RTE HD on Saorview and not on SKY??

les succulent ducks

Hi.

Will someone explain to me how or why RTE HD is not with Sky? Would it not have been easier to add RTE HD to sky boxes in Ireland? Most people have sky have they not?

I dont feel like investing in another box for saorview as my cabinet is overflowing with PS3, blu ray, HD box, surround etc. It doesnt make sense spending another €100 or so on a box so I can get one HD channel.

Is it another money making scam? Who actually owns Saorview? This country cannot do anything right...

Karl

John mac

Sky have chosen not to broadcast it , or they would charge rte to carry it .

if you have a hd tv then you might be able to pick it up already via the tv.

sesswhat

kmetelko wrote: »

Is it another money making scam?

If you are referring to Sky, then yes. When they figure out they need RTE2HD to continue screwing people, they may decide to pay for it.

kmetelko wrote: »

This country cannot do anything right...

Sky are not based in this country.

PogMoThoin

Saorview is free, Sky is not.
In fact 9 of the 10 most watched channels here on Sky are free, you don't need to pay for them at all once you have the equipment

RTE 1
Net 2
TV 3
TG 4
BBC 1
BBC 2
ITV
Channel 4
Sky 1 - the only one thats not free
Sky News

The Cush

The Sky vs. RTÉ 2 HD issue have discussed many, many times already in the Cable & Digital TV forum, do a search and join the discussion.

Saorview digital terrestrial television is simply a replacement for the analogue terrestrial TV network which is required to be switched off by 1st Jan 2013.

It's definitely not a money making scam, costing RTÉ in the region of €70m+ to convert the network for DTT for no financial gain.

The Saorview name is owned by RTÉNL who are rolling out the digital network.

Your existing TV may be able to receive the Saorview digital channels without the need for an additional STB. An aerial will be required in either case.

rlogue

It's RTE policy to withold the extra Saorview channels including RTE Two HD to give the Saorview platform a "boost". They are actually breaking the Broadcasting Act 2009 by doing this.

Ask the lovely Brigitte at RTE Information to confirm what I have just said if you like.

STB

Oh for fecks sake rlogue. Its not a policy. RTE are concerned with DSO and preparation for ASO, not whether pay TV companies are kept happy. There primary responsibility is to offer the broadcasting services free-to-air to the whole community. And yes the like of money grabbing companies like Sky etc should be made wait until RTE are good and ready to offer the HD services to them. The tail doesnt wag the dog. We dont want a scenario like in the UK whereby a public service broadcaster was only available on Sky and not FTA!

To the OP. The RTE digital stations are available free to air without subscription to Sky who are a third party you have chosen to give your money to !

Infact as one of the responses already told you there is a lot of stuff that is free to air that doesnt require Sky or UPC.

Top stations watched in Ireland all platforms 2010.

rlogue

Oh for fecks sake rlogue. Its not a policy. RTE are concerned with DSO and preparation for ASO, not whether pay TV companies are kept happy. There primary responsibility is to offer the broadcasting services free-to-air to the whole community. And yes the like of money grabbing companies like Sky etc should be made wait until RTE are good and ready to offer the HD services to them.

The law doesn't say that RTE can offer their extra digital channels when they are good and ready to offer them - the law says that all channels should be offered to any platform provider operating in Ireland on a fair and non-discrimatory basis.

Sky don't want RTE Two HD right now but I bet your boots UPC and Real Digital do.

It's my opinion that RTE are knowingly breaking the law as the law makes NO provision for RTE being "good and ready" as you say.

sealgaire

No most people do NOT have sky, you buffer!

rlogue

Oh is it open season on insults now.

sealgaire

where I come from a 'buffer' isn't an insult. I've heard it used as one though I must admit. So prob not best choice of words

rlogue

So the point you're trying to make is...?

sealgaire

that most people don't sky,

as I said in post 9.

You must have missed that .. .. .

rlogue

Regardless of whether they have Sky, UPC or whatever, and this is the issue that the OP has, is that their chosen TV platform doesn't have full access to the RTE Digital channels.

My argument is that RTE should act in line with the spirit and letter of the Broadcasting Acts and provide their channels in an open manner at no cost to the licence payer OR to RTE/TG4/TV3. And to clarify, at the entire cost of that provider. That was the intention of the Broadcasting Act 2009.

RTE's argument is that they want to concentrate on developing Saorview/Saorsat and don't want to worry about other providers. We know that RTE's official response is that they have no plans at present to provide these channels to other providers. This is actually illegal. RTE don't have the right to withold any of their channels and if I were the OP I would submit a complaint to Comreg.

This is exactly why I believe RTE NL the transmission provider must be split from RTE the broadcaster. It is not appropriate for RTE to knowingly withold their channels from any operator so that they can give their own platform a "boost".

By their behaviour it would seem that RTE are desperate to keep as much of the Saorview channels to themselves - maybe they see other operators and potential operators as a threat?

watty

Have you any proof that Sky or UPC has asked for RTE in HD already and been refused?

Do you know how much HD programming there is on RTE?

You keep making allegations about RTE for which you have no proof.

RTE have said all the the new channels will be available. At the minute they have not properly even "officially" launched HD as it's by Government order to be on the 2nd Mux.

Also they have not yet launched the Satellite "fill-in" services.

There is a huge amount wrong with RTE, but stop with the stupid commercial conspiracy theories. The financial benefit to RTE is to be on as many platforms as possible. Saorview is just a replacement of analogue. There is no "protectionism".

rlogue

I'm not making any allegations. I happen to have an opinion. Is that wrong and am I not allowed to express my opinion? RTE themselves have said in an email published here that there are no plans to offer the HD version of RTE Two to other platforms.

Thats not a conspiracy theory.

les succulent ducks

okay people, thanks for all the feedback.

I think I will hold off buying the saorview box for a while. It's a shame: Would love to watch the football final next weekend in HD ;-) Oh well......

Thanks again.....

icdg

Okay, seeing as this has cropped up in multiple forums, there is now to be only ONE RTE Two HD on other platforms thread, and it is to be this one:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=58

All of you involved in the bickering earlier consider yourselves warned.

Thread closed.