Saorview "Countdown" Campaign & Department’s National Digital Switchover Week

The Cush

The final stage of the countdown to ASO starts in Sept

http://saorview.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/r/5AE113B8E357F747

SAORVIEW "COUNTDOWN" CAMPAIGN

As we count down to D-Day on October 24th, SAORVIEW advertising will be ramping up across all media. We have created new TV and radio ads specifically for the Countdown period, spelling out the urgency of making the switch.

Our new TV ads will run from 10th September to 28th October on RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4, Setanta, E4, Sky and Universal.

National and local radio ads will recommence on the 3rd September and run up to 24th October.

We have lots of press ads scheduled in national and local titles, beginning the week of 17th September. This will tie in with the Department’s National Digital Switchover Week. Our press ads will highlight the huge savings to be made by choosing a SAORVIEW Approved TV or box with satellite tuner (see right).

Our SAORVIEW billboards will be reappearing on 17th September and run through to the middle of October nationwide. A digital ad campaign is also planned across a number of high profile websites.

NATIONAL DIGITAL SWITCHOVER WEEK SEPT 17-23

The Department of Communications, Energy and National Resources are planning a ‘National Digital Switchover Week’ starting Monday 17th September. People who still need to make the switch to digital TV will be urged to do so in advance of October 24th, and not to leave it to the last minute.

The Department is planning the following activity during the week:

• Minister Pat Rabbitte will launch the event to the media. He and Gay Byrne will get a lot of exposure in the press and on TV and radio during the week, urging people to make the switch.
• A new ad featuring Gay Byrne will be aired on national and local radio highlighting the week.
• The Digital Switchover ad featuring Gay Byrne will run throughout the week on TV.
• The national network of ‘Digital Champions’ who are working with agencies representing vulnerable groups will run local events all around the country.
• The Digital Champions will also promote Digital Switchover in their local shopping centres and at various other public forums.

This initiative will help to boost retail footfall and sales of set-top boxes and TVs. It will be another great opportunity for you to support Digital Switchover with advertising and promotional offers throughout the week.

The SAORVIEW advertising campaign for September will be co-ordinated with the National Digital Switchover Week.

The Cush

Irish Times article today on the number of Saorview TVs sold over the past 18 months. The article also says the Saorview advertising campaign moves up a gear next week.

Presenters Ryan Tubridy and Colette Fitzpatrick are fronting an in-store video explaining why some viewers will need to take action, while Saorview ramps up its television advertising campaign next week.

Antenna

Setanta, E4, Sky and Universal

anyone receiving Setanta, E4 (ROI ads version), and Universal has to have subscription TV services which continue to provide RTE/TV3/TG4 as before. Likewise with Sky channels with the one exception of Sky News which is available on FTA satellite.
Subscription TV viewers do not have anything "urgent" to do.

Antenna

The Cush wrote: »

Irish Times article today on the number of Saorview TVs sold over the past 18 months. The article also says the Saorview advertising campaign moves up a gear next week.

From that Irish times article there is this inaccuracy:

before the Europe-wide analogue television switch-off date of October 24th.

channelsurfer2

yeah... they would be better off actually having a scheme for those that cant afford it rather than paying for ads on foreign tv stations that those who are mainly affected cant actually see in the first place....

The Cush

Mary Curtis on Morning Ireland this morning discussing the switchover in 50 days time, 10am that morning.

She got a little annoyed when questioned about people this side of the border receiving the current UK analogue channels via an aerial being able to receive Freeview after ASO and didn't appear to know the most obvious answer i.e. your existing Saorview receiver will pick them up. A freeview receiver or a combi receiver were mentioned but the no mention of the simplest solution - an existing Saorview receiver, TV or STB.

I think she should read the recently created page on the Saorview website - Advice for people who receive UK overspill signal

http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2012/pc/pod-v-0409122ndhour50m50smorningireland-pid0-3050040_audio.mp3 (starts 36:00 mins.)

mike65

She did mention bespoke solutions as it happens.

The presenter didn't help but suggesting that people were still picking up the "UK 4" by analogue away from the Norn Iron overspill.

CathalDublin

Poor Gaybo

Apogee

She did seem to have some vague notion regarding overspill of Saorview into NI but didn't seem to be able to connect the dots regarding overspill of Freeview into ROI.

Mary Curtis wrote:

For example in NI, if you buy a Saorview STB, you'll be able to get the NI channels but not in HD. If you want to get Saorview, mostly likely buy a Freeview box in HD, you'll be able to get Saorview, so it's quite complex.

A poor performance overall.

lawhec

Antenna wrote: »

anyone receiving Setanta, E4 (ROI ads version), and Universal has to have subscription TV services which continue to provide RTE/TV3/TG4 as before. Likewise with Sky channels with the one exception of Sky News which is available on FTA satellite.
Subscription TV viewers do not have anything "urgent" to do.

Those who subscribe to Sky and have several TV's in their house but no Sky multiroom subscription and rely on current analogue terrestrial broadcasts to watch RTÉ, TV3 & TG4 on these TV's will need to convert/take action unless they want to stick to only whatever the Sky receiver in the house is tuned into.

ardmacha

She's not good on the technical side of things,

This isn't really an acceptable excuse. She wasn't asked to explain MHEG5, or the difference between DVB-T and DVB-T2. She was on radio, there was nothing stopping here having a sheet of paper in front of her with basic answers about Freeview, combo receivers and the like. Anyone reading this forum for an hour could have done much better.

Sam Russell

ardmacha wrote: »

This isn't really an acceptable excuse. She wasn't asked to explain MHEG5, or the difference between DVB-T and DVB-T2. She was on radio, there was nothing stopping here having a sheet of paper in front of her with basic answers about Freeview, combo receivers and the like. Anyone reading this forum for an hour could have done much better.

Actually she was on TV. For those of us with Saorview, we can watch Morning Ireland on RTE News Now. They have a webcam in the studio. What is more, they cut out the ads, and then repeat it after it finishes, so you could see her twice if you were so minded.

The Cush

In a recent IPSOS MRBI poll almost 26% of respondents do not believe the switchover will happen on 24th October.

91% of people knew about the digital switchover
70% of those surveyed say they have a “strong understanding” of what they need to do to switch to SAORVIEW
78% understand that not taking action in households with aerials, will result in loss of service
37% who need to make the switch won’t do it until the deadline

Mary Curtis, Director of Digital Switchover, commented: "From time to time at some of our events and roadshows we encounter people who don't really seem convinced that the analogue service will actually be shut down on that date. I can absolutely assure you that the analogue service will be permanently shut down at 10.00am on 24 October and any viewer who is not ready for digital by then will face a blank screen."

http://www.saorview.ie/news/50-days-to-switchover/

http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0904/saorview.html
http://www.thejournal.ie/50-days-to-go-but-one-in-four-dont-believe-digital-switchover-will-happen-582964-Sep2012/

Sam Russell

The Cush wrote: »

In a recent IPSOS MRBI poll almost 26% of respondents do not believe the switchover will happen on 24th October.

91% of people knew about the digital switchover
70% of those surveyed say they have a “strong understanding” of what they need to do to switch to SAORVIEW
78% understand that not taking action in households with aerials, will result in loss of service
37% who need to make the switch won’t do it until the deadline



http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0904/saorview.html
http://www.thejournal.ie/50-days-to-go-but-one-in-four-dont-believe-digital-switchover-will-happen-582964-Sep2012/

I think this 'information' campagne has been mishandled.

They should have emphasised that the Saorview service was launched on May 26th 2011, and has been operating ever since. The impression given (to me, anyway) is that the service will commence on October 24th, with ASO as a necessary consequence.

The result is that people feel they cannot/needn't do anything until then.

The Campaign should have been conducted using existing programmes (at no net cost) to carry the information, and the changeover should have been much shorter. After all, most transmitters were in place since Oct 2010, and even TV3 joined the service then. They should have announced the launch date of May 2011 in October 2010, with ASO scheduled for October 2011. The co-ordination with NI was totally unnecessary as we are in full broadcasting mode now (with a few power changes due).

A bit late now though.

JonathonS

ardmacha wrote: »

This was a disgrace. She should have done her job and stated the obvious while allowing that some special cases might arise.

No wonder public servants are often seen to be useless!

If I was her I would have stuck to my guns and told the interviewer that anyone who wants to get foreign TV stations should work it out for themselves. Freeview and Digital UK have budgets that are multiples of whats available here, let them explain whats what to their Irish customers.

Sam Russell

JonathonS wrote: »

If I was her I would have stuck to my guns and told the interviewer that anyone who wants to get foreign TV stations should work it out for themselves. Freeview and Digital UK have budgets that are multiples of whats available here, let them explain whats what to their Irish customers.

I would not think that is her problem. She cannot be seen to pushing platforms. She must be neutral - TV3, NTL and Sky are watching.

ardmacha

Freeview and Digital UK have budgets that are multiples of whats available here, let them explain whats what to their Irish customers.

We live in a country that is divided, is it too much to hope that in this day and age that one half will not ignore the other, especially when they have gone to a lot of trouble signing agreements and the like? She should have answered the question and said that a Saorview receiver will generally pick up Freeview if within range of a transmitter. The NI changeover documentation clearly states that a Saorview receiver will work. Taxpayers are paying her salary and she should provide information to them if it was a reasonable question to ask.

JonathonS

Sam Russell wrote: »

I would not think that is her problem. She cannot be seen to pushing platforms. She must be neutral - TV3, NTL and Sky are watching.

Can't agree Sam, she is paid to push Saorview against those two. Have you seen the 48-sheet posters comparing the cost of Sky to the cost of Saorview and FTA Sat?

ardmacha wrote: »

The NI changeover documentation clearly states that a Saorview receiver will work.

Where exactly did you read that?

ardmacha

Where exactly did you read that?

On page 8.

The Cush

JonathonS wrote: »

If I was her I would have stuck to my guns and told the interviewer that anyone who wants to get foreign TV stations should work it out for themselves. Freeview and Digital UK have budgets that are multiples of whats available here, let them explain whats what to their Irish customers.

The 2 governments signed an agreement two and a half years ago that included co-operation on such issues as informing the public in their respective jurisdictions regarding overspill reception in their information campaigns.

The problem with the interview was she didn't know the answer because these questions are normally answered by her Digital Reception Manager, Brian Geraghty.

ardmacha wrote: »

On page 8.

and to clarify a wee bit further, this from page 8

Can I buy a Saorview box to get digital TV?

If you purchase a Saorview TV or box it will pick up Freeview and Saorview TV services where they are available. Some UK channel functionality, for example, the channel order and subtitles services may vary

Antenna

Sam Russell wrote: »

They should have announced the launch date of May 2011 in October 2010, with ASO scheduled for October 2011. The co-ordination with NI was totally unnecessary as we are in full broadcasting mode now (with a few power changes due).

Sam, you yourself were selling MPEG4 STBs to receive Saorview channels, you would say this (ASO should have been a year earlier than it is planned) as it would have boosted your trade. It's to be expected that retailers (and manufacturers) of STBs and TVs would have preferred an earlier date to boost sales and profits in the short term, but surely there are other considerations to what they would like to see happen?

Antenna

lawhec wrote: »

Those who subscribe to Sky and have several TV's in their house but no Sky multiroom subscription and rely on current analogue terrestrial broadcasts to watch RTÉ, TV3 & TG4 on these TV's will need to convert/take action unless they want to stick to only whatever the Sky receiver in the house is tuned into.

Yes, but the situation for them is hardly 'urgent' (These new ads are 'spelling out the urgency'...) as they will still have at least one TV receiving RTE/TV3/TG4 in the household if they do nothing. Most people survived with just one TV per household not all that long ago.
The help scheme in the UK for qualifying elderly people will only help with one TV per household. Dealing with any 2nd, 3rd etc TVs in the household are not included as it is not considered 'urgent'.

Apart from the above many would say people are better off not getting STBs for all (non-Saorview) TVs in a multi-TV household whilst analogue is still there - just worry about the main TV for now. If you wait a few months affordable Saorview PVR boxes would come available - one of these could be got for the main TV, and the STB already with the main TV could be moved to another TV.

Sam Russell

Antenna wrote: »

Sam, you yourself were selling MPEG4 STBs to receive Saorview channels, you would say this (ASO should have been a year earlier than it is planned) as it would have boosted your trade. It's to be expected that retailers of STBs and TVs would have preferred an earlier date to boost sales and profits in the short term, but surely there are other considerations to what retailers would like to see happen?

I should have declared an interest but I only sold a few boxes, and only because there was a demand for them. I stopped a long time ago, and I had only the interest of bringing a low cost, good quality, option to interested and informed people here on Boards.

Having said that, the planning (if there was any, apart from the engineering) for the implementation of Saorview was woeful. Everything was secret and we were fed a drip feed of information. If the whole project timetable had been published early, importers would have been forced to import compatible products instead of the incompatible obsolete products they did import and foist on an unsuspecting public. It was in the light of this that I sourced a low cost product (mainly for my own and friends requirements) and then sold for half the price of competing products. No-one has ever complained about them, and I stopped selling once there was an approved box close to the price I was selling them at. It was never a business, nor was it profitable and would not affect my views on the implementation of how Saorview rolled out.

Set top boxes were always a short term product as once the analogue was turned off, those that need them will have had to get one, and so the market dies after ASO.

I have always thought that the launch was taken as being ASO despite the 'soft' launch in Oct 2010 and official launch in May 2011. It is only now that RTE are taking it seriously (more or less).

I hope that the second mux is launched immediately after ASO on the 24th October, as it is all ready to go, with TG4 and TV3 talking about going HD before the end of the year.

Richard

JonathonS wrote: »

If I was her I would have stuck to my guns and told the interviewer that anyone who wants to get foreign TV stations should work it out for themselves. Freeview and Digital UK have budgets that are multiples of whats available here, let them explain whats what to their Irish customers.

DigitalUK is the company which handles the UK digital switchover. They don't have any customers, Irish or otherwise.

Freeview is the brand name for Digital Terrestrial TV in the UK. They are a not-for-profit organisation - they don't have customers either.

lawhec

Antenna wrote: »

The help scheme in the UK for qualifying elderly people will only help with one TV per household. Dealing with any 2nd, 3rd etc TVs in the household are not included as it is not considered 'urgent'.

The help scheme in the UK (not just limited to qualifying elderly people) includes one receiver - however any aerial work and installation is included in the min. £40 fee. For NI, that £40 fee includes a Humax Freeview HD STB which is well worth the cost of that fee let alone anything extra. The householder could also indicate that they want the installation to be in the bedroom or kitchen and not the living room - get a sub-£20 Freeview SD STB from Argos, Asda, Tesco or eBay, swap the two over afterwards with someone who can connect it up and you're sorted.

At this stage set-top-box converters are a stop-gap to simply allow non-compatible receivers to display services. Virtually all TV's sold in Ireland now have a built in tuner to receiver Saorview services so there will be a finite limit to the sales of STB's. There may be a sudden splurge for single-tuner STB's in a few weeks time but after that it's likely to be quiet and I don't think the general price will come down much from what it is now, if at all. The only STB's that'll likely have interest will be twin-tuner "proper" PVR's.

formerly scottish paddy

Sam Russell wrote: »

I hope that the second mux is launched immediately after ASO on the 24th October, as it is all ready to go, with TG4 and TV3 talking about going HD before the end of the year.

When they do eventually switch on the 2nd mux then there will be a national retune "event" I wonder how the publicity will be handled for that.

Sponge Bob

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

When they do eventually switch on the 2nd mux then there will be a national retune "event" I wonder how the publicity will be handled for that.

Badly

The Cush

The Cush wrote: »

The final stage of the countdown to ASO starts in Sept

http://saorview.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/r/5AE113B8E357F747

NATIONAL DIGITAL SWITCHOVER WEEK SEPT 17-23

The Department of Communications, Energy and National Resources are planning a ‘National Digital Switchover Week’ starting Monday 17th September. People who still need to make the switch to digital TV will be urged to do so in advance of October 24th, and not to leave it to the last minute.

The Department is planning the following activity during the week:• Minister Pat Rabbitte will launch the event to the media. He and Gay Byrne will get a lot of exposure in the press and on TV and radio during the week, urging people to make the switch.
• A new ad featuring Gay Byrne will be aired on national and local radio highlighting the week.
• The Digital Switchover ad featuring Gay Byrne will run throughout the week on TV.
• The national network of ‘Digital Champions’ who are working with agencies representing vulnerable groups will run local events all around the country.
• The Digital Champions will also promote Digital Switchover in their local shopping centres and at various other public forums.

This initiative will help to boost retail footfall and sales of set-top boxes and TVs. It will be another great opportunity for you to support Digital Switchover with advertising and promotional offers throughout the week.

The SAORVIEW advertising campaign for September will be co-ordinated with the National Digital Switchover Week.

Minister Pat Rabbitte was on Radio 1's Morning Ireland this morning discussing ASO and announcing the Digital Switchover Week, emphasising that the ASO date will not change and people will have blank analogue TV screens from Oct 25th (from 10.00am on Oct 24th as we know).

http://www.rte.ie/news/morningireland/player.html?20120910,3388416,3388416,flash,257 (first 3:20 mins)

Going Digital news report

National Digital Switchover Week
Today, 10th September Minister Rabbitte officially launched National Digital Switchover Week will take place from 17th – 23rd September, 2012. Organised by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DCENR) in partnership with The Wheel and Irish Rural Link, the week will see 26 local Digital Outreach Champions across the country organise events in their communities to encourage those who have not yet switched to digital TV to do so during National Digital Switchover Week. The week of events will conclude just one month before the analogue TV network in Ireland is switched off at 10.00am on Wednesday 24th October, 2012.

To see the press release which issued today, please visit our media centre at the following link - Media Centre.

For further information on National Digital Switchover Week and to see the different events taking place around the Country please following the following link - National Digital Switchover Week.

http://www.goingdigital.ie/Info/News/National+Digital+Switchover+Week.htm

National Digital Switchover Week events - http://www.goingdigital.ie/Sections/Outreach/Digital+Switchover+Week.htm

http://www.mayotoday.ie/index.php/browse-mayo-news-by-category/digital-life/item/5235-digital-switchover-week-events-in-mayo-to-help-viewers-tune-into-saorview.html
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/29143-national-digital-switchover/

Dept of Communications press release attached,
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2012/09/national-digital-switchover-week-17-23-september-announced-by-minister-rabbitte/
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/2012/Minister+Rabbitte+announces+National+Digital+Switchover+Week+17th+to+23rd+September.htm

MarkK

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

When they do eventually switch on the 2nd mux then there will be a national retune "event" I wonder how the publicity will be handled for that.

All they need to do is replace the channels on Mux 1 which have moved to Mux 2 with a static caption or MHEG screen screen asking viewers to retune their TV/STB.

That's how they did it in the UK when Channel 5 (and other channels) moved Mux some time ago.

The Cush

The Cush wrote: »

In a recent IPSOS MRBI poll almost 26% of respondents do not believe the switchover will happen on 24th October.

91% of people knew about the digital switchover
70% of those surveyed say they have a “strong understanding” of what they need to do to switch to SAORVIEW
78% understand that not taking action in households with aerials, will result in loss of service
37% who need to make the switch won’t do it until the deadline

http://www.saorview.ie/news/50-days-to-switchover/
http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0904/saorview.html
http://www.thejournal.ie/50-days-to-go-but-one-in-four-dont-believe-digital-switchover-will-happen-582964-Sep2012/

According to Saorview approximately 350,000 households in total yet to convert to digital, with 250,000 of these being exclusively reliant on the aerial.

SAORVIEW Results to Date

As the SAORVIEW campaign enters its final countdown phase, we can report some really positive results from our latest round of research:
• There is now 90% awareness that the analogue switchover is due to happen and a near universal awareness of the SAORVIEW service.
• Awareness is highest exactly where it needs to be, in terrestrial households at 97%.
• Close to 200,000 households are currently connected to SAORVIEW on at least one TV in the home and the feedback to date is positive.
• 70% of those surveyed have a strong understanding of what they need to do to make the switch.
• 78% of households with aerials understand that not taking action will result in loss of service.

There are approximately 350,000 households in total yet to convert to digital, with 250,000 of these being exclusively reliant on the aerial. These households face a blank screen if they do not take action by connecting the aerial to a SAORVIEW Approved box or TV before October 24th.

http://createsend.com/t/r-0BB05A285CD40816

Latest Dept of Communications Millward Brown Lansdowne survey results on the DSO from the end of August - http://www.goingdigital.ie/NR/rdonlyres/09CFEC86-89AD-44CA-A021-F814A363913F/0/DSOAUGUST2012.pdf

The Cush

The Cush wrote: »

The final stage of the countdown to ASO starts in Sept

http://saorview.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/r/5AE113B8E357F747

SAORVIEW "COUNTDOWN" CAMPAIGN

Our new TV ads will run from 10th September to 28th October on RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, TG4, Setanta, E4, Sky and Universal.

National and local radio ads will recommence on the 3rd September and run up to 24th October.

Saw the new Tommy & PJ advert on the TV yesterday and heard the new radio advert with Gay Byrne today, both emphasising the Oct 24th ASO date.

Sam Russell

We only go a week to retune for the 3Rock change. I think if Mux2 does start, we might get the same.

The Cush

National Digital Switchover Week starts today and finishes next Sunday 23rd, one month before ASO on Oct 24th.

List of events here - http://www.goingdigital.ie/Sections/Outreach/Digital+Switchover+Week.htm

Some articles in the press today
300,000 homes to face blank TVs as switchover looms
200,000 still using analogue signal as TV switchover nears
Can tea dances prevent 200k homes from losing TV during ‘Digital Switchover’ on 24 October?

Pat Rabbitte is on the The John Murray Show on Radio 1 this morning - http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2012/pc/pod-v-17091219m00stjmsdigipatrabbite-pid0-1140696_audio.mp3

touts

The Cush wrote: »

National Digital Switchover Week starts today and finishes next Sunday 23rd, one month before ASO on Oct 24th.

List of events here - http://www.goingdigital.ie/Sections/Outreach/Digital+Switchover+Week.htm

Some articles in the press today
300,000 homes to face blank TVs as switchover looms
200,000 still using analogue signal as TV switchover nears

Pat Rabbitte is on the The John Murray Show on Radio 1 this morning

Reading today's articles I'm very happy that I got and installed the last box I need yesterday. There will be chaos over the next few weeks. People left it until the last possible moment because either they don't understand the technology or they simply cant afford the boxes. Now the last possible moment is upon us and there will be a scramble to get sorted.

The Cush

touts wrote: »

Now the last possible moment is upon us and there will be a scramble to get sorted.

That's what the people from Saorview and the Dept have been saying for a while now and the reason for this switchover week.

formerly scottish paddy

Just watch the price of STB's going up..............before collapsing some weeks after ASO.

Digital Satellite TV

The Cush wrote: »

That's what the people from Saorview and the Dept have been saying for a while now and the reason for this switchover week.

Our up-take stats are almost exacly mirroring Scotland's digital switch over up to now where at present we are looking at month 1,2 & 3 AFTER the switchover being the peak sales and installations. Anything that the Saorview team can do to avoid this is welcome.

JonathonS

Scotland switched over gradually between mid-2010 and mid-2011, and sales of tellies and boxes over there remained at a similar level from late 2009 right up to Oct last year, with a few peaks in between. Even now, over a year since the final switch in Scotland, boxes are still selling.

Over here I reckon about 30% of the people who need to switch will delay until 2 weeks or less to go, and another 30% think it will be postponed, so the shops will be quite busy come 20th Oct. Probably the only way to avoid that would be to switch off the analogue signal now.

formerly scottish paddy

Its just human nature. There are people who are "organised" and buy their Christmas presents early, and there are those who are out buying their presents on Christmas Eve. No campaign however well run will ever change this, in the end, for many it will take a blank screen for any action to occur. But these are the people who will have to pay more, or have to wait for STB restocking.

Sponge Bob

There will be no discounts I hear. The channel is not stuffed with boxes ( except a plentiful supply of non approved Combis) and a saorview approved box will cost around €70-€80 from late October to late November...the channel will be substantially replenished by then I also hear leading to €49.99 APPROVED boxes in the January sales, perhaps €39.99.

Skull Murphy

Sponge Bob wrote: »

There will be no discounts I hear. The channel is not stuffed with boxes ( except a plentiful supply of non approved Combis) and a saorview approved box will cost around €70-€80 from late October to late November...the channel will be substantially replenished by then I also hear leading to €49.99 APPROVED boxes in the January sales, perhaps €39.99.

I suppose you heard this from the same people who told you that RTE will be enabling more relay sites for Saorview, months after the analog signal is switched off. Or maybe your just making stuff up?

STB

Saorview approved boxes can only come down in price when the suppliers have too many of them. Supply and demand. They will not come down. There are already suspicions of not enough stock through the widespread selling of certain unapproved but working boxes in major supermarkets.

The suppliers/retailers haven't been bothered since day 1. Day 1 was in August 2008 when the service first came on. 2 years later and retailers where still selling incompatible UK warehoused stock. Date launches etc was plain old politics.

€39.99 wont be happening anytime soon for approved boxes.

Unapproved European wide DVB-T MPEG4 H264 L4 working boxes have helped fill the price point void that Irish people would have experienced with just approved boxes on the market. People just want the stations working. I wouldn't think RTE/the Department at this stage give a flying feck what the box is once it works and it gets them over ASO/DSO.

The Cush

The Cush wrote: »

National Digital Switchover Week starts today and finishes next Sunday 23rd, one month before ASO on Oct 24th.

List of events here - http://www.goingdigital.ie/Sections/Outreach/Digital+Switchover+Week.htm

National Digital Switchover Week has ended, 30 days to analogue switchoff. Did anyone catch any of the events during the week, didn't see or hear anything myself other than Pat Rabbitte on the radio a week ago.

RTÉ press release - http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2012/0925/339014-only-one-month-to-go-to-irelands-digital-switchover/

ONLY ONE MONTH TO GO TO IRELAND'S DIGITAL SWITCHOVER

24 September 2012: One month from today the analogue television service in Ireland will be permanently shut down.

One month from today the analogue television service in Ireland will be permanently shut down. Research published today by Nielsen TAM shows that 305,000 households now have its replacement digital service, SAORVIEW. This represents an increase of 116,000 (60%) since last May. However, the figures indicate that there are still c200,000 homes who will completely lose their television services on October 24th and need to take action.*

We know from our own research that the message is certainly getting through – 70% of those surveyed know what they need to do to switch to SAORVIEW and 78% understand that not taking action in households with aerials, will result in loss of service.** It is certainly gratifying to see that there is a steady increase in uptake of the SAORVIEW service, but to anyone who hasn’t already made the switch we would encourage them to act sooner rather than later.

Mary Curtis, Director of Digital Switchover

One offering from the new digital platform that is proving to be popular is the rolling news service RTÉ News Now. 345,000 viewers tuned in to RTÉ News Now in an average week in August, the highest ever viewing figures for the channel and over double the figure for August 2011.**

With over 300,000 households already enjoying the many benefits of SAORVIEW, and time ticking away, there are no advantages to waiting. This is the last month that the analogue service will be available, after that anyone who hasn’t made the switch will be looking at a blank screen.

Mary Curtis, Director of Digital Switchover

Sam Russell

The Cush wrote: »

National Digital Switchover Week has ended, 30 days to analogue switchoff.

Did anyone catch any of the events during the week, didn't see or hear anything myself other than Pat Rabbitte on the radio a week ago.

It was slightly less exciting than the launch of Saorview in May 2011, when Pat Rabbitte was on the radio during that week.

The Cush

The Cush wrote: »

The final stage of the countdown to ASO starts in Sept

http://saorview.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/r/5AE113B8E357F747

SAORVIEW "COUNTDOWN" CAMPAIGN

As we count down to D-Day on October 24th, SAORVIEW advertising will be ramping up across all media. We have created new TV and radio ads specifically for the Countdown period, spelling out the urgency of making the switch.

...

We have lots of press ads scheduled in national and local titles, beginning the week of 17th September. This will tie in with the Department’s National Digital Switchover Week. Our press ads will highlight the huge savings to be made by choosing a SAORVIEW Approved TV or box with satellite tuner (see right).

In next weeks RTÉ Guide (out today) there is a 3 page "Switch ON to the Switchover, Essential Guide", also full page ads for Saorview and Sony.

The Cush

This time from Nielsen TAM, 200,000 yet to switchover with about 4 weeks to ASO. 305,000 households now have SAORVIEW, an increase of 116,000 since last May.

200,000 Irish Homes Yet To Make Digital Switchover

...

Research conducted by Nielsen TAM shows 305,000 households have now switched, which is a 60 per cent increase on the number since last May. Earlier this month, a survey from TV Trade showed one in four people believed the digital switchover would not happen, resulting in many people refusing to switch over themselves.

http://www.iftn.ie/digital/DigitalNews/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4285388&tpl=archnews&force=1

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/29373-almost-50pc-of-aerial-users/
http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0925/saorview.html

The Cush

4 weeks to ASO

Shyboy

My wife works for the company who have the contract for the telephone helpline for the switchover. She says as yet, there is only a low number of calls. Me thinks that will change the day after the switchover when many pensioners will lose their favourite soaps, etc!!

dublinman1990

The Cush wrote: »

In next weeks RTÉ Guide (out today) there is a 3 page "Switch ON to the Switchover, Essential Guide", also full page ads for Saorview and Sony.

I am looking on page 22 now in the section which is entitled 'What If I want a new TV?'

Is it true that there are Satellite Combo TV's for sale in Ireland. The only Combo TV's that I have seen are UK Freeview TV's.

We all know that some of those TV's don't work right?

Has anyone on this thread seen a Satellite Combo TV in Irish retailers yet? I have never seen those yet.

formerly scottish paddy

I know Panasonic do Freesat HD sets which would have MPEG4 decoders. Not sure how they would perform with Saorview.

byte

There is a few Samsung TV's that are Saorview approved and have also satellite tuner built in.

Walker are releasing a combo TV soon, though I'd rather a Samsung myself.