Saorview Updates - 2025

Mickey Mike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123453792#Comment_123453792

100% correct

RoTelly

Just thinking about this as RTÉ are dropping their Digital Radio stations from Saorview but why not add BBC NI stations to the line up to replace them? BBC Radio Ulster and Foyle, as the cost isn't as great as adding TV.

brendan001

Can anyone confirm if VM have any plans to move to HD from the current SD format. Very poor quality picture and very noticeable during sports broadcasts.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123759814#Comment_123759814

Can anyone confirm if TV3 are even thinking about doing this?

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123759799#Comment_123759799

Even if the BBC were willing to allow it, who is going to pay them to do it?

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123759911#Comment_123759911

As I say as Audio would be a much cheaper than TV surely both NI stations could air, after all when the 4 other channels go there is space, may as well add them. RTÉ can pay for them, how much for an audio channel on Soarview?

Hotblack Desiato

Yes, bandwidth is low but what about the royalty issues? (And I don't mean Charlie!)

RTE are not going to be paying to add a competitor.

speedbird834

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123759814#Comment_123759814

Sports is unwatchable on VM IMHO - I now use the player on an Apple TV

Mickey Mike

I just watch the news on VM1/TV3, nothing else. You would imagine a group, organisation or something would get that thing on HD! we know about cost and all that, but make it mean something. I can't see it happening now because its of none importance

brendan001

I would have expected the LOI to insist on HD broadcast of their offering during the contract negotiations with VM and try to present the best possible product for the viewer. They have gone backwards in my opinion. Everything is blurry compared to anything on RTE/TG4.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123760086#Comment_123760086

Are there royalty issues, I'd say BBC Radio is covered worldwide.

then RTÉ should be told to keep their digital Radio stations.

JMcL

VM Saorview picture quality is abysmal - it really should be part of their national broadcast license terms that they provide a HD stream for Saorview. Quality is so poor during rugby matches that I'd nearly go for ITV coverage over it. I can't imagine football is any better.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123765152#Comment_123765152

You do know that the BBC has been blocking BBC Sounds outside the UK?

dam099

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123765243#Comment_123765243

I don't really watch anything else on VM so not their target audience I guess, but I would watch the Ireland rugby matches and for any of the games on VM if BBC/ITV have the game I watch it there rather than VM.

Given VM are a cable TV provider I am sure they rather push people to watch there (where it is in HD) so I agree the only way I see them going to HD on Saorview especially given the extra cost is if they are forced to by a licence condition.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123765259#Comment_123765259

I have seen this but perhaps under that famous MoU that Eamon Ryan signed the BBC NI Radio stations might come under this MoU. I am surprised that no one has brought this up in relation to BBC Radio.

Charles Babbage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123765243#Comment_123765243

Transmission should be directly subsidised from the TV licence, to keep costs moderate for any station. Then HD should be a requirement of any licenced station.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123765390#Comment_123765390

The infamous MoU said that BBC services would be available free to air across the island of Ireland - they are - on satellite.

The BBC quite understandably does not want to incur extra royalty costs or streaming costs or bandwidth costs for non-UK viewers and listeners who don't pay for a UK TV licence.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123766234#Comment_123766234

That's a very iffy result.

But I would continue to Argue that RTÉ are dropping their stations and why not get BBC and the community channels on Soarview as part of its mandate as a PUBLIC SERVICE PLATFORM.

decor58

The same issue remains to be answered, who pays for broadcasting these stations. RTE is dropping the digital stations as a cost cutting measure, so do they then spend the money saved broadcasting a foreign station. The BBC radio stations are available free to air on satellite or on smart speakers, mobile phones, tablets, pcs, to those interested. None of the independent radio stations were on Saorview or the dab service while it ran, some of the independents now operate a limited trial dab service, it would be interesting to see the listener figures for that service.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767303#Comment_123767303

Not to repeat but RTÉ could drop certain expenses, but then they could do this for their own stations!

RTÉ part funds the broadcast of Oireachtas TV on Soarview, after the House of the Oireachtas complained about the fee.

Are the live stations still available on smart speakers, just BBC sounds is geoblocked? In any case adding just BBC Ulster and Foyle to Soarview isn't going to be a massive undertaking.

Anyway AFAIK RTÉ, Virgin Media TV, TG4 and Sky will pick up the tab when the Radio stations go.

Aidan McCarthy

If RTE decided to remove its RTE radio channels from saorview than I have said this before. Virgin media could launch virgin media one +1 and then have the other channel virgin media one in HD but I can't see the point of BBC radio stations on saorview

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123778232#Comment_123778232

Because VMTV won't add either HD or +1, and to be clear I am only asking the BBC Radio Ulster and Foyle be added. (Is Foyle even a full station? So I might just be suggesting BBC Radio Ulster)

Aidan McCarthy

I know they won't but they should but I can not see it happening any time soon

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123778273#Comment_123778273

TBH VMTV should not have been allowed to rebrand, and they should not have been allowed to add VMTV FOUR to their line up of channels, the CnaM should have told them to bring HD to saorview and to improve programming on VMTV TWO and THREE first.

Glaceon

I think they should have been compelled to have at least VM One in HD. But that ship has long since sailed, it's all about streaming and apps now.

Hotblack Desiato

RTE have no plans to remove their "normal" radio stations from Saorview.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123778613#Comment_123778613

Radio 1, 2FM, Lyric, RnaG and the not so normal GOLD, will remain.

thomasking22008

I was checking some test card number CH25 starting test card full HD

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123783065#Comment_123783065

Just checking my TV, even though it's a HD transmission the TV isn't indicating such like RTÉ 1, 2 etc.

Mickey Mike

Yes its all systems go VM1 HD, is that what it is?