified? Is RTÉ2 HD available on mux 2 nationwide?

Clarified in relation to the launch of HD services on Mux 1 from the formal launch of Saorview at the end of May by Rev 2 of the Saorview FAQ and not delaying HD content until Mux 2 is available nationwide as required by the Ministerial Decision. Common sense from both parties.

Apogee

It is indeed common sense (the original decision was stupid anyway) but there's no mention on using mux 1 for HD in the FAQ that I can see. Does it not contravene the act as interpreted by DCENR?

The Cush

Apogee wrote: »

It is indeed common sense (the original decision was stupid anyway) but there's no mention on using mux 1 for HD in the FAQ that I can see. Does it not contravene the act as interpreted by DCENR?

Mux 1 may be the only one available nationwide by next weekend for the launch and HD games.

Not sure what you mean by contravene the act?

Apogee

The Broadcasting Act provided for a second mux to carry HD services which DCENR interpreted as all HD services going on the second mux. I don't recall Carey's decision being amended/recinded/suspended.

The Cush

Apogee wrote: »

The Broadcasting Act provided for a second mux to carry HD services which DCENR interpreted as all HD services going on the second mux. I don't recall Carey's decision being amended/recinded/suspended.

No specific requirement in the Braodcasting Act for the second mux to carry HD content. In fact the requirement in the Ministerial Decision to launch the second mux and for it to carry RTÉ2 HD came out of the blue.

The second mux wasn't originally planned until after ASO and at that time HD content could be its primary use as indicated by RTÉ back in 2008.

By launching the second mux now the Dept decided this was the way to make spare FTA capacity available for new services, remember this - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056195645

Apogee

That's not the way DCENR sees it.

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 Cush wrote: »

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.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=70845167&postcount=40

The Cush

Apogee wrote: »

The Broadcasting Act provided for a second mux to carry HD services which DCENR interpreted as all HD services going on the second mux. I don't recall Carey's decision being amended/recinded/suspended.

The Cush wrote: »

No specific requirement in the Braodcasting Act for the second mux to carry HD content.

Apogee wrote: »

That's not the way DCENR sees it.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=70845167&postcount=40

Yes, an essential requirement for broadcasters according to the Dept not a specific requirement of the Broadcasting Act.

If all 4 PSB channels go HD to Mux 2 then there'll be less than 6 Mbps approx each (HD without the H) taking into account other mux capacity requirements epg, text, management etc. The two muxes would be required for efficient HD & SD bitrate management.

STB

This was discussed here before . There will be HD channels on both muxes, but we will not have a situation whereby ALL of RTE's HD content is on one mux with another mux for the "other" stuff. This could also be a lot to do with the usage of the first optimized Mux frequencies NOT being carved up likewise, perhaps.

Apogee

The Cush wrote: »

Yes, an essential requirement for broadcasters according to the Dept not a specific requirement of the Broadcasting Act.

No, a requirement of the Act as interpreted by the Dept. And subsequently reinforced by Ministerial decision which was never recinded. So to claim that the potential for delays in the rollout out of HD was "just talk" is incorrect.

The Cush wrote: »

If all 4 PSB channels go HD to Mux 2 then there'll be less than 6 Mbps approx each (HD without the H) taking into account other mux capacity requirements epg, text, management etc. The two muxes would be required for efficient HD & SD bitrate management.

That's a separate issue. Nobody is claiming the Ministerial order made any sense.