Challenge tv coming on Feb 1st

goldiefresh

Challenge tv launching on saorview on February the first. Hopefully more will arrive soon.

zeebre12

Bit of a strange one. Challenge is to launch on Saorview in February https://rxtvinfo.com/2023/challenge-to-launch-on-saorview/

FRIENDO

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058281246/challenge-tv-coming-on-feb-1st

Great news for Saorview, hopefully we will see more

oneilla

I noticed it today when flicking through. Nice to see [I]something[/I] else for a change after only about 11 years. Hopefully it's in 1080 /s

goldiefresh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120159057#Comment_120159057

576 if your lucky. Repeats of bullseye wouldn't look the same otherwise 😁

One More Toy

Retune on my Hitachi shows it as a hidden channel under number 8

zeebre12

So we could see The Chase on simultaneously on 5 channels now

walterking

10 when you add +1

lertsnim

Any addition to Saorview is welcome at this stage but I'd have preferred if they put Pick on there.

How many channels will that be showing old episodes of The Chase.

icdg

Moved to terrestrial and merged. Yeah not sure why they went for Challenge over Pick tbh.

mikeecho

Anything (except shopping and competition channels) is a welcome addition.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161398#Comment_120161398

More choice is always good. Even those sorts of channels for people who like to watch them.

mikeecho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161416#Comment_120161416

I surprised euronews was never added

Or something like skysportsnews... Sky could use that to push advertising for subscription to a sky package.

A classic movie channel would be great as well, TCM or similar.

Wishful thoughts..

I'll stick with my saorview+freesat+ streaming ;-) services

roadmaster

Anything to be said for them buying where in the world and know your sport!

MyHair

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161634#Comment_120161634

Very odd considering RTE1, RTE2 and RTE News all become Euronews mirrors late on into the night. Would make far more sense to just have it as a dedicated channel.

TheRiverman

The Chase,The Chase, The Chase, followed by The Chase and then we'll have The Chase.

I don't get it. 11/12 years ago is when we needed these channels signing up to Saorview, not now with fibre broadband going into every home in the country

marclt

It’s fairly cheap filler for RTE when they have nothing else to show.

Awful lazy scheduling when both stations are showing exactly the same thing and could be easily remedied.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120163235#Comment_120163235

RTE must have enough old programmes in their archive to be able to put up a classics channel similar to BBC Four and ITV41

eddieoregan

ITV 41, crikey how many channels has itv 🤓🤓🤓

RoTelly

Unlikely that anymore channels will be added, I think Challenge is possible the last available slot on the 2 RTÉ MUXes anyone know for certain.

Very odd move considering that cula4/tg4+1 are due to start broadcasting this year.

IMO it would have been better to get Sky Arts or Pick.

I still don't understand how they got on these Muxes, will sky take the BAI commercial Muxes? It might fit with Sky Glass in someway?

TAFKAlawhec

While (almost) any addition to the Saorview TV channel line up is to be welcomed, IMO Challenge is a pale shadow of a channel from what it was 5-10 years ago though if you can't get enough of The Chase on the VM outlets, then there's one more for you soon! I guess that these repeats must be good ratings performers and/or cheap to be shown so often. The days of Challenge taking risks in scheduling some old game show episodes that haven't seen in years if not decades and putting them in a prime time spot has long been over.

As for comments concerning capacity, there's still really at least a bit of room on both muxs - the SD channels on Saorview are running with plenty of bitrate headroom for MPEG4 544x576 vision in comparison to the bitrates for channels both on satellite & UK Freeview which are running a lot of channels with the same resolution but with lower bitrates and using (mostly) MPEG2 as well. Given that the original three slots that Sky had for the original Freeview launch has evolved into broadcasting Sky News, Pick & Challenge, at this stage I wouldn't be surprised if Pick gets added to the Saorview line up in the near future.

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120164563#Comment_120164563

Yeah, but it's mostly tapes of Killinaskully and Hot Milk and Pepper.

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120166217#Comment_120166217

I remember that time period alright, around 2012/13. They were showing early series of Fifteen to One, Blockbusters and Countdown in prime time. As a fan of those 80s/90s shows I loved it. But the first I knew something was wrong when they pulled a 1991 series of Countdown mid series. When questioned on Facebook (not by me) they initially said there was an issue with the tapes but eventually admitted that it wouldn’t be back because they weren’t getting the audience for it.

I’m really tired of The Chase. Overplayed and (in my opinion) not that above board either. I had Challenge since the analogue Sky days and it’s nowhere near as good as back then.

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120166508#Comment_120166508

Naturally, commercial channels will chase audiences and revenue. Same reason why the History Channel gradually morphed into the Ancient Aliens Channel. It's what most people want to see.

Best bet for the old gameshows is YouTube.

lgs 4

Challenge tv coming to Saorview .RTE missed out there .They could have been the first platform to offer Challenge in HD

mikeecho

It's a welcome addition.

But a 24/7 euronews, and rte to fill dead time with old reruns rather than euronews, and a classic movie type channel, would be great

Even local tv, some sort of channel with programs made by secondary school students, or an open access type channel .

But the likes of YouTube have replaced the need for that.

Count Dracula

I hope they show reruns of Grange Hill in the mornings, or at least have a stab at showing some independent world cinema a few nights a week. I have had it with having to flick over reruns of Men in Black.

Would like to see some fringe Irish sports like road bowling, cycling and of course the beach volley womens global tour champion of champion series.

If they even attempt to try it on with that speed cycling I am out.

If you are looking for something off the beaten track I have developed a recent crush on African religious channels, fascinating stuff. There are some hilarious guru type megalomaniac over-zealous preachers condemning Satan and all his evils whist baptising middle aged reborns down at the local river, trust me it is compelling to watch it unfold. There was a special edition of Gospel folk singers performing from Addis Adiba earlier in the week, I actually got into it after a while and was off the couch clapping and swinging the hips singing along to Boogie Ragga versions of Sing Hosanna.

thomasking22008

Would like see add some Irish sport like premier sport free to air showing all Irish sport gaa rugby film4 pick tv euronews Will soarview will add mux 3 and 4 in future ?

TAFKAlawhec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120167541#Comment_120167541

The Saorview network is a (relatively) open one. If a broadcaster has an appropriate licence from the BAI or another similar EU based authority, that 2RN say that they have capacity to accommodate them (either in SD or HD) and they are willing to pony up the cost towards broadcasting on the platform, then they can appear on the platform. 2RN don't chase after broadcasters for content, they simply provide technical "window space" for them.

Otherwise, with some very odd exceptions like Sky Kids (largely thanks to Sky's partnership with Viacom ending regarding Nickelodeon) and That's 60's (music channels aimed at older adults are still getting notable audiences), the days of launching new linear channels - and especially those delivering original content that has not had a place on a linear channel before - are pretty much over. On Demand & streaming is the growing game in town. Events like certain sport(s) competitions that never had a real presence on linear TV have started either adopting their own online PPV models or use the likes of YouTube to stream live or upload coverage of games that have taken place. Same goes for a lot of niche content which not only has a much more comfortable relationship with the internet as a platform, but whose content would be unlikely to ever be profitable from broadcasting.

As for talk concerning the opening of another Saorview multiplex, the chances of that are very slim let alone any talk of a fourth. Take a look at the DTT stats for Saorview on digitalbitrate.com (there's two Irish sites, one for Three Rock & Kippure and another for Clermont Carn) and you can largely see that the SD channels have an average video bitrate of 2-3 Mbit/s (the exception is the Oireachtais channel, which doesn't need much head room for its content). Compare that to 5 Select & TBN on the PSB3 multiplex on Freeview which like the Saorivew SD channels ('xcept Sky News) are 544x576 resolution with MPEG4 video - they're running average video bitrates of 0.6-0.7 Mbit/s!😲. I reckon after Challenge is added, 2RN could if needed squeeze another 1-2 SD services on both multiplexes before opening a third multiplex would need to be considered, without affecting the picture quality of the current TV channels on the platform much. And if a third multiplex is being considered, there's a complication of the BAI approved cost model for how much broadcasters are charged that makes the potential cost of a channel launching on a new multiplex fairly expensive unless there are other broadcasters willing to add channels to it as so to spread costs.

The recent additions of Sky News & (soon to be) Challenge have been nice surprises. But nobody should be getting their hopes up of Saorview suddenly exploding with content any time in the future.

marclt

Surely in value for money terms, there is an onus on Saorview to fill any spare capacity? To offset cost to the taxpayer?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120174093#Comment_120174093

RTE show consideration to the tax payer?? 🤣

batistuta9

A worthless addition. Makes VM4 look good in comparison & that takes some doing.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120169978#Comment_120169978

I don't see how it is relatively open when you consider the fuss that TV3 caused for UTV Ireland and having to have the minister issue a public service designation. I also don't agree either recent additions of Sky News and Sky's Challenge or for that matter VMTV FOUR are much of a nice surprise. It would be nicer if the public service mux at least asked that Sky provide a some Irish content on either channel, but perhaps Sky might consider Irish sporting rights like the RWC and carry the Irish games on either of the now FTA channels!

TAFKAlawhec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120176700#Comment_120176700

Issues concerning local licencing doesn't affect the case that the current (and sole) DTT network infrastructure provider in the country, under the brand name of Saorview, is operated as a "relatively" open platform. In this way, 2RNs customers are the broadcasters whom are willing to pay, not the viewers of its broadcasts. They have no business case or legal mandate to add TV or audio services beyond those interested in their services as they are regulated, programme content is up to the broadcasters whom rent capacity on the infrastructure. Any issues concerning that either need to be directed at the broadcaster concerned or though other political means (BAI, local TD etc.).

As for recent additions to the platform, wherever a station is a "good" addition will be subjective. For viewers relying on DTT without any other "linear" service, they are extra options to have available. My "nice surprise" referred to service(s) suddenly appearing on the platform that had be static for many years.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120183565#Comment_120183565

So if I contact the BAI/Department/Local TD, much like TV3 did back in 2014, the Dept should ask the BAI to carry out a public service review and then the minister based on the BAI's report should delegate it as a public service broadcaster.

Glaceon

Looks like it went live at 10:30 judging by the EPG data. 544x576 but that was to be expected, it's no better on satellite.

FRIENDO

Nice Challenge Logo on the EPG, No Serial link on the channel yet!

L1011

The break bumpers are significantly louder than the content, or even the ads. That is going to be very irritating.

Gerry Wicklow

It's a good job I don't intend watching this. The onscreen questions text on Millionaire was almost illegible.

Glaceon

Looks like they're using a constant bitrate which seems odd to me. Also, they're pillarboxing 4:3 content which would reduce the horizontal resolution even further compared to if they transmitted it in 4:3 with the correct flags.

Mickey Mike

Its a sad state of affairs that we are given this rubbish, its already available free to air on satellite, I just feel 2rn wants to fill up the muxes and get done with it after 10 years of stalling. If only we could get VM1 HD I'd be happy enough.

marclt

Is this the same on their Irish version on Astra? Seems an odd thing to do.

I think the Irish ads are more pixelated on Astra than the programming, maybe something to do with how they are played out?

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120189795#Comment_120189795

2RN do not decide which commercial broadcasters decide it's worth going on Saorview.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120190558#Comment_120190558

No but AFAIR UTV Ireland had to get a public service delegation from the minister to broadcast on the service somthing that neither VMTV FOUR, SKY NEWS or Challenge seemed to get.

https://archive.ph/20141206222159/http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/2014/Minister+designates+new+UTV+Ireland+channel+for+carriage+on+SAORVIEW.htm#selection-517.0-521.218

The Minister for Communications, Alex White, T.D., today signed the order designating the new UTV Ireland television service for carriage on SAORVIEW. The decision means that Irish television viewers who rely on the SAORVIEW platform will be able to view the new service when it launches on New Year’s Day 2015.

The designation was made following a determination that UTV Ireland “is a television service having the character of a public service.” The designation was made under section 130(1)(a)(iv) of the Broadcasting Act 2009.

decor58

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120189795#Comment_120189795

I would agree, of all channels available but a commercial operator looks at the figures, what does it cost to run and broadcast one of these channels. It may also be a situation where 2rn allow the service to develop with a view to selling the operation, it is what 15 years old, running and upgrade costs. Also RTE news are not allowed carry ads, which may have helped develop the service, is it still need in today's connected world, look at BBC news stream lining. There is a reasonable argument, licence supported v commercial but then what 4 commercial channels have joined the platform since launch.

lawred2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120159132#Comment_120159132

Can't ever get enough of tipping point though

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120192458#Comment_120192458

RTÉ could ask the minister to allow them start carrying adds on RTÉ News and the extra radio stations.

webwayz

It is a pity that there are not more stations, BBC News would be good. It is a pity that BBC 1 NI and UTV are not mandated to be distributed to the south on saorview, the way TG4 is under the Belfast agreement and the way RTE One and Two Freeview CH 54 & 55 in some parts of the North (with MPEG4 / HD equipment even though it is SD.

Mickey Mike

But we have all them on satellite

Gerry Wicklow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120198040#Comment_120198040

I've been thinking the same thing. Who, in this day and age, relies exclusively on Saorview? Ok it may be useful for a 2nd set or something but I reckon most people will have access to the likes of Challenge or Sky News on satellite already. As a licence payer a part of me is happy to see some extra income for Saorview but boy is it the lowest of the low hanging fruit.