Saorview Update - October 2021

StreetLight

Saorview Information channel has moved from LCN 27 to 23.

2RN test pattern on LCN 51 is no longer hidden. Pressing the Blue button on a Hbb-equipped TV will show a Red button prompt labelled 'Brúigh', which will lead to extra text-based information, such as 2RN transmitter news. The audio, which previously carried Lyric FM, has been replaced with a 1kHz tone.

StreetLight

Change to LCN 51 (still unhidden) again today:

Blue and Red button features disabled.

On the soundtracks, Lyric FM is on the English, Raidio na Gaeltachta on the Irish, test tone on the Audio Description.

The Cush

Also keep an eye on LCNs 28 & 29, both hidden, there has been some testing on 28 - HbbTV?, 29 is named "Saorview Information"

Previous HbbTV testing thread - 2rn Hbb TV tests — boards.ie - Now Ye're Talkin'

StreetLight

Previously hidden placeholders from 33 to 49 are now no longer selectable.

The Cush

Aertel 169

mackersdublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058212985/saorview-update-october-2021

It makes you wonder why they moved it from 23 to 27 a few years ago, to now move it back to its original LCN

Also, there's no Label on LCN 23, with EPG data in English and Irish every 24 hours

Just did a retune on a Saorview approved TV and it finds 59 channels on the 2 Muxes, why are Saorview still putting loads of hidden channels on its service 🤷

dublinman1990

When I did the retune on Saorview earlier on a non HbbTv box; I do get the HD test channel on it. I did not receive any of the HbbTV test channels; however you do get a message that says "Load MHEG 5" written there on some channels instead.

StreetLight

The Saorview information video is now being simulcast on channel 29, with a label, but still hidden. It looks like it will be moved here after Sky News launches on channel 23.

FRIENDO

Channel 29 Saorview information, is showing this screen.

The picture is going in and out of focus

butwhynot

Just noticed the HD test was removed from LCN 14, presumably to make room for Sky News. (It happened on the 25th according to DigitalBitrate).

Interesting that 209 is shown on Saorview Info despite being hidden.

butwhynot

LCN 211 broadcasting silence (for UCB Ireland?) Not sure when it started though.

SPDUB

Oireachtas TV is on air today (sunday) and it has subtitles

dublinman1990

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118231535#Comment_118231535

I saw that happen during the week as well. What are the plans for the HD test channel. Will it be able to return to Saorview any time soon? Are the HbbTV tests for Saorview Connect still continuing on as normal?

StreetLight

The test channel on 51 and the blank TV placeholders have all been removed (for the moment!). Still no video on the Information Channel 29, which has remained blank since VM4 launched.

Iderown

The 2RN test channel (hidden 51) was back for a while here (Clermont Carn) this morning. Did I see a "red button" teletext test involving a graphic matrix?

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119637311#Comment_119637311

I did a check here after that post and all the hidden channels and test channel were there, they didn't disappear for long.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119637311#Comment_119637311

This is now currently on Ch 29.

mackersdublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119784836#Comment_119784836

I've noticed RTÉ Chill is no longer hidden on LCN 209

butwhynot

Ch 50 now has a test card, though its slightly different to Ch 51

LCN 50:

LCN 51:

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119797678#Comment_119797678

LCN 50 is an MHEG-5 generated testcard, why?

Maybe check it out during the day when the do their HBBtv tests.

Also, the Saorview Information channel is now MHEG-5 generated. Both running on very low bitrates.

StreetLight

A strange anomaly with my Walker TV (again). It will display the MHEG5 slate on Channel 29, but when it comes to the MHEG5 test pattern on Channel 50, the TV dispays 'No Video Available', then goes into an endless cycle of crashes and reboots unless the channel-up or down button is pressed quickly during the reboot to get it onto any other channel.

All my other TVs display Channel 50 without issue.

BuzzG

I wonder if the MHEG5 test pattern on Channel 50 is a precursor to the launch of another channel with the data freed up from being used for channel 51, so 50 becomes the test channel for the trade.

Schorpio

I've posted in the Saorview HD thread, but it's relevant here too.

TG4 seems to be broadcasting in HD this morning. My box is reporting a resolution of 1440x1080.

BuzzG

Time for RTÉ NL to fire up another mux for future growth.

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119950748#Comment_119950748

RTE has only been allocated 2 muxes under the broadcasting act, any further mux has to be allocated by the BAI as per the act.

The running cost of any further mux will have to be borne by the users of the existing muxes as per the tariff model.

Digifriendly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119950748#Comment_119950748

Please no, not more empty carriers as I have to delete these every time I do a rescan here in N.Ireland and channels end up up all over the place.

StreetLight

A new MHEG5-generated test card has appeared on LCN 8, probably for the upcoming launch of Cúla4.

dublinman1990

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120146545#Comment_120146545

I presume this test card is in SD.

Could you tell us the resolution?

FRIENDO

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120146545#Comment_120146545

If it is Cula 4, I thought it would be on channel 18 after RTE JR.

Maybe Channel 8 is something else

thesandeman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120154101#Comment_120154101

Probably VM5. They really need more space to showcase their wide selection of programmes 🙄😂

Hotblack Desiato

Virgin Media Chase and Virgin Media Chase +1

butwhynot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120155450#Comment_120155450

Not far off...

StreetLight

Wow. Didn't see that one coming. Challenge TV launches on Saorview on 1st of February.

Glaceon

Another Sky owned channel. I'm surprised there's room for anything else.

galtee boy

Challenge will be in glorious blurry standard definition I presume ?

Glaceon

It's in 544x576 on satellite so I won't be expecting much.

mackersdublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120155450#Comment_120155450

And guess what programme is on Challenge tonight at 8pm & 9pm - The Chase 😀

It is good news though that more channels are joining the platform. The version carried on Sky and VM here has Irish Adverts just like on Sky News. I would of thought Pick would be ahead of Challenge in terns of joining Saorview

Ah no, perma reruns of old game shows. Way to raise the quality on the platform, not. A waste of bandwidth IMO.

JDxtra

Sky Arts would have been another option - looking at the BARB figures it has has slightly higher % share than Challenge and Pick. Plus it has the "Sky" name in the title.

FRIENDO

Obviously there is a good viewership for Game shows on Saorview, I'm sure Sky have done their research in bringing Challenge to the platform

dublinman1990

I would have never thought Challenge would have joined Saorview. It is a very odd decision by Sky to put it out on Saorview of all places. I would place Sky Arts and Pick into a higher calibre of channel to launch on the platform rather than Challenge.

galtee boy

What we really need to boost Saorview is the likes of CH4 or CNN or BBC World News, but I suppose there's a better chance of being struck by lightning.

mackersdublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120157719#Comment_120157719

BBC World News is due to merge with BBC News in the next year or so as part of more cost cutting. Considering BBC News is not on the ROI Sky EPG, I would very much doubt that ever launching on Saorview

FRIENDO

Well it is good to see Challenge, what would be a real bonus would be Sky Sports News, I remember once having it on Freeview terrestrial, think it was replaced by Sky 2/Pick TV

SKY Sports News would be a winner on Saorview

Ch 8 now active on the Saorview EPG with a Challenge logo on screen.

dublinman1990

BBC World News and BBC News Channel in the UK are due to be merged in April of this year.

However, the head of BBC News, Deborah Turness has mentioned in an interview to The Times newspaper this week that the merger of the two channels will end up either in a soft launch for now or it could be facing a delay into later in the year.

There is no update yet as to when the new studios will be in place to host the new channel. There is meant to be a building upgrade to take place for three studios and the newsroom owned by BBC News later this year.

One studio is used for BBC World News bulletins. That is Studio C.

Studio E is the one facing the newsroom which houses the NC bulletins and the News at 1. It is also the old studio for the 6 and 10.

And then there is Studio D which is used for BBC London weekend bulletins and HardTalk. That studio is apparently meant to be turned into a flash studio for opt-outs for UK breaking news.

There will be also three presenters that will be leaving or have left BBC News already. David Eades has already left the channel. Joanna Gosling & Tim Willcox will leave soon after him.

Glaceon

2RN seem to be using MHEG-5 more in recent times, with the test card on 50 and now this placeholder. The placeholder for Sky News was an actual 544x576 video feed.

mackersdublin

LCN 8 no longer hidden

StreetLight

Channel now labelled as 'Challenge'.

Atlantic Dawn

Is there criteria for coming to Saorview that your channel is sheite and as non watched as possible on Freesat before it gets easily back of a cigarette box approved? Pick as mentioned would have suited the Sky agenda in driving potential customer to that. GB News would have been a great 'news' addition.

Hotblack Desiato

Not in channel listings or selectable directly on my TVheadend setup as of last night, does someone upstream have to update a channel list?