Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

How do Irish tv rights work?

  • 05-10-2015 9:05pm
    #1
    zeebre12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 548 ✭✭✭


    Mainly US imported programs such as Greys Anatomy, The Good Wife Elementary etc are shown on RTE in Ireland, but they are also available to Irish audiences on Sky, how do the rights work between the UK and Ireland?
    My cousin watches Home and Away on Channel 5 because the episodes are newer than on RTE, should the episodes not be blocked out on Channel 5 when RTE have the Irish rights or how does it work?
    Also regarding Setanta Sports, what rights do they have?, can the games they have rights to not be seen on sky, BT by Irish customers?. Don't they show Premier League.


Comments

  • #2
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,062 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    That's a whole pile of questions, How long have you got????

    The answer is it depends, and different rights holders sell rights in different ways - some sell on a pan-European basis, some on a UK and Ireland basis, some on a Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland basis, and some on a Republic of Ireland basis only. Some sell separate rights for satellite and terrestrial. Some broadcasters equally only buy certain rights.

    Re blocking programmes, one must understand that for this to be possible, the broadcaster must use a conditional access system. Programmes cannot be blocked on FTA channels.


  • #3
    Digifriendly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,073 ✭✭✭Digifriendly


    RTE's Home and Away is geo-blocked here in NI both on Satellite and Freeview (NIMM) presumably because Channel 5 hold the UK rights. However for some reason RTE's Neighbours is 'in the clear.' Live Champions League on RTE2 is geo-blocked here because BT Sport hold UK rights. In fact even RTE's CL magazine programme on Saturday is geo-blocked. PL on Setanta Sports is also geo-blocked north of the border - regarding Saturday's live game there is a UK wide 'black out' of all live football from 2.45pm - 5.15pm IIRC and geo-blocking of Setanta's PL highlights is due to BBC having UK rights to this.


  • #4
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,062 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Well, more due to the fact that in both cases the rights sold were strictly for the Republic of Ireland and not NI. There is no 3pm ban in Wales and League of Wales football has aired on S4C at 3pm in the past. NI viewers get a raw deal from Setanta tbh.


  • #5
    Elmo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,641 ✭✭✭✭Elmo


    zeebre12 wrote: »
    Mainly US imported programs such as Greys Anatomy, The Good Wife Elementary etc are shown on RTE in Ireland, but they are also available to Irish audiences on Sky, how do the rights work between the UK and Ireland?
    My cousin watches Home and Away on Channel 5 because the episodes are newer than on RTE, should the episodes not be blocked out on Channel 5 when RTE have the Irish rights or how does it work?
    Also regarding Setanta Sports, what rights do they have?, can the games they have rights to not be seen on sky, BT by Irish customers?. Don't they show Premier League.

    Channel 5 basically pay for the production of Neighbours and Home and Away. RTE did have an arrangement with BBC and ITV when they held the rights to both of those programmes, or BBC and ITV let slide, Channel 5 haven't been as easy on RTE.

    RTE buy US programming rights for RoI. The Good Wife gets first run on Channel 4 and after that on RTE due to the rights available, Channel 4 seem to buy UK and RoI rights. Elementry is held by Sky in the UK and Ireland but RTE buy past series of the show. Other shows may not be picked up by UK channels, Irish broadcasters buy packages where UK broadcasters can make deals just for one series e.g. Lost was a package bought by RTE which gave them some what of a first run on that series but bought by Sky for 1million per episode (though I think that kind of money hasn't happened since).

    RTE did not to buy Sex and the City due to the package of programmes it came with, TV3 where left with it and a bunch of made for TV movies. RTE will choose based on packages, rather than on single programmes in most instances.

    As for sports and English programmes all Irish broadcasters know most are available some other platform. For example Setanta bought Wimbelton even though its available freely on BBC or TV3 know the RWC is available on UTV should people decide to watch that coverage.

    RTE has a major deal with BBC Worldwide while UTV IRELAND has a major deal with ITV studios.

    Though it is becoming more difficult to get rights. TG4 lost most of its HBO rights to Sky, who took them exclusively for both markets.


Advertisement