RTE to be added to Sky Dig in April

Gunn4r

Todays irish times has the story, RTE to sign up for broadcast beginning April

Now all of Europe can enjoy the Cassidy's ;-)

Nero

Where exactly, in my exitement I can't find it ????

DMC

I cant find that either, either online on on the work intranet. Can you copy it across for us?

phoenix2181

its on the hard copy irish times on the business section!

DMC

Yes, a friend has kindly read it out for me over the phone.

Nice one! :cool: :cool: :cool:

Charles Slane

I've read it too. It's on the first page of Business 1, but I can't find it anywhere on the online service. If i find it, I'll copy a link.

This is BIG news for the readers of this forum and for Irish broadcasting in general.

First of all, it's great news for Sky Digital subscribers who may suffer from weak terrestrial analogue signals.

Secondly it opens the door for things like Irish digital text, interactivity and that famous 24 hour news channel that RTE have been on about for ages.

Thirdly it's bound to have a huge impact on the potential success of any Irish terrestrial digital service. It must also have a negative effect on the value of the transmission network that RTE are selling.

Fourthly it's going to send NTL and Chorus into a panic. Their services are really being undermined now that most of the channels are available on Sky digital (UTV will surely appear on the EPG soon, TV3 may even strike a deal with RTE to share costs, and that just leaves Channel 4).

Fifthly it brings up the issue of a free to view card for ROI. One should be made available. And if not, why not ?

And sixthly (is there such a word as "sixthly" ?) it's good news for us lazy Sky digital subscribers who just don't have the energy to press the "TV" button.

Lots of talking points there. Hopefully some of the issues will become clearer when the deal is signed and the interested parties issue their press releases.

Why-if they've signed up wait untill April???
Planning permission for a dish-my AUNT Sally!
Theres more dishes out in Donnybrook than theres in my Dish washer!
I tell you all theres more to this than meets the eye.
mm

Marconi

RTE has confirmed that it has signed a deal with SKY. Check it out on their own business web site at http://www.onbusiness.ie/2001/1123/rte.html

Planning permission for the earth station dish has been applied for - permission is required on the grounds of size, public health & safety issues, etc. - hopefully this will only be a formality.

DMC

http://www.rte.ie/news/2001/1123/rte.html

RTÉ signs up to Sky Digital platform Friday, November 23 2001
Filed at: 11:11 AM

---

RTÉ programmes are to be broadcast on the Sky Digital platform from April, under a deal signed this morning between RTÉ and BSkyB.

RTE says the deal will make programmes on RTE 1, Network 2 and TG 4 available to new audiences, particularly in Northern Ireland.


Output will continue to be available on the existing terrestrial services, including cable. The four radio channels will also be available to listeners in Britain, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.


Sky's chief operating officer Richard Freudenstein said they would be giving RTÉ top positioning in its Electronic Programme Guide for Ireland. He has also confirmed that Sky now has almost 194,000 digital subscribers in Ireland.


This week the UK station, ITV, announced it was paying Sky Digital £17m to appear on the Sky digital platform. However, neither RTÉ nor Sky would confirm what, if any, payment was being made to Sky.

---

and

http://www.onbusiness.ie/2001/1123/rte.html

(same text!)

DMC

Well done there Marconi, just a few seconds out...

Charles Slane

So when do we start searching for tests ? Will we have to wait for RTE to build their uplink dish, or is there a way to start testing without it ?

Has this board ever been so busy ?

What a great place for information !! Well done to everyone for sharing the knowledge !!

phoenix2181

RTÉ programmes will be broadcast on Sky Digital from April as part of a new deal between the national broadcaster and BSkyB, it emerged today.

Neither RTÉ or BSkyB would say how much RTÉ paid for the deal. British station ITV are known to have paid Sky Digital £17 million sterling for the equivalent deal.

In a statement today, RTÉ said: "The contract to join the Sky Digital platform is the latest step in ensuring universal availability for RTÉ viewers and listeners in the digital age".

Director-General of RTÉ Mr Bob Collins said: "Our presence on the Sky Digital platform will make RTÉ channels available to new audiences - and strengthen the choice of access for many of our existing viewers and listeners".

He said: "It is of particular importance to us that as a result of this agreement, which is funded through our commercial resources, we have significantly increased the distribution of our TV channels in Northern Ireland".

RTÉ’s existing channels - RTÉ 1, Network 2, TG4 and four radio channels - will still be available on the existing terrestrial services including cable.

The four radio channels will also be available to listeners in Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

BSkyB chief operating officer Mr Richard Freudenstein said: "I am delighted to welcome the RTÉ channels to Sky Digital and to the top positions on our electronic Programme Guide in Ireland."

all we now is those 26 german porn channels ali g was talking about the other week

Charles Slane

"all we now is those 26 german porn channels ali g was talking about the other week"

I assumed RTE were going to start their own porn channel. Filming has already started on "Debbie does Glenroe" and "Bachelors Wa*k". That * is intended to be an "L", honest.

phoenix2181

yea & rumor goes that gay byrne and pat kenny are doing a christmas special instead of the toy show "the late late fu*K"
or so i been told........Irish television is the dog's......

DMC

and now, the full press release from RTÉ.....

23 November 2001

RTÉ joins the Sky Digital Platform

RTÉ has today signed contracts to join the Sky Digital platform, with effect from April 2002. As a result RTÉ One, Network 2 and TG4 and the four radio channels will be available to all Sky subscribers on the island of Ireland. In addition the four radio channels will be available to listeners in Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

In announcing this development RTÉ's Director-General, Bob Collins, said: "Our presence on the Sky Digital platform will make RTE channels available to new audiences - and strengthen the choice of access for many of our existing viewers and listeners. It is of particular importance to us that as a result of this agreement, which is funded through our commercial resources, we have significantly increased the distribution of our TV channels in Northern Ireland."

Sky's Chief Operating Officer, Richard Freudenstein, said: "I am delighted to welcome the RTE channels to Sky Digital and to the top positions on our Electronic Programme Guide in Ireland. Sky now offers the strongest line-up of channels and the best value in multichannel TV. We look forward to working with RTÉ and to the launch early next year."

As Ireland's public sector broadcaster RTÉ is determined to be universally available throughout the country in the easiest and most accessible way possible for all audiences. To this end the organisation is, as a matter of policy, platform neutral and works with all platform operators including cable and satellite - and will, in the future, do so with digital terrestrial operators. The contract to join the Sky Digital platform is the latest step in ensuring universal availability for RTÉ viewers and listeners in the digital age.

Date: Friday 23 November 2001
Issued by RTÉ Public Affairs
For further information:
For RTÉ
Deirdre Henchy, RTÉ Public Affairs on (01) 208 2486

For Sky
Sarah Heaney, Park Communications, Dublin on (01) 676 5297
Julian Eccles, Sky, London on 0207 705 3000

Goink

"welcome the RTE channels to Sky Digital and to the top positions on our Electronic Programme Guide in Ireland"

Does this mean that
RTE1 will be 101
Network 2 .....102 etc ????

Gadgie

Originally posted by Goink
"welcome the RTE channels to Sky Digital and to the top positions on our Electronic Programme Guide in Ireland"

Does this mean that
RTE1 will be 101
Network 2 .....102 etc ????

I believe so, yes.

Glenn

Richard

Originally posted by Glennus


I believe so, yes.

Glenn

I wonder where they will go in Northern Ireland. Possibly:

214 RTE1
215 Net2
216 TV3 or TG4

with the other one elsewhere. Or they may be all somewhere totally different.

ShaneOC

Does anyone know where there is such a delay? I know that RTE have applied for planning permission for a new dish but they already have a presence on Astra in the form of RTE Radio 1 and Tara. Surely they could uplink to the satellite using existing equipment while they are waiting for the dedicated uplink dish to go through the planning process.

DMC

At present, RTÉ uplink Tara TV from Dublin to Intelsat 601, then BSkyB then uplink to Astra 2, and RTÉ Radio 1 is broadcast through the World Radio Network.

They cant uplink using the existing technology, because it costs to much, and RTÉ is a cash strapped organisation. Better to have your own uplink than to rent, it's a better long-term solution.

And so we wait (but it'll be worth it :cool: )

Lennoxschips

Does this mean I'll be able to watch Winning Streak with Mick Murphy in Holland?

chernobyl

Originally posted by Lennoxschips
Does this mean I'll be able to watch Winning Streak with Mick Murphy in Holland?

If you have an ROI viewing card then yes, or even a NI card.

DMC

Originally posted by Lennoxschips
Does this mean I'll be able to watch Winning Streak with Mick Murphy in Holland?

No, but you may be able to watch Winning Streak with Derek Mooney, as Chernobyl said, with the right card.

I wonder will Mike ever come back?

But you dont want to see Telly Bingo now!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

bofh

RTE reported to have paid Sky £6M for three year deal.
Irish Independent Report


And has it upset the cable companies !!!

Tom Dunne

Originally posted by bofh


And has it upset the cable companies !!!

I think it is absoloutely incredible that Chorus and NTL think they have a right to money from RTE for carrying their stations. If I remember correctly, when I had Chorus, RTE wasn't available - I had to switch over to the rabbit's ears thingy. Is RTE now on Chorus analogue?

TD:mad:

ELITESAT

as an ex ntl and chorus tec there in a bad way with 6/9 mmds customers being lost every day.
with no money and no hope chorus look the worst and thier digital mmds platform wont reach 50% of their customers and lucent phone less than 3/10

Gadgie

Originally posted by tom dunne


I think it is absoloutely incredible that Chorus and NTL think they have a right to money from RTE for carrying their stations. If I remember correctly, when I had Chorus, RTE wasn't available - I had to switch over to the rabbit's ears thingy. Is RTE now on Chorus analogue?

I'd like to see them try and drop RTE if they don't give them any money - they'd lose most of their customers.

Incidentally, one day recently I was feeling bored so I decided to indulge in a little NTL-bashing to make myself feel better. I fired off an e-mail to them saying how their MMDS service was false advertising because it said they offered RTE when they knew that people would have to fork out about another £30 to get an aerial for it. Needless to say they didn't bother replying and they haven't changed their website

Also I read somewhere (here?) that NTL said they weren't worried by RTE appearing on Sky because they reckoned that their digital package was better value for money than Sky!!

Says it all really..... hopeless wan*ers...

ELITESAT

ntl have publicly said that there letting the mmds project slip and the mmds network is up for sale any one got £20m to spare and they can buy another big pink elephant

Charles Slane

Independent News and Media are moaning about RTE paying to go onto Sky Digital here -

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/finance/2001/1204/fin7.htm

PacMan

This looks like a case of "Politics". The irish Times reporting that the Independent is unhappy with BSkyB and RTE going to bed together. The irish Times did correctly report that The Indo group owns 50% of Chorus.
However the reason the irish Times is in so much trouble in part relates to its new printing plant. At the time of its construction the Times, declined an offer from News International (Murdoch) for a shareholding in the plant to reprint its irish versions from the Murdoch stable.
Looks like the Times and the Independent group have all reason to be afraid of the Murdoch machine and more importantly his Money............