rte hdtv is coming this year

ftakeith

http://www.businesspost.ie/#!story/Home/News/Cuts+will+save+RTE+%E2%82%AC30m%2C+says+Curran/id/65483a93-6b90-4bb3-a1d0-7b0af3c26209

RTE is expected to record a deficit of more than €60 million for last year, it is understood, with most of this relating to restructuring costs which saw 175 people leave the organisation in the last few months.
Director general Noel Curran told staff last week that finances were "under control" after a painful cost-cutting process.
The organisation is still in negotiations with staff over changes to work practices, but the possibility of a 4 per cent pay cut appears to be lifted for now. If those talks are successful, savings of over €30 million will have been achieved by management.
Curran held a series of meetings with groups of 30 to 40 staff in which he said a more stable environment had been established, but a tight hold on costs needed to be maintained.
He said it was a time for renewal for the company and some topline details of RTE's five-year strategy were outlined.
The strategy has been submitted to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and the Department of Communications. It is understood to outline RTE's content priorities, with an emphasis on news and current affairs, and details RTE's plan to continue to develop into a multimedia organisation
The plan - likely to be published in March or April - also contains a commitment to becoming a more open organisation. This includes deals with other content providers. RTE has recently entered into a revenue sharing agreement with Independent Newspapers.
The strategy document also gives details of its staff and technological development plan. Curran told employees last week that it would become a HD broadcaster by the end of the year.
RTE also outlines how it would spend additional funding it may receive under the new media charge which will replace the licence fee. Curran has previously indicated he would be open to exchanging some of RTE's commercial functions for increased public service income.
RTE and TG4 have submitted costed strategic plans to the BAI as part of a five-year review. The BAI is currently considering the documents, as well as all other material associated with the review, a spokeswoman for the association said.
A report making recommendations on funding will be submitted to Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte. The approval of the strategy will be a matter for the board of RTE.

galtee boy

A bit vague, but I presume he means RTE1 HD will launch and more HD content on RTE2 HD ?

Solair

RTE 2 is already in HD only on SaorView.

They'll have to move with the technology on their own produced programmes on RTE 1 or they'll lose ground to other broadcasters. In a few years, non HD TVs will be fairly unusual!

Also, unlike BBC and Freeview, Saorview is MPEG4 from day 1. There's no expensive upgrade of broadcasting systems or set top boxes needed. They just need to upgrade their cameras and production systems.

They should prioritise it though.

For a lot of things, SD will still look fine & you can use things like HD graphics with upscaled SD video. So for example, RTE news could be mostly shot in SD and upgraded bit by bit. The graphics, titles and then maybe presentation could be HD tho.

I sometimes think RTE, BBC etc come up with very grandiose, expensive upgrade plans rather than looking for bang for buck!

A digital production system can handle SD, HD and even lower res American SD formats and output everything as 1080i or whatever you like without any fuss. Up scaling lower res content as it goes.

Biggest news from that story is there are still financial difficulties going on at RTE. The HD bit is just a good news spin on it!

PogMoThoin

Solair wrote: »

RTE 2 is already in HD only on SaorView.

The majority of what's on RTE2 HD isn't HD, but upscaled SD

Solair

Yeah, but that's the nature of the technology! Upgrading studios takes time and I don't see why it should be rushed. Retiring relatively new equipment for a very minor upgrade in viewing experience is a waste!

Saorview handles both without simulcasts as it's MPEG4 based.

HD isn't anywhere near as big a deal as colour from B&W was, yet it's regularly presented as if it is.

Good (not over compressed) quality Euro digital SD is pretty excellent.

It was a massive deal in the states as NTSC was awful looking!

They're just mentioning this to gloss over the heavy deficit in the same story!

More HD is inevitable as SD cameras get retired & edit suites are upgraded to newer hardware & software etc etc..

They should be broadcasting any content in HD that can already be sourced in HD already tho. Pointless airing major US series etc in SD when they're shot and available in HD. Same for movies, UK HD content etc.

That only leaves in house/local productions.

We're potentially exportable shows like Love Hate shot in HD??

excollier

Whoopee.......

Capt'n Midnight

Solair wrote: »

Also, unlike BBC and Freeview, Saorview is MPEG4 from day 1. There's no expensive upgrade of broadcasting systems or set top boxes needed.

Apart from the T2 tuners

Biggest news from that story is there are still financial difficulties going on at RTE.

NIMAN

PogMoThoin wrote: »

The majority of what's on RTE2 HD isn't HD, but upscaled SD

Like a lot of HD stuff on expensive Sky TV too.;)

Solair

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Apart from the T2 tuners

Don't think they need those as we don't exactly have jam-packed Freeview style MUXes.

T2 will make it a bit easier to go 100% HD, but just turning RTE1 HD won't exactly choke the system up!

T2 is in the NORDIG spec, so newer TVs/tuners will have it as time goes on (many more recent TVs (since Freeview HD) already do). Even if T2 becomes an issue in the future, a STB isn't exactly massively expensive and your existing STB will probably be clapped-out by then anyway :P

Sam Russell

I do not think T2 becomes an issue until we have four muxes on the go which is unlikely this side of 2025.

Carawaystick

ftakeith wrote: »

RTE is expected to record a deficit of more than €60 million for last year, it is understood, with most of this relating to restructuring costs which saw 175 people leave the organisation in the last few months.

Wow! assuming a bare half of the 60 million i.e. 30e6 divided between 175 pewople gives an average of >170k per person redundancy cost.

Nice work if ya can get it, nice work if ya cant

Solair

Sam Russell wrote: »

I do not think T2 becomes an issue until we have four muxes on the go which is unlikely this side of 2025.

Broadcasting TV on UHF could be almost irrelevant by then anyway. I suspect we'll be streaming most content on demand over the Internet by then.

(although, there'll still be a few places using Eircom Dial Up :-))

Sam Russell

I would not think so as it is the cheapest way of broacasting to the population. It amazes me how many people pay UPC and Sky to receive what is basically a free service. Do they not know how to get it for free? Now we are to expect the internet to become the way TV is delivered?

[I know some sports coverage is only available on payTV but then if you cost that against what is actually watched, then how is that justified? A few hours per week for €80 or €90 per month.]

Most people I know watch the best that is on at that moment, not specific programmes, so less choice makes little difference. The same drivel is on most channels anyway.

formerly scottish paddy

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Apart from the T2 tuners

Eh? no need for T2 at the moment.

iba

Sam Russell wrote: »

I would not think so as it is the cheapest way of broacasting to the population. It amazes me how many people pay UPC and Sky to receive what is basically a free service. Do they not know how to get it for free? Now we are to expect the internet to become the way TV is delivered?

[I know some sports coverage is only available on payTV but then if you cost that against what is actually watched, then how is that justified? A few hours per week for €80 or €90 per month.]

Most people I know watch the best that is on at that moment, not specific programmes, so less choice makes little difference. The same drivel is on most channels anyway.

One of the reasons people stay with UPC is because of the internet. I dont know the figures exactly but a while back the cost of internet and TV with UPC was €50 approx. But the cost of internet on its own with UPC was €40 (they charged €30 plus another €10 for only having the internet) - so for the sake of the extra tenner (the difference between €40 and €50) people just use UPC TV too.

Sam Russell

iba wrote: »

One of the reasons people stay with UPC is because of the internet. I dont know the figures exactly but a while back the cost of internet and TV with UPC was €50 approx. But the cost of internet on its own with UPC was €40 (they charged €30 plus another €10 for only having the internet) - so for the sake of the extra tenner (the difference between €40 and €50) people just use UPC TV too.

The TV is an added €16 per month as far as I can tell, but FREE still beats that. Plus Freesat offers more channels (of some quality) and with the UPC broadband at 50mb/s, you can use ITVplayer and 4OD to augment your TV viewing. If you add Netfix @ €7 /month you are still ahead. Unfortunately, BBC iPlayer is geo-locked.

You could save more by using Skype for your phone, then UPC broadband is only €39 as opposed to €69 for the TV bundle - plus you need to allow extra for calls. If you have a mobile with a good call programme, then this would be an option.

But people can spend their money anyway they like. It is just that I consider payTV a waste of money.