Saorview Connect

galtee boy

It will be 3 years next November since the Sunday Times article about Saorview Connect ! Surely it's time to say, it's not going to happen ? I'm sure it was definitely in RTEs plan, but maybe budget cut backs combined with a total lack of interest in Saorview itself by RTÉ themselves and the general public ( lack of channels and lack of HD ), has caused a rethink ? It couldn't take nearly 3 years to launch a box unless someone has culled it, but it hasn't been made public ?

Harry Palmr

Let us not forget how many false dawns there were just getting Irish DTT off the ground, Boxer is now a very distant memory

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_TV_Ireland

The Cush

galtee boy wrote: »

Surely it's time to say, it's not going to happen ? I'm sure it was definitely in RTEs plan, but maybe budget cut backs combined with a total lack of interest in Saorview itself by RTÉ themselves and the general public ( lack of channels and lack of HD ), has caused a rethink ? It couldn't take nearly 3 years to launch a box unless someone has culled it, but it hasn't been made public ?

I've no doubt it's coming, throughout Europe terrestrial broadcasters are rolling out HbbTV based connected TV services and Ireland will be no different. What gives me confidence in Saorview Connect is the technical backing of Freesat in developing and managing the platform.

Financial constraints have probably slowed down the process, at the end of 2015, RTÉ had total borrowings of €50.6 million*. Another possible factor was the recent publication (end of Jan) of the revised Nordig receiver specification which incorporates the latest version of the HbbTV standard. The Saorview receiver spec is compiled from the Nordig spec.

Together with the land sale windfall, the impending launch of the new multi-platform RTÉ player (including the Connect platform), and a number of Saorview related tenders in recent times we may see it launch before the end of the year.

In relation to tenders, the consumer PR tender relating to the Saorview brand and Platform Offering went out this week. In Feburary the Saorview Connect branding and website management tender went out. Last year the Saorview Connect POS and retailer merchandising tender was published.

A related Saorview Contact Centre Services tender earlier this year stated:

As part of the development of the Saorview platform, we intend to launch a new service to be known as Saorview Connect in 2017. The Saorview Connect platform will utilise both Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) and IP technology to deliver the service via a new type of Set-Top Box (STB) that consumers will purchase and connect to their TV. It is envisaged that some TV sets will also feature Saorview Connect. Due to the launch of Saorview Connect, the successful tenderer will need to demonstrate competency in dealing with consumer technical and support queries in respect of DTT, IP, satellite and Consumer Electronics products. It is anticipated that the launch of Saorview Connect will be a significant driver of customer communications requirement.

* At 31 December 2015, the Group had total borrowings of €50.63 million (2014: €49.38 million).

On 28 May 2012, RTÉ entered into a five-year amortising term loan facility with Bank of Ireland amounting to €15 million for working capital purposes.
The term loan was drawn down in full as at 31 July 2012. The borrowing is a variable rate term loan facility with a maturity in 2017.

On 18 June 2014, 2rn refinanced its project loan facility with Barclays amounting to €40 million, plus an additional term loan facility of €13 million.
During 2015, an interest rate swap was entered into in respect of the €40 million project loan facility until the maturity of the facility in June 2019.
This derivative financial instrument was designated as a cash flow hedge; consequently, any changes in the interest rate would have an equal and
opposite income statement effect for both the interest rate swap and the debt for the period.

Related Irish Times article - http://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/laura-slattery-a-handsome-land-sale-but-no-winning-streak-for-rt%C3%A9-1.3125897

The Cush

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Let us not forget how many false dawns there were just getting Irish DTT off the ground, Boxer is now a very distant memory

Not RTÉ's fault IMO, the backers lacked confidence in their own proposed product to provide the necessary financial bond to secure the contract.

The Cush

This from a report on Freesat's 2016-17 annual results

Freesat’s international business, Metaphor, is focused on developing opportunities overseas through its projects with global partners, with agreements expected in the second half of the year. As an example, Freesat is developing Saorview Connect for RTÉ in Ireland, and is working with other new platforms to expand their connected TV services.

http://advanced-television.com/2017/05/25/freesat-strong-fy-16-17-performance/

Hibrasil

The Cush wrote: »

Another Saorview related tender published this week, consumer PR relating to the Saorview brand and Platform Offering

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=114301&B=ETENDERS_SIMPLE&PS=1&PP=ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders

17P036 - Public Relations and Public Affairs Consultancy Services for Saorview and RTÉ

The one good thing about this tender is the short window for getting involved - could be a precursor for something about to be marketed to the public - deadline for expressions of interest (if that is what we could call it) is 4th July :)

Grady Boyd

I really don't see the point in spending money promoting saorview, people who have sky or cable are never going to switch to it.

Sam Russell

Grady Boyd wrote: »

I really don't see the point in spending money promoting saorview, people who have sky or cable are never going to switch to it.

More to the point, it is like promoting the M7 over the M11 or the Phoenix Park over Fairview Park - what difference does it make to the transmission outfit, 2RN, whether anyone watches or not? RTE must use them (well actually, 2RN are RTE but that is a different matter) and so must others who want to be recognised as an Irish broadcaster. They are not marketing Saorsat at all.

What should be done is to make mandatory that any broadcaster on Saorview must use the highest resolution of their signal. This would affect TG4 and TV3. Alternatively, make the minimum resolution on Saorview 720i.

This marketing idea for a free service is nonsense.

The Cush

Sam Russell wrote: »

This marketing idea for a free service is nonsense.

The marketing will no doubt be about the OTT service, playback and new player and what other new options they make available.

Hibrasil

The Cush wrote: »

The marketing will no doubt be about the OTT service, playback and new player and what other new options they make available.

Makes sense!!

Sam Russell

The Cush wrote: »

The marketing will no doubt be about the OTT service, playback and new player and what other new options they make available.

I think they have destroyed RTEplayer.

I cannot watch anything (or at least I do not) because it insists I watch those inane adverts that I have zero interest in, and then the actual programme fails to start, and if I retry, the same inane ad again, and again the programme fails to start. And if I want to jump to the last five minutes, I have to watch the same inane ads at the start and at each ad break. It is madness and maddening - such that I have now given up.

What is the point? Do they make that much from the ads?

The Cush

Sam Russell wrote: »

What is the point? Do they make that much from the ads?

I agree with you regarding the player, rarely use it myself.

Regarding the revenue from it, haven't seen any numbers. Just another revenue stream for RTÉ that they are unlikely to forego.

Sam Russell

The Cush wrote: »

I agree with you regarding the player, rarely use it myself.

Regarding the revenue from it, haven't seen any numbers. Just another revenue stream for RTÉ that they are unlikely to forego.

But would it not be better to encourage use first, then try to monetise it when the audience is there?

zg3409

Sam Russell wrote: »

But would it not be better to encourage use first, then try to monetise it when the audience is there?

We are going off topic here. It was ad free at the start, I too have the issues with it crashing right after the ad, and then replaying the ad. Ideally the ads should be merged into the show so the stream does not need to stop and restart, but that might allow skipping the ads, which is not allowed due to progress... Please discuss the player elsewhere

The Cush

New multi platform player on the way in any case, to be included in the Saorview Connect STB also. Let's see what that brings.

Sam Russell

zg3409 wrote: »

We are going off topic here. It was ad free at the start, I too have the issues with it crashing right after the ad, and then replaying the ad. Ideally the ads should be merged into the show so the stream does not need to stop and restart, but that might allow skipping the ads, which is not allowed due to progress... Please discuss the player elsewhere

I do not agree it is off topic.

Are RTE interested in RTE Connect to provide a service or to provide a revenue stream?

If it to provide a revenue stream, it should be a commercial operation and be seen as such. If it is a service, it should be advert free. Their approach to adverts on RTE Player has killed it for me, so I hope they do not repeat the same carry-on with the connect product.

The Cush

Reference to delays in the annual report but launch expected this year

Good progress has been made on building the first Saorview Connect boxes. The project team has been working closely with Freesat (the service provider) and the manufacturer. There have been some delays against the original project plan, but these have been managed to ensure that the product will be made available at the earliest opportunity. There is a high level of interest from the market and it is expected that the first Saorview Connect boxes will be for sale in 2017.

https://static.rasset.ie/documents/about/rte-annual-report-2016.pdf [p.90]

corm500

The Cush wrote: »

Reference to delays in the annual report but launch expected this year

Good news, but the box will need to be in place by end of September if they are to capitalise on the Xmas market.

PabloAndRoy

The Cush wrote: »

Reference to delays in the annual report but launch expected this year

I read that as "we are really hoping we can get this thing in the shops before Christmas".

Atlantic Dawn

If they expect it in the shops in less then 5 months time they must be testing the hardware now, I find it really odd that they have not released any concrete specs. The earlier potential buyers know what is coming the more interest there will be in purchasing it.

mackersdublin

Wonder if it will have 4K capabilities

Capt'n Midnight

mackersdublin wrote: »

Wonder if it will have 4K capabilities

What's the point when most channels are still in SD ?


Seriously the Connect must offer something new. Most people already have a solution to get Saorview. In fact most people already have a solution that gets both Irish and UK terrestrial channels.

There isn't a gap in the market. Unless the Connect will magically show UK channels with a full EPG too, it will have to be better that what's already in place.



Will Smart TV's with HBBTV be able to use the Connect service with an App or Firmware upgrade ?

The Cush

mackersdublin wrote: »

Wonder if it will have 4K capabilities

From HbbTV v2.0 onwards UHD video streaming is supported. The Nordig specification for terrestrial TV transmission doesn't include 4k/UHD/HEVC. No terrestrial UHD broadcasting in operation anywhere yet, bitrate still too high for the available capacity.

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

There isn't a gap in the market. Unless the Connect will magically show UK channels with a full EPG too, it will have to be better that what's already in place.

Will Smart TV's with HBBTV be able to use the Connect service with an App or Firmware upgrade ?

Walker and Nordmende TVs already have a combined epg of sorts in some of their TVs.

Saorview Connect, like all the new connected/hybrid services, is about bridging the gap between broadcast and broadband and the eventual transitioning of broadcasting away from valuable wireless spectrum with the incentive of additional IPTV channels and services from the broadcasters.

Unlikely that existing smart TVs will be backwards compatible with Saorview Connect. Like Freeview Play and Germany's Freenet Connect the necessary software is incorporated at manufacture with the product certified as such.

This from RTÉ

The Saorview Connect platform will utilise both Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) and IP technology to deliver the service via a new type of Set-Top Box (STB) that consumers will purchase and connect to their TV. It is envisaged that some TV sets will also feature Saorview Connect.

Gerry Wicklow

The Cush wrote: »

....
Unlikely that existing smart TVs will be backwards compatible with Saorview Connect. Like Freeview Play and Germany's Freenet Connect the necessary software is incorporated at manufacture with the product certified as such.
...

My Sony android TV doesn't support/wont install RTÉ player. Nothing to do with Sony being in bed with TV3 at the time of manufacture I'm sure :rolleyes:

The Cush

The Cush wrote: »

From HbbTV v2.0 onwards UHD video streaming is supported. The Nordig specification for terrestrial TV transmission doesn't include 4k/UHD/HEVC. No terrestrial UHD broadcasting in operation anywhere yet, bitrate still too high for the available capacity.

Just a follow up to the question on 4k/UHD and this could indicate where the future of this this technology lay in relation to terrestrial broadcasting. German terrestrial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 is to show 4K content via HbbTV streaming. High bitrate and declining spectrum means 4K terrestrial broadcasting is a long way away which could mean HbbTV is the future for this technology for terrestrial viewing in the interim.

Hibrasil

Assuming Saorview Connect is to be live in the second half of 2017 - there are now just 138 days left before New Years Eve 2017 for Saorview Connect to become a reality ! ! ! !
Should we who are anticipating same hold our breath ! !

The Cush

The Cush wrote: »

From HbbTV v2.0 onwards UHD video streaming is supported. The Nordig specification for terrestrial TV transmission doesn't include 4k/UHD/HEVC. No terrestrial UHD broadcasting in operation anywhere yet, bitrate still too high for the available capacity.

Not Saorview related but a follow up to the previous comment on terrestrial UHD.

The French regulator, CSA, is currently carrying out a consultation on the future of DTT in that country.

They are proposing to launch an interim DVB-T2/HEVC, mixed UHD/enhanced HD multi-city mux in 2019 in advance of a full 6 mux migration in maybe 5 to 6 years time. The mux would cover 60%-70% of the population. It would act as a test platform for broadcasters and equipment manufacturers and also to initiate interest/enthusiasm amongst the general public prior to a national migration.

Lack of sufficient national spectrum and compatible receivers in peoples homes means it will be restricted to city areas on geographic interleaved spectrum.

Content (channels national/themed, FTA/pay services, etc.), technical parameters & standards etc. will have to be decided on over the next 2 years.

On the transmission side, a trial UHD mux has been in operation in Paris (Eiffel Tower) since 2014, renewed for 1 year last Dec on UHF 26. Operated by TDF and transmitted at 1kw with a reception radius of about 25km and a data rate of 40.2 Mbps.

dubrov

I have just realised that this thread started 3 years ago. They must be redesigning a new microprocessor for the box at this stage.

Hotblack Desiato

dubrov wrote: »

I have just realised that this thread started 3 years ago. They must be redesigning a new microprocessor for the box at this stage.

If they were actually designing anything even two years ago, chances are the chips they specified are no longer in production.

Also what's the point of trying to squeeze UHD into DTT - satellite and FTTH can take care of it for those who really want it.

Hibrasil

122 days left for Saorview Connect to become a reality in 2017. Not holding my breath at this stage!!!