Is It About Time For An Irish Sky News

Mossy Monk · 11-09-2001 2:09am #1

yes it is, because i for one am sick of turning on channel 501 and hearing nothing but British news.

what does everyone else think?

Tom · 11-09-2001 7:45am

I can't see Sky spending more money to add an Irish version of Sky News. They will make money out of Irish Advertising because people here are watching Sky News anyway as it is. Why spend more than you have to?

Richard · 11-09-2001 9:46am

When RTE launch their News Channel, SKy might be worried about the competition and do opt-outs. Apparenlty the ITN News Channel has opt-outs on some Cable services in the UK so that might happen at some stage with ntl: Ireland.

Xterminator · 11-09-2001 10:06am

Perhaps theyu could take a leaf from the sun and the mirror, and 'Irishise' the news by putting 1 irish news item in each bulletin, and covering gaelic games in the sports section.

I'm sure this would placate those missing Irish news. Or else they could give us back the Tara channel, for all things Irish.

X

Richard · 11-09-2001 11:03am

Originally posted by Xterminator
they could give us back the Tara channel, for all things Irish.

'They' haven't taken Tara away. RTE have.

jaarius · 11-09-2001 11:41am

i think it was last week this was on the Last Word. some dude was on and said that sky news has never made any money and that it suffered because of the service it provides. so having an irish one would cause more expense. plus if they did it would only be available on digital... those who do not have it will be left out.

j

Richard · 11-09-2001 12:02pm

Originally posted by jaarius
plus if they did it would only be available on digital

Why would it only be on Digital? At present, the cable companies in Ireland take Sky News off digital sat. So they couild just take an Irish version and relay it to cable and MMDS - both analogue and digital. In fact the cable companies are supposed to take the Irish ads Sky News feed at the moment but not all do.

Mossy Monk · 11-09-2001 8:21pm

if a channel in its own right is not viable how about one of those video screens on Sky News Active giving us Irish news

stuartfanning · 12-09-2001 7:25pm

It's not going to happen. ROI is to small a market for a news channel of it's own. Cable would, of course, be the only viable choice for opt outs - but I doubt that NTL would be interested in getting involved in that. So make do with RTE News at 18.00 & 21.00, you really can't expect much more.

Richard · 13-09-2001 10:07am

Originally posted by stuartfanning
Cable would, of course, be the only viable choice for opt outs -

Why? - If you mean that extra capacity would be needed on for two versions - well ther are already 4 versions of Sky News on DSat - for the UK and ROI - two versions each for Sat and cable viewers.

but I doubt that NTL would be interested in getting involved in that. So make do with RTE News at 18.00 & 21.00, you really can't expect much more.

If an Irish version exists, ntl: will carry it - they already carry the Irish ads versions of Sky News and SKy One.

Is It About Time For An Irish Sky News

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