Policy on certain Irish Channels encrypted on Digital Satellite

AwaitYourReply

I'm not sure if this has been covered here on Boards.ie before so; apologies if I missed reference. I understand the economic reasons why it was necessary for the major Irish TV channels listed below to go encrypted on digital satellite unless the viewer has an active Republic of Ireland SKY Digital subscription or fall under those special arrangements made for viewers in Northern Ireland having access to RTÉ One, RTÉ 2 and TG4. So while I get the reasons why the main Irish TV stations have to be encrypted on satellite, it seems pointless in having an Irish news channel or channel dedicated solely to broadcasting parliamentary proceedings from Leinster House scrambled all the time unless you subscribe to Sky Digital in the Republic of Ireland. A lot has changed in the whole TV landscape even since RTÉ/TV3/TG4 originally launched their services on the Sky Digital platform here in Ireland back in the early noughties.

RTÉ One encrypted
RTÉ One+1 encrypted
RTÉ 2 encrypted
RTÉ junior encrypted
TV3 encrypted
TV3+1 encrypted
TG4 encrypted
UTV Ireland encrypted
RTÉ News Now encrypted
Oireachtas TV encrypted

But, I do NOT understand why the below channels are required to remain fully encrypted on digital satellite at this stage as I do not see "Programme Rights Issues" being effected like major Sports/Movies/TV Series being viewed elsewhere outside of the Republic of Ireland intended broadcast territory. If viewers in the UK come across Oireachtas TV or RTÉ News Now channels, it would surely not compromise the operators of these channels given the type of programming content shown. Can the encryption flag not be lifted for these specific services? UKTV seem to have shown that it is possible to have some of their channels now available on a Free-To-Air basis such as: Drama, Really and YESTERDAY unlike their other channels still encrypted behind a paywall for commercial reasons.

Oireachtas TV (should be Free-To-Air on digital satellite)
RTÉ News Now (should be Free-To-Air on digital satellite)

Perhaps, it is time for the new Minister for Communications to include this anomaly as these channels should not require encryption and should not need to be blocked from audiences outside of Ireland in the same way as those other Irish channels buying in major TV series, Movies, Sports etc;

Vic_08

AFAIR Sky pay for the Irish channels carriage for their own commercial reasons (sell more subs to paddy) so they get the encryption they want.

If RTE or anyone else want to get carried in the clear then they are free to rent a transponder at market rates.

UKTV channels are completely irrelevant as they are commercial and own full UK/IRL rights to their content. Their decision to put some channels FTA is down to the increased audience (and advertising) from the substantial Freesat user base.

If you really want to access Irish public service broadcasts from satellite then RTE and Tg4 channels are already available FTA on satellite from the soursat service on 9E.

AwaitYourReply

Vic_08 wrote: »

AFAIR Sky pay for the Irish channels carriage for their own commercial reasons (sell more subs to paddy) so they get the encryption they want.

If RTE or anyone else want to get carried in the clear then they are free to rent a transponder at market rates.

UKTV channels are completely irrelevant as they are commercial and own full UK/IRL rights to their content. Their decision to put some channels FTA is down to the increased audience (and advertising) from the substantial Freesat user base.

If you really want to access Irish public service broadcasts from satellite then RTE and Tg4 channels are already available FTA on satellite from the soursat service on 9E.

Thankfully, I can access Saorview myself for these channels however; I don't really think that Saorsat is a viable solution either. If a person cannot get Saorview reception, it would seem there are two poor enough choices at present (i.e.) Subscribe to a Sky Digital satellite contract which is not cheap or else invest in the Saorsat satellite set-up which does not even provide any access whatsoever to the other Irish public service broadcaster channels namely: TV3, 3e or UTV Ireland which is very disappointing in 2016.

Saorsat should at least have all of the major Irish players services on their platform at this stage but as we know this has not been the case to date. Perhaps the 2% of the population in Ireland unable to pick up the Saorview terrestrial signal reception should have been granted a unique smart card to enable them gain access to the Irish channels via a Sky Digibox for a once off special price (along the lines of the Free-To-View/FTV Card in the UK) as it might have been cheaper than setting up the whole Saorsat system for such a small number of people anyway.

I'm not sure if Oireachtas TV is currently being tested on the "Saorsat" platform. I would imagine many Irish ex-patriots now based in the UK would probably welcome better choice options but Saorsat just does not jump out as an attractive or likely option for them either. Our Minister for Communications needs to sit down and look at this again in my view as improvements can and should be made in what is a rapidly changing media landscape otherwise you have Saorsat existing in a somewhat similar way to the MMDS system which was finally closed and that never really took hold in the country either because it was expensive and had a fairly limited choice of channels. Some similar mistakes made again with Saorsat which was unnecessary if it was thought out properly.

former total

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

Thankfully, I can access Saorview myself for these channels however; I don't really think that Saorsat is a viable solution either. If a person cannot get Saorview reception, it would seem there are two poor enough choices at present (i.e.) Subscribe to a Sky Digital satellite contract which is not cheap or else invest in the Saorsat satellite set-up which does not even provide any access whatsoever to the other Irish public service broadcaster channels namely: TV3, 3e or UTV Ireland which is very disappointing in 2016.

Saorsat should at least have all of the major Irish players services on their platform at this stage but as we know this has not been the case to date. Perhaps the 2% of the population in Ireland unable to pick up the Saorview terrestrial signal reception should have been granted a unique smart card to enable them gain access to the Irish channels via a Sky Digibox for a once off special price (along the lines of the Free-To-View/FTV Card in the UK) as it might have been cheaper than setting up the whole Saorsat system for such a small number of people anyway.

I'm not sure if Oireachtas TV is currently being tested on the "Saorsat" platform. I would imagine many Irish ex-patriots now based in the UK would probably welcome better choice options but Saorsat just does not jump out as an attractive or likely option for them either. Our Minister for Communications needs to sit down and look at this again in my view as improvements can and should be made in what is a rapidly changing media landscape otherwise you have Saorsat existing in a somewhat similar way to the MMDS system which was finally closed and that never really took hold in the country either because it was expensive and had a fairly limited choice of channels. Some similar mistakes made again with Saorsat which was unnecessary if it was thought out properly.

If the other Irish channels want to go on to Saorsat then they are free to do so.

On Oireachtas TV and News Now, they'd have to rent transponder space and apply for a licence from Ofcom. For two channels which are already available via online stream and which have tiny viewing figures, you'd wonder why they'd bother.

Gerry Wicklow

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

....

I'm not sure if Oireachtas TV is currently being tested on the "Saorsat" platform. I would imagine many Irish ex-patriots now based in the UK would probably welcome better choice options but Saorsat just does not jump out as an attractive or likely option for them either. ...

Saorsat is limited to the island of Ireland and not available in most of the UK.

FRIENDO

AwaitYourReply wrote:

Thankfully, I can access Saorview myself for these channels however; I don't really think that Saorsat is a viable solution either. If a person cannot get Saorview reception, it would seem there are two poor enough choices at present (i.e.) Subscribe to a Sky Digital satellite contract which is not cheap or else invest in the Saorsat satellite set-up which does not even provide any access whatsoever to the other Irish public service broadcaster channels namely: TV3, 3e or UTV Ireland which is very disappointing in 2016.

I find Saorsat a reasonable good service.

The fact that TV3 and UTV Ireland are not on Saorsat is because neither channels will pay carriage costs.

I believe Oireachtas channel will be on Saorsat in the future.

I use a Walker Saorsat approved set top box which also comes with the Freesat software.
I have seven day epg on all channels both Saorsat and Freesat and can easily set a recording at the simple touch of a button.
The new RTE Aertel also works perfectly.

The box cost approximately €60 - €90 in Powercity.
A satellite install with lnb for 9E and 28E won't Break the bank.

The only downside with Saorsat is a rights issue with Champions League football on RTE2 HD, everything else works perfect.

I also have the option of getting a TV with a built-in Satellite tuner for Saorsat and English FTA channels.

Why on earth would I want a Sky box that is purely designed for subscription tv, that won't allow me record FTA Irish channels without a subscription.

Why should Irish tax payer's waste our money paying Sky for the carriage of our FTA channels.

I would also guess that the cost of the card administration and carriage of our FTA channels on the Sky platform would be more expensive with Sky than what we pay at the moment for the Saorsat service on 9E.

I also think it's better for RTE/SAORSAT/SAORVIEW to have our own independence and control of Saorsat on 9E, rather than rely on the middle man of Sky to supply our service.

Digifriendly

RTE1 HD encrypted for NI Sky subscribers. Why?

FRIENDO

Digifriendly wrote:

RTE1 HD encrypted for NI Sky subscribers. Why?

Sorry I don't know,
Have you asked Sky the question?

former total

Digifriendly wrote: »

RTE1 HD encrypted for NI Sky subscribers. Why?

Presumably Sky's deal with RTE (which included the HD upgrade and the as-yet-not-available RTE player) only covers ROI.

The availability of RTE at all in NI Is more of a political thing.

muffler

Digifriendly wrote: »

RTE1 HD encrypted for NI Sky subscribers. Why?

That question was put to Sky Reps here and a response is awaited

Whatever about TV3 & UTV Ireland, RTE 1 & 2 should be available FTV via a Sky card, if a subscriber wishes to cancel once their minimum contract period is over and they are paying a tv license. RoI only programme rights would be still protected.

muffler

Deleted User wrote: »

Whatever about TV3 & UTV Ireland, RTE 1 & 2 should be available FTV via a Sky card, if a subscriber wishes to cancel once their minimum contract period is over and they are paying a tv license. RoI only programme rights would be still protected.

Sky couldnt give a toss about tv licenses so there's no connection. The bottom line is that if you want to view the "home channels" via a Sky box then you will pay Sky for the privilege. After all its a big selling point and ropes in thousands of subscribers and it generates them millions in revenue every year so why would they allow anyone to view the channels free of charge on their platform?

AwaitYourReply

Digifriendly wrote: »

RTE1 HD encrypted for NI Sky subscribers. Why?

You mentioned that RTÉ One HD is encrypted for NI Sky subscribers.
As a matter of interest, is RTÉ 2 HD also encrypted for Sky Subscribers in Northern Ireland?

AwaitYourReply

former total wrote: »

Presumably Sky's deal with RTE (which included the HD upgrade and the as-yet-not-available RTE player) only covers ROI.

The availability of RTE at all in NI Is more of a political thing.

Yeah AFAIK, it came about following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement back in 1998 and HD channel formats were probably not yet fully finalised although I had read about the High Definition technology concept in the now defunct "What Satellite" magazine back around 1989/1990 period.

AwaitYourReply

muffler wrote: »

Sky couldnt give a toss about tv licenses so there's no connection. The bottom line is that if you want to view the "home channels" via a Sky box then you will pay Sky for the privilege. After all its a big selling point and ropes in thousands of subscribers and it generates them millions in revenue every year so why would they allow anyone to view the channels free of charge on their platform?

Yes I think the attitude taken by Sky is understandable from their perspective as they are a commercial business and they will tend to suit their own business interests.

However; as Sky operate in different markets they would be wise not to overplay their hand as it would not suit Sky if Ireland's main public service broadcaster, RTÉ decided to pull the plug at a future stage from the Sky Ireland digital platform as there are commercial benefits to keeping them on side. Sky also takes a lot of advertising revenue out of the market here with it's growing number of "Irish opt-out channels" (which only differ by running Irish commercial ad breaks) so Sky also needs the likes of RTÉ/TV3/TG4 in the mix. Sky has given relatively little back in direct support to the Irish indigenous industry over the years.

If I recall correctly, that was a similar logic used when Ireland's TV channels were first about to launch on the Sky Ireland digital platform back in early noughties and many wondered if RTÉ, TV3, TG4 etc; would enjoy prominent channel positions once carried on the Sky ROI EPG with some commentators suggesting the Irish channels should be grateful just to get on anywhere to the Sky epg. When I first took out a Sky Ireland subscription in April 2001 the first TV channel in operation on the Sky EPG was Channel 106 - Sky 1 as the Irish channels had yet to launch on Sky Ireland. Of course, in the end RTÉ One did get the prominent Channel 101 position followed by the others in a similar way to the UK main public service broadcasters holding channel numbers 101-105 inclusive. Given that UK TV Licence Fee Payers enjoy free access to the public service channels on carriers such as Sky, it does not seem unreasonable that their Irish equivalent enjoy similar treatment as we are talking TV Licence Fee Payers and Public Service Broadcasting channels in this jurisdiction too.

Looking back, Sky never wanted BBC, itv, Channel 4 or Channel 5 to go Free-To-Air on their digital platform but after the BBC (led by Greg Dyke) jumped first, it was not too long before the others gradually followed suit and Sky could do absolutely nothing about it. The public service broadcasters in both UK and Ireland hold a lot more influence than Sky had initially thought and it took Sky a while to realise that they do not necessarily hold all the cards as they are not just a digital satellite platform provider in the form of Sky Digital but also a major broadcaster in their own right themselves as we all know only too well.

muffler

muffler wrote: »

Sky couldnt give a toss about tv licenses so there's no connection. The bottom line is that if you want to view the "home channels" via a Sky box then you will pay Sky for the privilege. After all its a big selling point and ropes in thousands of subscribers and it generates them millions in revenue every year so why would they allow anyone to view the channels free of charge on their platform?

Well the UK 'home channels' are FTA on the platform. In fact Channel 5 HD originally was FTV, before going behind a paywall and is now gone FTA. Being on a narrow beam helps with programme rights and they aren't too bothered about the tiny Irish market that gets them through overspill.

AwaitYourReply

Deleted User wrote: »

Whatever about TV3 & UTV Ireland, RTE 1 & 2 should be available FTV via a Sky card, if a subscriber wishes to cancel once their minimum contract period is over and they are paying a tv license. RoI only programme rights would be still protected.

There is definitely some merit in that proposal. The major question is who would financially administer such a scheme for all of the public service broadcasting TV channels in the Republic of Ireland? It is NOT something Sky will fund which is understandable from their perspective but RTÉ is NOT in any financial position to cover it in the current economic climate as they are cost cutting. Other things for consideration: Should it include access to all HD channel versions and time-shift service options too?

AwaitYourReply

FRIENDO wrote: »

I find Saorsat a reasonable good service.

The fact that TV3 and UTV Ireland are not on Saorsat is because neither channels will pay carriage costs.

I believe Oireachtas channel will be on Saorsat in the future.

I use a Walker Saorsat approved set top box which also comes with the Freesat software.
I have seven day epg on all channels both Saorsat and Freesat and can easily set a recording at the simple touch of a button.
The new RTE Aertel also works perfectly.

The box cost approximately €60 - €90 in Powercity.
A satellite install with lnb for 9E and 28E won't Break the bank.

The only downside with Saorsat is a rights issue with Champions League football on RTE2 HD, everything else works perfect.

I also have the option of getting a TV with a built-in Satellite tuner for Saorsat and English FTA channels.

Why on earth would I want a Sky box that is purely designed for subscription tv, that won't allow me record FTA Irish channels without a subscription.

Why should Irish tax payer's waste our money paying Sky for the carriage of our FTA channels.

I would also guess that the cost of the card administration and carriage of our FTA channels on the Sky platform would be more expensive with Sky than what we pay at the moment for the Saorsat service on 9E.

I also think it's better for RTE/SAORSAT/SAORVIEW to have our own independence and control of Saorsat on 9E, rather than rely on the middle man of Sky to supply our service.

My heart agrees with you as far as paying Sky Digital high carriage fees is concerned but my head says that the whole Saorview/Saorsat needs to be examined more closely again.

Saorsat is clearly not a viable proposition for TV3, 3e and UTV Ireland so I can never see them paying carriage fees for up to 2% population coverage.

Saorview does not seem to be viable for the following services that have subsequently launched on some of the other carriers platforms. Channel services such as: TV3 HD, TV3+1, TG4 HD, UTV Ireland HD have yet to appear on Saorview and one wonders if it will ever happen. To date, the only broadcaster to have launched HD channels on Saorview are RTÉ and the platform has been evolving at a very slow pace. The programme information button is often lacking in essential details such as the year a movie was released. The red button functionality on some sports coverage is also a mystery. Surely, there is a better way than Saorsat/Saorview/Sky?

FRIENDO

Before Saorview/Saorsat we received the three Irish analogue channels in our house.
RTE 1
RTE 2
TG4

TV3 did not pay to be carried on approximate 15% of analogue transmitters around the State I believe. It's no surprise that they won't pay for Saorsat now.

We also had crap radio reception.

The arrival of the Saorview/Saorsat platforms have been a great improvement and now combined with the Freesat service, along with digital aertel, red button service, recording ability, epg, digital radio.
We now have an excellent FTA service available.

Thankfully I dumped the Sky box a good number of years ago, and I have not looked back.

FRIENDO

I think people have to move on from having Irish channels FTA on the Sky platform.
It happened in the uk as Sky at the time was the only real organised option.

It is no longer as Freesat supported by BBC and ITV was created on 28E as a carrier for FTA channels now.

I believe it's a rights issue that Irish channels are not FTA on 28E and not on Freesat.

Kasat on 9E was a new satellite launched in 2012 I think (I followed the launch on boards here).

Kasat has a much tighter beam and can protect rights issues for Irish tv channels broadcasting FTA on satellite.

On satellite Kasat is the answer,
As I believe paying for carriage on 28E, paying for carriage on Sky, paying for carriage and administration of cards, breaching of rights issues with encryption cards is all too expensive and a mess, it's old technology, time to move on.

Macy0161

Well I think there is potential for RTE News Now to be FTA channel - the question would be who'd pay for the transponder and EPG space. It would need to be able to carry adverts (a legacy from Sky, TV3 et al trying to hamstrung RTE/ Saorview, facilitated by FF and subsequent Ministers) and probably need Government support as the BBC World Service used to get. I'd imagine they would still object, with fresh objectors in the form of Irish TV.

As for content, as well as the News and Current Affairs output, the likes of Nationwide and Ear to the Ground. Won't happen, as TD's (not just a Government decision anymore) and the BAI will continue to play by Murdoch's rules and TV3's hissy fits.

Johnboy1951

I used to pay Sky for Sat channels.
I decided to dump them when, on acquiring the knowledge of how I might extend my viewing choices, I found the Sky STB crippled, and the Sky T&Cs preventing me from using a Sky card in any other (non/less crippled) device.

Only when Sky are forced (they won't do it willingly) to allow subscribers to use the Sky card as the user wishes, will I again consider paying Sky for content.
I would rather spend the money on alternative means of getting desired content.

There is very little that is Sky exclusive that I want badly enough to even pay them then!

I would be pleased if the Irish channels were not in Sky control on Astra Satellite, and it would not bother me if they were pulled from that service completely.

icdg

It is a rights issue, basically, RTE would become available to the entire U.K., and would have to compete from movies, imports, and sports rights in the UK market. In such a circumstance you can understand why RTE will not go free to air on Astra, they would be unable to compete with UK networks. You could pretty much say goodbye to any sports other than domestic Irish ones and those on the Crown Jewels list, as well as most US imports. RTE2 would be decimated.

It might not matter to you if RTE left Sky, but it would matter to RTE. They are a pubically funded service, but they are also funded by commercials. They are not going to - and their buyers will not let them - voluntary pull themselves out of over a third of Irish households, many of whom aren't set up to receive any other TV service with RTE on it, and even if they were, don't want the hastle of having to switch between multiple EPGs or even STBs. It's okay for power users to say they don't mind that complexity. The average user just wants to change the channel.

Johnboy1951

icdg wrote: »

<snip>
It might not matter to you if RTE left Sky, but it would matter to RTE. They are a pubically funded service, but they are also funded by commercials. They are not going to - and their buyers will not let them - voluntary pull themselves out of over a third of Irish households, many of whom aren't set up to receive any other TV service with RTE on it, and even if they were, don't want the hastle of having to switch between multiple EPGs or even STBs. It's okay for power users to say they don't mind that complexity. The average user just wants to change the channel.

I dunno what the first paragraph was addressing but the second one appears to address what I posted.

The complexity is introduced by Sky's T&Cs and the unhealthy market share they have in this country.
If their card could be used in other devices there would be choice for all without the necessity of limiting oneself to Sky, unless comfortable with the complexity of using more than one device. That choice could get rid of any complexity.

FRIENDO

Macy0161 wrote:

Well I think there is potential for RTE News Now to be FTA channel - the question would be who'd pay for the transponder and EPG space. It would need to be able to carry adverts (a legacy from Sky, TV3 et al trying to hamstrung RTE/ Saorview, facilitated by FF and subsequent Ministers) and probably need Government support as the BBC World Service used to get. I'd imagine they would still object, with fresh objectors in the form of Irish TV.

As a licence fee payer, I don't want my taxes wasted paying Sky to carry RTE NEWS now, it's already free for everybody to view on Saorview/Saorsat.

Macy0161

FRIENDO wrote: »

As a licence fee payer, I don't want my taxes wasted paying Sky to carry RTE NEWS now, it's already free for everybody to view on Saorview/Saorsat.

Hence the advertising and Government support - I was more thinking as FTA for UK and other parts of Europe it'd reach rather than for the domestic.

Vic_08

Macy0161 wrote: »

Hence the advertising and Government support - I was more thinking as FTA for UK and other parts of Europe it'd reach rather than for the domestic.

As a taxpayer, I don't want my taxes wasted paying Sky to carry RTE NEWS now, it's already free for everybody to view on Saorview/Saorsat.

muffler

FRIENDO wrote: »

As a licence fee payer, I don't want my taxes wasted paying Sky to carry RTE NEWS now, it's already free for everybody to view on Saorview/Saorsat.

Vic_08 wrote: »

As a taxpayer, I don't want my taxes wasted paying Sky to carry RTE NEWS now, it's already free for everybody to view on Saorview/Saorsat.

Bit of an echo in here :P

Would you both not be better off contacting RTE or the revenue commissioners directly to express how you feel your licence fee / tax is being used?

Vic_08

muffler wrote: »

Bit of an echo in here :P

That is the point.

The response to not wanting to fund something out of the licence fee shouldn't be to siphon off further public money from the general tax take.

muffler wrote: »

Would you both not be better off contacting RTE or the revenue commissioners directly to express how you feel your licence fee / tax is being used?

Revenue commissioners do not decide where tax goes and I imagine a phonecall to express my opinions of RTE's use of licence fee would go downhill very quickly.

FRIENDO

muffler wrote:

Would you both not be better off contacting RTE or the revenue commissioners directly to express how you feel your licence fee / tax is being used?

Why?

Johnboy1951

Originally Posted by muffler
Would you both not be better off contacting RTE or the revenue commissioners directly to express how you feel your licence fee / tax is being used?

FRIENDO wrote: »

Why?

Strange to see someone objecting to an expression of opinion on Boards.

I expected better.

muffler

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Strange to see someone objecting to an expression of opinion on Boards.

I expected better.

No objection at all to whatever ye want to post. I was merely pointing out the obvious which is its one thing posting on an internet forum about a specific issue and how you feel it affects you in real life as opposed to actually doing something about it.

It was merely an observation with no offense intended

FRIENDO

muffler wrote:

No objection at all to whatever ye want to post. I was merely pointing out the obvious which is its one thing posting on an internet forum about a specific issue and how you feel it affects you in real life as opposed to actually doing something about it.

What are you talking about?

Why would anybody contact RTE or Revenue to complain about something that has not happened?

We spoke about the possibility of RTE TV channels going FTA on the Sky Digital platform.

It was mentioned that this possibility Could have Government support!

Government Support generally means money and possibly Tax Payer's money being paid to Sky for the carriage of our channels.

I object to this possibility.

It hasn't happened!

So in an echo
Why would I contact anybody about something that has not happened?

flutered

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Strange to see someone objecting to an expression of opinion on Boards.

I expected better.

take a decco at the politics fourm, nothing new in that there

muffler

FRIENDO wrote: »

What are you talking about?

Why would anybody contact RTE or Revenue to complain about something that has not happened?

We spoke about the possibility of RTE TV channels going FTA on the Sky Digital platform.

It was mentioned that this possibility Could have Government support!

Government Support generally means money and possibly Tax Payer's money being paid to Sky for the carriage of our channels.

I object to this possibility.

It hasn't happened!

So in an echo
Why would I contact anybody about something that has not happened?

I read your post as being something that did happen and you were objecting to it thus my comment about doing something about it in RL.

But as it hasnt happened and its only a "possibility" of it happening then there's no need to worry just yet.

FRIENDO

muffler wrote:

But as it hasnt happened and its only a "possibility" of it happening then there's no need to worry just yet.

Thanks Muffler, I don't think it will happen.

However if running "RTE NEWS NOW" Fta on 28e for a foreign market was going to have a financial benefit for Ireland in tourism, it might be a good thing.
However some of our news would possibly scare tourists away.

Or if a Govt department for tourism was to advertise on Foreign channels or even support channel "Irish Tv" Which is FTA on 28E and Freesat/Sky,
If this brought revenue to our Country in Tourism, well that could be a good reason for spending some of our taxes.

We may already give support to channel Irish Tv, I don't know.