RTE/Net2/TV3 on Sky????

LegacyUser

Sounds good. The Irish television stations on Sky.
Although the RTE signal is pretty good here in Munster, I always switch to Tara (On Sky Digital) to watch the news, primetime etc, as the picture is much better. I hope that talks between Sky and RTE/TV3 work out to our advantage.
Any Ideas????

LegacyUser

I think that TV3 is slowly but surely becoming ITV Ireland. UTV don't like this as can be seen from all of the billboards around the place asking us to watch Coronation Street on their channel.

TV3 are supposedly in talks with Sky Digital about being carried on Digital Satellite. This may be helped by the fact that Granada TV own a portion of TV3 and will be having discussions with Sky themselves about moving onto Sky Digital (supposedly this summer) along with all of the other ITV regions, including UTV.

This can only help us with regards to the rest of the terrestrial channels. If TV3 goes onto Satellite, I cannot imagine RTE being to far behind. Similarly when UTV goes onto the satellite I can't see them restricting their signal to the North, and once we get UTV, BBC NI should not be too far behind.

I think it is interesting that E4 have a number of promos on for Channel 4 programmes. Why can we get one of their channels on satellite and not the other ??? I have sent mails but no response yet.

God - I do go on.

LegacyUser

Even if all the Irish and most british terrestrial go on sky ireland will people in dublin still pay ntl £9 per month for ITV?It wont be on sky for another while yet,so will people pay this big price for 1 channel?I doubt it,as Corrie and Emmerdale are on TV3.I think people can live without Tarrants Millionaire.I would think that the only show people would miss is the Bill.

LegacyUser

Like ShaneOC I have e-mailed BBC/UTV/CH4 and Sky about this. I however have received replies about this from the BBC and Sky. Both were evedently press releases re-hashed for replies to e-mails.
It basically said that BBC was NOT available outside the UK.
I have to agree with Gopher that UTV will probally be the most upset to see TV3 on Sky Ireland. Looking at all their web domains at the end of their Belfast Productions Utv.co.uk and utv.ie etc etc It seems they want us to watch them and not TV3.
Anyhow this conversation I am sure will continue.

LegacyUser

whats the email addresses of the approprite departments for the various British and Irish terrestrial broadcasters

LegacyUser

Here are the addresses as requested

BBC: reception@bbc.co.uk

Channel4: dot4@channel4.com

Channel5: dutyoffice@channel5.co.uk

RTE: Broadcasting Development - Overseas and Satellite info: haydej@rte.ie

TV3: info@tv3.ie

LegacyUser

thanks

LegacyUser

I do not think RTÉ or TV3 will ever appear on SkyDigital as there are plans to launch a Digital Terrestrial TV service in ireland like ONdigital in UK. The Irish DTT should appear in 2002. It is mentioned in the ICDG site (which is very good btw)

LegacyUser

As the Irish digital TV plan has been delayed so much, I expect that the government may have to change their draconian "No RTE on Sky" policy. As has been mentioned here before, Sky now have over 100,000 customers in the Republic. I for one do not want to have to fork over more money for a seperate digital receiver to pick up digital versions of our 4 terrestrial channels.

I read an article in the Irish Examiner recently. It said that Sky were actively trying to get RTE onto the platform. This would benefit everyone as RTE would have a proper digital presence (looks like we'll never get one from chorus <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START --><img src="../www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif" ALT=":)" OLDREF="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> ) and sky would have a great selling point for this country.

TV3 are supposedly in negotiations to get on Sky. As a commercial station there is no reason why they cannot. If they do join Sky, I think RTE will definately follow suit. They have already lost out to Sky because of the huge delay in the introduction of the new digital TV bill.

icdg

I don't think there was ever a draconian anti-Sky policy. But the government never encouraged RTE to go on Sky, either.

Having said that, I believe that Sky are aware that having the Irish channels available on their system would encourage more people to sign up to Sky. Especially in Dublin where hardly anyone has a Roof-top aerial fitted. And RTE must be aware that very few people sign up to TWO platforms - as Sky customers would need to do to recieve RTE post analogue.

LegacyUser

There is a wonderful irony here, in so far as I would anticipate govt policy to be regarding digital tv.
Sky are stealing a march on both cable companies, and on Irish DTT by providing the service Irish consumers want NOW. This must surely be the opposite of the govts. policy given the lack of interactivity/teleco competition/net access with Sky digital.
Sky seemingly have 100,000 digital subscribers already, despite targeting Ireland seriously for only 5 months; give them another 5 months, and within that time frame, with the possible addition of UK terrestrials, they will I predict have exceeded Chorus (240,000) and will be closing in on ntl(370,000). I can well believe the Sky figures, every day I see more and more dishes popping up. Amazing really, they will be the only company to have x/s of 100,000 digital customers by the end of March deadline-and the rule does not apply to them! Worringly for their rivals, it will be hard to regain/acquire these customers once Sky have them aboard.

LegacyUser

RTE is already on sky digital alias TARA, so whats all the fuss about copyright, etc. If TARA can broadcast live to england (late late show, news, live at 3, etc ) how could RTE stop BBC broadcasting to the irish republic ?, whats good for the goose ........

LegacyUser

Tara does indded transmit to the Uk and ROI. However the "Copyright" isssue to not relate to the programmes that Arkles mentioned in the above thread.
programmes like "Late Late Show", PrimeTime, RTE news are only broadcast on RTE/Tara and are NOT sold to other UK stations for broadcast. Several years ago Channel 4 used to broadcast the Late late Show, and if this was still the case, Tara would not be able to show it as Channel 4 would have the UK rights.
It is also for the programmes like Friends,ER,Frasier etc as in most cases RTE shows the episodes before BBC/ITV/SKY.
On NTL Cable in NI for example, Network 2 screens are blank during Home & Away, as Channel 5 hold the exclusive rights to that programme in the UK, (NI).
The same is with Hurling. Tara rarely shows live games because another company "Setanta Sports" hold the exclusive rights for the UK.
Copyright is a very big issue. To the likes of you and me, its only pressing a button to watch a channel. To the broadcasters its millions of pounds in commercials and buying rights. Its big business

LegacyUser

I got this email back from RTE on the issue of them joining Sky...

"It is hoped that digital terrestrial television will be fully operational in Ireland during the second half of 2002.

The RTE transmission network will be sold off and a new company formed with RTE holding a 28% share. This platform will carry all the Irish channels plus the UK services. Therefore, it is unlikely that RTE 1 and Network 2 will be made available on SKY Digital."

Personally I think they are mad. Once the BBC are on Sky for ROI viewers Sky will get lots of new subscibers. I personally can't wait to cancel the NTL subscription (although I will wait until C4 is available).

And how exactly do NTL or this new Digital Terestial operation plan to win all their subscribers back?? They haven't a hope! Sky is soooo easy to use and they will never have the same amount of choice.

RTE should learn from ITV's mistake - and get on Sky now!

LegacyUser

Given that our government, who supposedly have a plan for digital tv, have not forseen the issues in relation to Sky becoming entrenched in the ROI, we cannot expect the dullards of civil service tv (rte) to be any better.
Again I have said it several times on this really excellent site, I am amazed, almost on daily basis, at the number of new dishes popping up. Once the BBC go on the EPG, as now seem to be the case, this will increase exponentially; ntl and chorus will have some soul searching to do, especially the latter. The liklihood also is that DTT, if not still born, will be very slow to make any inroads.

LegacyUser

I think that TV3 should join Sky as their coverage is not the best in certain parts of the country. My parents receptions for example is terrible. If TV3 were to join and extend their coverage to the entire country, then RTE may have to aswell.
As BBC are joining the EPG in the 200's, what are Sky leaving the 101/102/103/104 numbers for? Hopefully the Irish stations.
Anyhow since we all, spent a lot of time phoning and e-mailing Sky and BBC, maybe we can now turn our enegry to instead contacting RTE and TV3.
It would be nice to..."WATCH"... the irish stations in digital...

LegacyUser

if RTÉ don't go to Sky, they should do something about the reception here. i had to watch the Cyprus match on Channel 5 because Network 2 was so bad. as someone else said before RTÉ should look at whats happened to ITV over the Sky issue and take note. unhappy advertisers

LegacyUser

does any one know if . .

1. when rte goes dtt in 2002? will the analog service stop?
2. if so then i wont be able to recieve rte without a digital tv or a settop box, right?
3. therefore if i had sky digital, an analog tv and no settop box & couldn't pick-up rte would i have a good argument for not paying my tv licence?

LegacyUser

As mentioned by other posters I can confirm that 101 to 105 was deliberately left free to accomodate Rte/tv3/tg4. apparently this caused some delay in the launch , I'm a little bit sceptical that this was the resaon for the delay as they brodacst several different regions on 101 on the uk epg.

Regards Tony

LegacyUser

michaelm: Your arguement is flawed (unfortunately), because the TV license is required simply to own a television. Reception of RTE is not required.

LegacyUser

mcglough: i know my argument is flawed, i'll tell it to the judge, i'll tell him that rte is a biased organization too . . but i'm sure he'll apply the letter rather than the spirit of the law