RTE in UK

muincav

Not sure if this has been mentioned or is relevant, but noticed this earlier elsewhere...

Irish public broadcaster RTÉ has today outlined proposals for a new free-to-air TV service for the Irish diaspora in Britain and further development plans for the Irish digital terrestrial TV service Saorview.

The ambitious news was revealed in the Irish broadcaster's newly released five-year-plan, but any new service for Britain would be subject to the broadcaster receiving increased levels of funding in the coming years. RTÉ has seen its income drop by €105 million since 2008.

RTÉ Ireland, the working title for the new free-to-air channel, would be available on digital satellite and cable channel line ups in England, Wales and Scotland. It would also be available globally via the RTÉ website.

According to the broadcaster, the proposed channel would target the Irish diaspora and "and anyone who has an interest in Irish life, culture and media." The channel would feature programmes shown on RTÉ One and Two and from the RTÉ archives. Some shows would be simulcast live from RTÉ One and Two.

There are no plans for the service to appear on the satellite or cable EPG's of viewers in Northern Ireland, where domestic channels RTÉ One and Two are already widely distributed on Sky, digital terrestrial television and cable.

Saorview Anywhere
Meanwhile, RTÉ has revealed that it would like to expand the Irish free-to-air digital terrestrial service Saorview to incorporate on-demand and internet delivered content, under the brand name "Saorview Anywhere". Digital terrestrial TV, IPTV streams and on-demand content would all be placed on one single interface. The move follows recent developments in the UK, which has seen the introduction of terrestrial/IPTV hybrid services such as YouView and internet channels from Connect TV.

The plan states that Saorview Anywhere, which would require a new set top box and a broadband connection, would be "free to access (over and above broadband network access charges) and minimal investment will be required by consumers, as the stand-alone broadband service will be designed to be accessed on existing broadband devices."

RTÉ also confirmed that it intends to boost live content on its fledgling news network RTÉ News Now, removing most of the repeated content and adding bespoke news bulletins for the channel, if additional funding became available.

On digital radio, RTÉ confirmed further investment in its new digital services, but noted that it envisaged FM to be the primary method of delivery for radio in Ireland for the foreseeable future. If a digital radio switchover became government policy, RTÉ would commit to rolling out second generation DAB digital radio, DAB+, to 80% of the Irish population.

watty

See http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057041153

There is no FM close down policy ANYWHERE. Because they can't flog the spectrum off to Mobile operators. And if there was VHF_FM close down (there never will be) RTE (who closed MW with almost no consultation) will only give 80% Population? What!!!! That is only about 50% Geographic coverage!

Don't hold your breath for FTA RTE Ireland.

RTE News now ... if additional funding became available

Saorview Anywhere

that has the 23% Broadband penetration! Maybe 20% can't get real broadband and less than 50% can get the high speed broadband needed for real IPTV

but any new service for Britain would be subject to the broadcaster receiving increased levels of funding in the coming years. RTÉ has seen its income drop by €105 million since 2008.

This is a Fantasy press release.

galtee boy

I agree with Watty, these future plans may be well intentioned and indeed would be more than welcome to the viewing public, but it's only a dream. RTE haven't two half penny's to rub together, current services are under funded, never mind future ones, and all this is just a shot across the bows of the Government for more money and seeing as the Government haven't a bob either, it's all just a pipe dream for now and for many years to come. In the meantime, most Irish in the UK have family here in Ireland, all they have to do is get a family member here to take out an Irish Sky sub and give box and card to family in UK, if that same family member in Ireland also wants Sky, take out another sub in a different name, at the same address. I did it years ago for my brother in London and never had a problem with Sky, even managed to get his box upgraded to a HD one last year. Bit of logistics etc involved , but you would be amazed what can fit in hand luggage on a cheap Ryanair flight !

fryup

watty wrote: »

Don't hold your breath for FTA RTE Ireland.

nearly all the main channels in europe are FTA, so why not RTE??

wouldn't it be great for the diaspora abroad

Infoanon

fryup wrote: »

nearly all the main channels in europe are FTA, so why not RTE??

wouldn't it be great for the diaspora abroad

RTE will put forward that rights are the issue and there is some validity to that BUT there is no reason why RTE cannot be FTA when broadcasting home programming eg News/Nationwide/PrimeTime etc

The Cush

Infoanon wrote: »

BUT there is no reason why RTE cannot be FTA when broadcasting home programming eg News/Nationwide/PrimeTime etc

That's the plan according to the strategy.