Legal state of paid DTT

who is this

Just wondering if someone could clarify something I'd been curious about.

After the (completely unexpected :rolleyes:) failure of commercial DTT to take off, what is the legal status of those multiplexes? That is, if the BAI saw fit (and saw sense) could they award one or more of them, to say TV3 or Channel 4, if they were interested in acquiring it?

Or does current legislation earmark those multiplexes specifically for commercial paid-for DTT?

I know its kind of jumping the gun, seeing as mux2 is yet to fully get off the ground, but I've been curious about this for a while, thought maybe someone could shed some light on the situation.

The Cush

Part 8 of the current Broadcasting Act applies to all things DTT.

Basically the Act gifts two multiplexes to RTÉ for public service broadcasting with any spare capacity used for other services following consulatation with the BAI.

The awarding of four further multiplex contracts is the responsibility of the BAI but no specific requirement in the Act that they be commercial pay-DTT but without a pay-DTT element hard to see how they would be paid for. Nothing to prevent TV3 or Channel 4 making a bid for one or all of the contracts when they are advertised. No information from the BAI if or when they will be advertised - http://www.bai.ie/?page_id=82.

An online article from a few months ago following Ministerial approval for the awarding of spare capacity on the first 2 PSB muxes indicated that a third PSB mux could be made available for additional channels if required.

who is this

Thanks.

I don't think pay-DTT is ever going to be viable (it hasn't really proven to be anywhere else without state subsidies). But TV3 may approach needing a mux to themselves, if they actually launch all the services they are currently proposing (whether that's welcome or not). So they're going to have to find some solution.

I'd much rather State subsidies for FTA commercial, over the same for pay commercial (not necessarily for TV3, just in general).

The Cush

who is this wrote: »

But TV3 may approach needing a mux to themselves, if they actually launch all the services they are currently proposing (whether that's welcome or not). So they're going to have to find some solution.

If TV3 had their own mux do you think they would upgrade all 64 transmitters to carry the mux?

My guess would be a return to the situation we had with TV3 on analogue, only carried on the main transmitters.

Sam Russell

Would TV3 be able to operate outside RTE NL and would it be worth it to only be available to 80% of the population? The BAI should actively discourage them from such a strategy, even making them agree to go on Saorsat. There is no excuse for them to not be available nationally.

Digital is much cheaper than analogue and gives better value than analogue - nine or ten SD channels for not more than the cost of one analogue.

They could expand their income by carrying some/all of the local radios and the non-RTE national radio services.

I would think that RTE should get the first (existing) mux for their own exclusive use which they would fill if RTE 1 goes HD. Then TV3/TG4 would get the second one, together with anyone else prepared to pay for it. Two HD channels and two SD (3E & OTV) channels nearly fills it anyway. Both muxes would have enough capacity to give adequate bandwidth for four HD channels.

Capt'n Midnight

Sam Russell wrote: »

Would TV3 be able to operate outside RTE NL

No

and would it be worth it to only be available to 80% of the population?

yes

because they weren't on all transmitters before

and besides you can get near enough 80% population coverage with UPC and SKY

The BAI should actively discourage them from such a strategy, even making them agree to go on Saorsat. There is no excuse for them to not be available nationally.

setanta free view events should be on Saorsat too ?

who is this

Sam Russell wrote: »

Then TV3/TG4 would get the second one, together with anyone else prepared to pay for it. Two HD channels and two SD (3E & OTV) channels nearly fills it anyway. Both muxes would have enough capacity to give adequate bandwidth for four HD channels.

TV3 have bigger plans than just TV3 in HD and 3e. Apparently they are going to launch a children's channel and something else I can't remember. 3e in HD maybe? Though that would just replace 3e obviously. I think there is another though which would actually be an additional channel...

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

yes

because they weren't on all transmitters before

Plenty of places have regional DTT. And I don't mean like the UK with different versions of the same channel. I mean channel 9 in two regions has two completely different channels. Only problem is I imagine no one would want the transmitters TV3 might ignore. At least no more than TV3 would.

Maybe if BAI charged them nothing (initially) in exchange for guaranteeing full transmitter coverage?

Capt'n Midnight

who is this wrote: »

TV3 have bigger plans than just TV3 in HD and 3e. Apparently they are going to launch a children's channel and something else I can't remember. 3e in HD maybe? Though that would just replace 3e obviously. I think there is another though which would actually be an additional channel...


Plenty of places have regional DTT. And I don't mean like the UK with different versions of the same channel. I mean channel 9 in two regions has two completely different channels. Only problem is I imagine no one would want the transmitters TV3 might ignore. At least no more than TV3 would.

Maybe if BAI charged them nothing (initially) in exchange for guaranteeing full transmitter coverage?

Any plans TV3 have are completely irrelevant unless they have money. The software industry is well used to using Vapourware as a stalling tactic to prevent competition. "our new service will be here soon" rinse and repeat

Aren't TV3 already getting a partial free ride as it is ?


Can't find a ref but IIRC, netflix / on demand services have overtaken topuptv in the UK and as I posted elsewhere RTL (German ITV) have dropped DTT because they have enough coverage through cable and satellite.

Here we don't have a big enough market to support the rollout of hardware for a fourth pay TV delivery medium (after cable / satellite / internet) especially when the vast majority of the people with the disposable income and desire to watch already have one of the other three delivery mechanisms in place

The only way a fourth system might work is if entry costs are lowered or they have a killer app. Lower entry fees means higher monthly costs and probable customer churn. Killer app is hard to imagine since UPC / SKY / internet probably have all the channels you need and a late entrant isn't going to win a bidding war. And a lot of semi-technical people have adopted workarounds for FTA

An all in one PVR that gets Saorview + Pay DTT + FTA satellite + EPG + recording might tempt people, but it's isn't going to be cheap and EPG updating for satellite channels will probably be fought tooth and nail by SKY and Freeview, so you'd have to generate your own EPG and it's delivery mechanism. And all to target a niche market.

Sam Russell

It is unlikely that pay TV through DVB is ever going to happen in the next ten to fifteen years because Saorview and Freesat is enough for most people and it is FREEEEEEE. Only by bundling broadband and telephone will PayTV survive, either through Sky or UPC. Even then, it is a cheaper option for most. Apartments and other situations, like the leeside of a remote mountain, are special cases. Outside of those cases, it will eventually get through to the general public that this is the way to go. For Sky customers, they just need a box and an aerial.

It will be 2025 when the BAI and Comreg realise this.