Saorview channels coming to UPC [Merged - all RTÉ Two HD on UPC queries here]

The Cush

An article in today's Irish Independent (paper edition) on UPC's financial results says RTÉ2 HD together with RTÉjr/RTÉ1+1 will launch in March. RTÉ News Now will follow in June.

This now up on http://www.siliconrepublic.com/new-media/item/25954-upc-in-exclusive-deal-with/

UPC in exclusive deal with RTE to host new digital TV channels

UPC has reached a deal with RTE to be the only pay TV provider to be carrying RTE’s new digital channels, including RTE HD, RTE +1, RTE Junior and later in the summer RTE News Now.

UPC Ireland chief executive Dana Strong told Silicon Republic that UPC will begin broadcasting the new RTE channels in April on its cable TV network.

She added that a new RTE News Now channel will be added in June.

“We reached agreement with RTE this week and see this as a great expansion of service for customers."

RTE launched the new channels as part of its €70m digital terrestrial TV (DTT) rollout.

On 24 October this year analogue TV will be switched off and viewers across Ireland will only be able to access TV either by TVs connected to DTT-enabled TVs and set-top boxes or via pay TV networks like UPC (cable), Magnet (fibre) and Sky (satellite).

Red Alert

RTE 2 HD - good, assuming they don't do something silly like transcode the MPEG4 that saorview uses to the MPEG2 streams that UPC use. I hope they'll encode the MPEG2 feed properly straight from RTE!

RTE+1 - unnecessary with a DVR
RTE Junior - also unnecessary, given that it's a simulcast of RTE 2 for the most part

Alun

Red Alert wrote: »

RTE+1 - unnecessary with a DVR

Not really. The +1 channels in general can still come in handy to avoid recording conflicts when all your tuners are used up on other recordings.

celticbest

RTE Jr is already carried on channel 601?

watty

UPC use MPEG4 for HD.

The only thing of real value is the occasional HD on RTE2. You are missing nothing else on UPC, except it costs more than Saorview + Freesat.

Red Alert

watty wrote: »

UPC use MPEG4 for HD.

Ah ha, I didn't know that! Thanks

icdg

celticbest wrote: »

RTE Jr is already carried on channel 601?

The RTÉ Jr that's on 601 is just RTÉ Two simulcast, its not a separate channel. I imagine it will replaced by the RTÉjr Channel (which is just the RTÉ Two block repeated) when this occurs.

Wonder if it will lead to a wholesale renumbering of the EPG given previous Irish channels have been placed before the UK terrestrials as well as in the appropriate section of the EPG? Though City Channel's slot is up for grabs, I wonder how long it can continue to operate in "zombie" mode (it is just replaying the same programmes over and over again).

Ranicand

So Sky will not share their HD channels nor will they share Sky Atlantic or the F1 channel.


In return UPC has Satanta HD in their guide this costs €15 on Sky and it is not HD.
UPC have all the ITV channels in the EPG and now all the extra RTE channels including RTE 2HD.

djimi

Im fairly sure I know which of those looks the better option when you put it like that!

watty

Er.. All the ITV channels and RTE don't need Sky or UPC

Minstrel27

Ranicand wrote: »

UPC have all the ITV channels in the EPG and now all the extra RTE channels including RTE 2HD.

How much do you pay UPC for that? Do UPC also provide ITV1 HD and all the ITV +1 channels?

Ranicand

Minstrel27 wrote: »

How much do you pay UPC for that? Do UPC also provide ITV1 HD and all the ITV +1 channels?

I have Sky these days.

I know all the channels above are free but it is nice to have them in the one EPG.

Infoanon

icdg wrote: »

Wonder if it will lead to a wholesale renumbering of the EPG given previous Irish channels have been placed before the UK terrestrials as well as in the appropriate section of the EPG? Though City Channel's slot is up for grabs, I wonder how long it can continue to operate in "zombie" mode (it is just replaying the same programmes over and over again).

Last time they did an unannounced renumbering it peeved off a lot of viewers.
I assume 107 is just in holding mode possibly for RTE2HD - wonder if it will be free or part of the HD package ? - I doubt if UPC has the same technology to allow eg 102 to be RTE2 SD/HD

Minstrel27

Ranicand wrote: »

I know all the channels above are free but it is nice to have them in the one EPG.

It is nice. You are right about that. I get 7 day EPG from them all too.

who is this

Infoanon wrote: »

Last time they did an unannounced renumbering it peeved off a lot of viewers.
I assume 107 is just in holding mode possibly for RTE2HD - wonder if it will be free or part of the HD package ? - I doubt if UPC has the same technology to allow eg 102 to be RTE2 SD/HD

UPCs different set top boxes already have had (slightly) different EPG numbers, at least in the past.

I can't remember if its still like this, but in the past the service channel was on 999 for older boxes and 100 only on newer boxes. RTÉ Two HD can completely replace RTÉ Two so the situation is not even as complicated as the way Sky did it, i.e. : RTÉ Two HD is an exact simulcast of RTÉ Two (if I'm not mistaken). They don't need to include the SD version anywhere else

icdg

who is this wrote: »

UPCs different set top boxes already have had (slightly) different EPG numbers, at least in the past.

I can't remember if its still like this, but in the past the service channel was on 999 for older boxes and 100 only on newer boxes. RTÉ Two HD can completely replace RTÉ Two so the situation is not even as complicated as the way Sky did it, i.e. : RTÉ Two HD is an exact simulcast of RTÉ Two (if I'm not mistaken). They don't need to include the SD version anywhere else

There is a complication with UPC which means this isn't possible.

On Saorview, all channels are transmitted in MPEG-4, there is no such thing as a separate "Saorview HD" box, the same boxes are used for HD and SD and so there is only one RTÉ Two HD, which you see in SD if you connect via SCART to a non-HD TV. There is no need for a separate RTÉ Two (SD) in the scenario.

On UPC things are different. HD channels are transmitted in MPEG-4, like on Saorview, but SD channels are transmitted in MPEG-2. HD channels are not viewable and are not even present on the EPG of non-HD boxes. Put simply this means that if UPC were to carry just RTÉ Two HD, SD viewers would lose RTÉ Two. That won't happen. That's why RTÉ Two HD will, on UPC, be a separate channel with a separate EPG number.

HattieMcDoogal

icdg wrote: »

That's why RTÉ Two HD will, on UPC, be a separate channel with a separate EPG number.

I'm thinking maybe they'll stick the RTE HD channels somewhere near BBC HD and BBC1 HD. Just checked and there is actually 4 EPG spaces between them. BBC HD is 135 and BBC1 HD is 140.

Infoanon

Hopefully they don't do something stupid and place 'RTE News Now' on 201....

RTE1 +1 could end up on 107

Also wondering why 119 & 121 are still blank.

patrickmooney

Infoanon wrote: »

Also wondering why 119 & 121 are still blank.

Re 119 and 121, I wish UPC would just move more4+1 and gold+1 back into those slots alongside their main channels.

celticbest

patrickmooney wrote: »

Re 119 and 121, I wish UPC would just move more4+1 and gold+1 back into those slots alongside their main channels.

^ That would make sense and UPC couldn't have that......

celticbest

Any here the date these channels are due to be lauched on UPC ?

celticbest

^^ anyone here the launch date yet??

All seems very quite in relation to it now, I really thought UPC would be promoting this in a big way.

icdg

celticbest wrote: »

^^ anyone here the launch date yet??

All seems very quite in relation to it now, I really thought UPC would be promoting this in a big way.

If the channels were anything to write home about they might be. You're not missing anything that you can't accomplish with the existing two RTÉ channels and a DVR.

celticbest

icdg wrote: »

If the channels were anything to write home about they might be. You're not missing anything that you can't accomplish with the existing two RTÉ channels and a DVR.

I'm looking at RTE2 HD for sport......

ciaran76

Just read Twitter there and they said RTE digital channels RTE TWO HD and RTE One+1 and RTEjr later this month and RTE News from June.

Infoanon

RTE1+1 has appeared this morning on ch.107 replacing City Channel.

Programmes don't commence until 7pm ! and afaik Fair City cannot be shown due to rights issues at 9pm...

mackersdublin

About time City Channel has been replaced

I really hope UPC have called it RTE One +1

celticbest

UPC's online TV Guide still has City Channel listed as 107........

Is RTE Two HD listed yet?

jeckle

According to UPC Announcements RTE Two HD will be available to all UPC digital customers from Thursday 15th March on channel 135. I wonder does that mean we will lose BBC HD, which was due to end this year, or will it be moved to another channel number.

SteM

jeckle wrote: »

According to UPC Announcements RTE Two HD will be available to all UPC digital customers from Thursday 15th March on channel 135. I wonder does that mean we will lose BBC HD, which was due to end this year, or will it be moved to another channel number.

I hope we don't loose BBC HD. I thought it was due to be replaced by BBC2 HD, rather than being dropped?

forzacalcio

Why is it being dropped?

jackindub

Hope they just move bbc hd to ch139 beside BBC1 HD. But doubt we'll find out till Thursday knowing upc.

campo

jackindub wrote: »

Hope they just move bbc hd to ch139 beside BBC1 HD. But doubt we'll find out till Thursday knowing upc.

Believe they just tweeted that it will indeed be moving to 139

Virgin Media: Jason

Here you go guys. Official confirmation.

RTE One+1 – EPG 107 – available today
RTETwo HD - EPG 135 – available Thursday 15th March
RTEjr – EPG 600 – available Thursday 15th March
BBC HD moving to 139 on Thursday 15th March

Regards

Jason

icdg

600's an odd one - the Info TV channel is the only other channel that's on x00. Does avoid another renumbering though, at least for the moment. (I take it RTÉ News Now, when it eventually arrives, will be on 200?).

Now the logical thing to do would for 601 to become TRTÉ only. But TRTÉ seems to have become the poorer relation of RTÉ's children's services.

timesnap

forzacalcio wrote: »

Why is it being dropped?

Part of the cutbacks forced on the BBC,i think it would already be gone only they want to keep their options open to have as many outlets as possible for Olympic coverage.
shame that it will go as it is in effect a separate channel.
BBC2 HD sounds like a real retro-grade step.

All good news from UPC today,added to the fact that they negotiated the return of the ITV's.
kudos to them for fighting their corner with Sky always trying in every way to frustrate cable operators.

Infoanon

icdg wrote: »

600's an odd one - the Info TV channel is the only other channel that's on x00. Does avoid another renumbering though, at least for the moment. (I take it RTÉ News Now, when it eventually arrives, will be on 200?).

Now the logical thing to do would for 601 to become TRTÉ only. But TRTÉ seems to have become the poorer relation of RTÉ's children's services.

Logic doesn't come into it ! - TRTE should be on 601 - the current 601 is just an additional relay of RTE2.

But why move BBC HD to make way for RTE2HD - and if you are going to make this change (RTE Benefits from it...) why not future proof and switch BBC1 HD to 139 and put BBCHD on 140.

Will RTE2HD be available to non HD subscribers - ie have a UPC HD Box but not a sub - since the channel is FTA....??

timesnap

Infoanon wrote: »

But why move BBC HD to make way for RTE2HD

For what it is worth a UPC rep once told me the reason Setanta got two places on the EPG was because they argued that they were an Irish channel as well as a sports channel.

0ph0rce0

So thats the last of the 6 new channels we were supposed to be getting...

Jokers

Elmo

icdg wrote: »

600's an odd one - the Info TV channel is the only other channel that's on x00. Does avoid another renumbering though, at least for the moment. (I take it RTÉ News Now, when it eventually arrives, will be on 200?).

Now the logical thing to do would for 601 to become TRTÉ only. But TRTÉ seems to have become the poorer relation of RTÉ's children's services.

I would say that TRTÉ will just move in with RTE Two unless RTÉ are planning TRTÉ to air from 7am to 5:30pm. I would say that Two Tube will get more hours over the next few years, and that RTÉ will eventually drop that brand.

Or else 601 becomes TRTÉ/TWO TUBE when ASO happens for terrestrial viewers.

Interesting to see City Channel gone or ??? (Why not put RTÉ NN on before RTÉ 1+1 or even give that blank portion over to Community TV).

Charlie-Bravo

do you have to pay extra for RTE Two HD even though it's free on soarview??

Elmo

astrofluff wrote: »

do you have to pay extra for RTE Two HD even though it's free on soarview??

You shouldn't have to, suppose it depends if you have a HD box are they different to standard UPC boxes?

timesnap

Elmo wrote: »

(Why not put RTÉ NN on before RTÉ 1+1 or even give that blank portion over to Community TV).

I think it makes sense to put RTE1+1 on 107,isn't it following the same logic as freesat,i.e putting homegrown channels and their +1's first on the EPG?
the dubious one in the entertainment section is Setanta IMO(but they had a lot more clout when they reached that deal:))
i hope NN intends to become a better service than it is now,needs much more content to be worth a spot.
BTW i am no UPC hugger,but we could throw them a little crumb of appreciation just the odd time,UPC Jason will lose heart otherwise!:D

Elmo

timesnap wrote: »

I think it makes sense to put RTE1+1 on 107,isn't it following the same logic as freesat,i.e putting homegrown channels and their +1's first on the EPG?
the dubious one in the entertainment section is Setanta IMO(but they had a lot more clout when they reached that deal:))
i hope NN intends to become a better service than it is now,needs much more content to be worth a spot.
BTW i am no UPC hugger,but we could throw them a little crumb of appreciation just the odd time,UPC Jason will lose heart otherwise!:D

If they properly re-schedule RTÉ NN daytime with repeats and some extra news, plus the live press release which they provide it could easily appear before RTÉ 1+1 to begin with.

My issue with RTÉ One +1 so far up it doesn't allow for a different schedule service to appear on 107 should it do so. OTV could even be placed before RTÉ 1+1. But I am sure RTÉ would state that it would disrupt their brand :rolleyes:

I suppose we should be greatful that the repeat loop that was City Channel is gone, imagine RTÉ NN isn't worth a slot but CC was????

timesnap

Elmo wrote: »

If they properly re-schedule RTÉ NN daytime with repeats and some extra news, plus the live press release which they provide it could easily appear before RTÉ 1+1 to begin with.

But NN really belongs in the 200's.
just as i argue that Setanta Ireland should only belong in the 400's.
that would free up 105,have to wonder what 119 and 121 are being reserved for?

Fresh Pots

Epg is in a complete mess I think, so many channels being repeated all over the place(setanta,Trte). Also why on earth is RTE 2 HD getting such a bad epg position, why can't they not just replace the sd channel and have it on 102 for people with HD boxes, same with BBC One HD.

Elmo

timesnap wrote: »

But NN really belongs in the 200's.
just as i argue that Setanta Ireland should only belong in the 400's.
that would free up 105,have to wonder what 119 and 121 are being reserved for?

To begin with as UPC don't see it as much of a channel, it could be placed on 107 before RTÉ 1+1 to avoid the blank screen for the initial period. Then moved to 201.

Setanta as an Irish channel should be placed on 105, but they need to change to become more of a Men's entertainment channel with live sports.

Epg is in a complete mess I think, so many channels being repeated all over the place(setanta,Trte). Also why on earth is RTE 2 HD getting such a bad epg position, why can't they not just replace the sd channel and have it on 102 for people with HD boxes, same with BBC One HD.

UPC might have to replace those SD boxes with HD if they put BBC One HD and RTÉ TWO HD in their current SD spots. I don't know.

I can see reasons why RTÉ want TRTÉ close to other Children's channels. The same can be said for Setanta wanting to be on 401 beside Sports channels and 105 beside Irish channels.

michaelduignan

Elmo wrote: »

You shouldn't have to, suppose it depends if you have a HD box are they different to standard UPC boxes?

Yes I have a standard UPC box. Paying 25 a month for digital plus tv. Speaking to a UPC rep yesterday - was told i could get rte2 hd by paying 5 euro extra a month.

For this 5 euro a month you get bbc hd and setanta hd also i think.

I presume you need a new box though as standard box connects to tv with SCART lead not HDMI cable.

I have saorview decoder built into my tv though so will get rte2 hd for free anyway.

timesnap

Elmo wrote: »

To begin with as UPC don't see it as much of a channel, it could be placed on 107 before RTÉ 1+1 to avoid the blank screen for the initial period. Then moved to 201.

Setanta as an Irish channel should be placed on 105, but they need to change to become more of a Men's entertainment channel with live sports.



UPC might have to replace those SD boxes with HD if they put BBC One HD and RTÉ TWO HD in their current SD spots. I don't know.

I can see reasons why RTÉ want TRTÉ close to other Children's channels. The same can be said for Setanta wanting to be on 401 beside Sports channels and 105 beside Irish channels.

Elmo your argument does not compute:)
if you agree that Setanta should be in entertainment and sports because it is irish then NN should be in the 100's and the 200's also,same for trte etc .
again using freesat as a comparison,
BBC put its news channels in the news section.
ITV put CITV into the childrens section.
CBBC and Cbeebies are also in the childrens section.
it is crazy to do otherwise.

The UPC EPG has not been helped by channels altering their names for no good reason either.

Elmo

timesnap wrote: »

Elmo your argument does not compute:)
if you agree that Setanta should be in entertainment and sports because it is irish then NN should be in the 100's and the 200's also,same for trte etc .
again using freesat as a comparison,
BBC put its news channels in the news section.
ITV put CITV into the childrens section.
CBBC and Cbeebies are also in the childrens section.
it is crazy to do otherwise.

The UPC EPG has not been helped by channels altering their names for no good reason either.

There are more English Channels, I can see Setanta's point of view. I never said it made sense. It is a very difficult market and Setanta prob just maintain their 0.4% audience share because of their UPC deal, but like City Channel they have to remember it is not just about an EPG slot. proved in Setanta case by Sky Sports News' 1% share of the audience. (Both have a similar audience reach).

RTÉ and TG4 use 601 and 602 so as to provide their children's programming with other children's stations. Setanta are an Irish channel therefore they feel that it would be better for them to be with the other Irish services. You may not understand that point of view, but that is their point of view.

As for RTÉ NN and RTÉjr I would be more inclined to think they should be just at the top of their genre's i.e. 200/201 for NN and 600/601 for Jr, however if a new Irish music channel appeared I'd have no problem with that channel being made available in the 100s and the 700s.

Though as I said Setanta really need to change their schedule to attract audiences. EPG should not matter.

Virgin Media: Jason

Hi michaelduignan

I can confirm that anybody that has a HD capable box from UPC, will receive RTE2 HD as part of their standard subscription, a HD subscription is not required.


Regards

Jason

michaelduignan wrote: »

Yes I have a standard UPC box. Paying 25 a month for digital plus tv. Speaking to a UPC rep yesterday - was told i could get rte2 hd by paying 5 euro extra a month.

For this 5 euro a month you get bbc hd and setanta hd also i think.

I presume you need a new box though as standard box connects to tv with SCART lead not HDMI cable.

I have saorview decoder built into my tv though so will get rte2 hd for free anyway.