TG4 transmission to NI

Charles Slane

Originally spotted (and posted) by DPSF on the DigitalSpy forum -

"From the 'Irish Times'. Does this mean that RTE is on the way??

A move that will extend the reach of TG4 to Irish speakers in the North has been welcomed.

SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Dominic Bradley today welcomed the news that TG4 will begin broadcasting from Belfast in the spring.

A proposed international agreement between the British and Irish governments will enable the acclaimed station to broadcast from an analogue transmitter on Divis mountain, which overlooks Belfast, enabling all parts of the city and most of Northern Ireland to receive TG4 on standard television sets.

The station will then become available to the people in the North, including 167,000 Irish speakers.

Mr Bradley said: "This move is welcome, but it is long overdue considering it was a commitment made by both governments in the Good Friday Agreement.

"It is not purely a matter of Irish-language programming. TG4 provides unique coverage of cultural affairs loosely associated with the language and has proved highly innovative in many aspects of its programming.

Its popularity at all levels from music to sport shows that it has itself become a vibrant part of Irish culture," he said."

Ulsterman 1690

What channel will it be on ?

I thought there were no spare UHF frequencies for new analouge services

Or did the find one down the back of the sofa ?

DMC

Freeview and Sky Digita, more than likely.

Ulsterman 1690

I suspect youre right although there seems to be some confusion in media reports (nothing new there) Initial reports suggested it would be freeview but in the last few weeks they are now saying its going to be analouge.

They could probably transmit it in place of those useless shopping channels or maybe they could use an additional digital multiplex on Channel 62 from Divis and give the current occupants of Ch 62 ( http://www.northernvisions.org/nvtv/receivingNvTv.html )some space on said multiplex which would give them far better coverage than that theyre getting at the moment

Charles Slane

If that was the case, why specifically say "will enable the acclaimed station to broadcast from an analogue transmitter on Divis mountain, which overlooks Belfast, enabling all parts of the city and most of Northern Ireland to receive TG4 on standard television sets" ?

It seems a strange thing to just make up. Especially making the point of saying an "analogue" transmitter.

lawhec

It IS due to be broadcast on analogue from Divis Mountain - a contract to tender the installiation was put out last year which was won by NTL broadcast. However I know little else, including the frequency, ERP and even the polarisation!

This reminds me of Ian Paisleys objections to the holywell hill RTÉ tx when it was first installed.
He roared... that it was spreading free state propaganda to NI...