Re: Irish channels in the UK

icdg

As many people know, RTE is on NTL Northern Ireland. I presume Digital Satellite viewers in that part of the UK, at any rate, might be given an exception and be allowed watch RTE. Without "Home and Away", unfortunately, which is contested by C5.

LegacyUser

"Glad to see you are enjoying.We don't know about New's 24 or other channels.The chances are that you will find out through sky roi or other means before we get to hear ourselves.

Kind regard's,
Vaughan Reynold's
BBC Reception Advice"

He's not very good advice, is he? And assuming this is copied verbatim he isn't very good at spelling his own name (Ever seen a name with an apostrophe in it?)

LegacyUser

Nope. I've never seen a name with an apostrophe.

Sincerely,
Mark O'Connor <!--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--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START --><img src="../www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif" ALT=";)" OLDREF="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

Actually my name has no apostrophe. Just kiddin' ya.

Mark McG.

LegacyUser

Okay, fair enough - I meant to say "with an apotrophe-s"!!

LegacyUser

As many people know, RTE is on NTL Northern Ireland. I presume Digital Satellite viewers in that part of the UK, at any rate, might be given an exception and be allowed watch RTE. Without "Home and Away", unfortunately, which is contested by C5.

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I agree - it is possible that if RTÉ ever broadcast on SkyD in Ireland, it would include NI in a sort of "we get BBC/C4/C5, you get RTÉ/TV3/TG4" deal. However this could never extend to the whole UK. If RTÉ was ever made available in the mainland UK, most imports and sports would have to be blocked and you'd just have a Tara-like service. Ally, ER, Dawson's Creek, X-Files, etc. are all only bought for broadcast in ROI (and NI - with the exception of Home and Away and a few others due to UK copyright.) Since these and many other programmes are shown by both RTÉ and UK broadcasters, there simply would be no siutation in which RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 could go out in the UK, even if a subscription was paid.

But then it would be fun to have UK viewers ask *us* for FTV cards for a change!

LegacyUser

Kind regard's,
Vaughan Reynold's
BBC Reception Advice"

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This is dreadful use of the English language from a company representative. He should be replaced!

In any case, some good news in relation to:

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"Glad to see you are enjoying.We don't know about New's 24 or other channels.The chances are that you will find out through sky roi or other means before we get to hear ourselves.

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And this may well be the case. Spoke to a Sky rep in Ireland today and he says negotiations *are* underway with the BBC with regard to Choice, Knowledge (ultimately BBC3 and 4) and BBC News 24. Negotiations are also taking place with *both* C4 and C5! This will, most likely, also involve Sky paying much of the rights costs (as with BBC1 and BBC2) and a small amount coming from a (possibly increased) Family Pack. With BBC TWO on the way at the end of the month, I'm told we'll be pleasantly surprised to find they're all available in Ireland - just as in the UK - before summer's end if all goes to plan. I'm told negotiations just take time, but that Sky do realise the key to the success of the platform in Ireland is the UK terrestrials and is doing everything it can to make this possible and wipe out Chorus and NTL!

LegacyUser

". Spoke to a Sky rep in Ireland today and he says negotiations *are* underway with the BBC with regard to Choice, Knowledge (ultimately BBC3 and 4) and BBC News 24. "

I'd be really surprised (though very grateful) if this happens. Sky hate all the BBC's extra channels, and if they start providing them to ROI as part of their packages then they wouldn't have such a srong case in complaining to the UK Govt about the waste of licence-fee payers' money.

I'm not going to put myself in a Richard Logue hat-eating type situation though...

LegacyUser

I understand scepticism on all of this - I didn't believe the BBC ONE arrival for weeks until I saw BBC ONE NI testing in FTV in Ireland on the Thursday before the launch.

I agree that Sky detest the extra BBC channels, most of all News 24, but if you consider that Choice and Knowledge will be BBC THREE and BBC FOUR later in the year, it may be harder to exclude them. All in all, Sky know the UK terrestrials are valuable. It may be that in their negotiations with the BBC, these channels were cheaply available and Sky thought they'd be an added selling point over Chorus/NTL (which may have a tougher job getting those channels.)

"I'm not going to put myself in a Richard Logue hat-eating type situation though..."

LOL! I once offered to eat my modem on something similar, so I see where you're coming from! Basically, if Sky's Irish folk are to be believed, the negotiations with *all* UK terrestrials and the additional BBCs are taking place, but we should keep the pressure on by insisting these channels be made available and letting Sky know how important they are to us.

LegacyUser

RTE get quite rude when you suggest a reception problem is their fault.
TG4 and TV3 coverage is Poorer. Even for RTE1 and Net2 we need Satellite in Ireland. Limerick is Irelands 3rd City. A pocket TV does not work anywhere here as signal is too poor. I had to fit a head amp on my aerial (Outside, Roof Mounted). I can see Woodcock Hill(from Patrickswell), but without preamp the TV3 and TG4 are too noisy and RTE1 and NET2 poor. When I rang and queiried TX power they said they would ring back. They rang back and were rude to my wife.
"Also it must your equipment!" They said.
Oh. I'm an ex BBC comms Dept Engineer, so I don't know what I'm doing? I thinks to myself!
see <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://watty.dynamic-site.net/&quot; OLDREF="">watty.dynamic-site.net/</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> for my pictures of how to wire a TV connector. (Under Satellite Menu).
RTE need to change their attitude to R.O.I. (Rest Of Ireland), Sky Digital and customers.

LegacyUser

At least they're finally turning old VHF areas into UHF, though Truskmore seems to be outside those plans for some reason.

LegacyUser

Someone else getting their RTÉ from Truskmore. I wouldnt really mind RTÉ transmitting on VHF provided that they had TG4 and TV3 on VHF too. Sadly, awkward RTÉ have TV3 and TG4 on Group E UHF (Ch60 & 63). If RTÉ ever did put their Truskmore transmissions on UHF, would they have them on Group E or be awkward and have em on another Group meaning getting another aerial and combiner?

LegacyUser

The reserved UHF analogue frequencies for RTE1 and Network 2 from Truskmore are ch. 53 & 57 respectivley, both with Horizontal polarity, grouped C/D. However they have not taken this up yet, and may never do so as they could leave them spare for DTT.

LegacyUser

Irishblimp, yes, it would be easier if they were all on a single band, but I'd perfer UHF as it's stronger (at least my TV3 and TG4 are better than RTÉ ONE and Network 2) Good to know I'm not the only Truskmore multi-aeried person on here!

Northern Correspondent - good to hear that frequencies have been allocated, but they have been very slack to make the changeover. DTT is still a long way off, so I hope it can be done before then.

icdg

Going completely off-topic, my portable TV (when its not connected to cable) can only recieve can only recieve RTE ONE and N2 via VHF...so I hope they don't switch it off in my area. I get a perfect signal on the two channels - but no TV3 or TG4...

LegacyUser

Going completely off-topic, my portable TV (when its not connected to cable) can only recieve can only recieve RTE ONE and N2 via VHF...so I hope they don't switch it off in my area.

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Hmm. Can't think of a way around that one. Connecting a video (with both bands on it) won't work as you can't tune in its channel! I suppose you could buy a converter which would turn the UHF signal into VHF, but it could wind up cheaper to buy a new TV!

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I get a perfect signal on the two channels - but no TV3 or TG4...

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Is it an old TV? They used to call VHF the III band on my old set. UHF was U and there was a third (VLF?) called I which never had anything on it.

LegacyUser

Crappy reply from RTE....
I said as a license payer and having chosen DSAT as my chosen platform I should be entitled. Thats not how this lady sees it....

Seems to be a mishmash of 'official' lines.

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Under the terms of the Wireless and Telegraphy Act (1926), anyone who is in possession of television receiving equipment must have a current TV Licence. Whether you can receive, or choose not to view, the RTÉ service is not relevant. RTÉ receives a grant-in-aid from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. This is equivalent to the revenue from the Licence Fee minus a collection charge by An Post (who is the collection agent appointed by the Department) of approximately 10% and a payment to the Department of approximately £100,000 per year.

On the subject of Digital Television, it is RTÉ”s policy to be available to viewers on a number of platforms. At present, in the analogue domain, RTÉ is available on terrestrial and all cable systems throughout the country. It is not available on MMDS as the licences for these operations allow for the exclusion of RTÉ and TG4 from the services they offer. TV3 has •must-carry– status and is available on all MMDS systems.

In the digital domain, RTÉ will be available terrestrially and on digital cable once these services are introduced. RTÉ is considering the satellite option, but this has significant cost implications for the organisation.

I am concerned that you are experiencing poor analogue reception at your home. Cork City is well served by two transmitters, at Spur Hill and at Collins Barracks, which provide coverage for the city. I would, therefore, suggest that you have your antenna connection checked by your local television dealer.

Yours sincerely

Majella O Doherty


=======================
Majella O Doherty
Public Relations Co-ordinator
RTÉ Public Affairs

T: 01 2082305
E<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START --><img src="../www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif" ALT=":o" OLDREF="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> dohema@rte.ie W: www.rte.ie

LegacyUser

I wrote a letter to Bob Collins (Director General, RTE) about 8 days ago and today I had a response from him in the post. For the first I have seen a sensible and well though out response from the national broadcaster and I am very impressed.

What did it say then ??

He outlined the RTE broadcasting strategy, which as you expect, includes the existing analogue network, as well as the well publicised terrestrial digital system. However, he acknowledged that many people are chosing digital satellite as their chosen reception medium and accepted that that would have an impact on RTE. He confirmed that RTE and Sky have been in touch and a proposal had been put forward by them. As you might expect, he made reference to the cost of such a venture and the potential impact it may have on remaining RTE funding. Any decision that is forthcoming, he assured me, would be made public immediately.

All in all, I was delighted to see a response, and while much of the rumour mill and media had covered very well the content of the letter, I was glad to see that it could all be confirmed.

He made no reference to dates or timelines.

Hopefully people will find this useful. I certainly did, and I am happy to be able to share what has the bones of an RTE presence on Sky digital beginning to form (or maybe I'm just a hopeless optimist)

Mark.

PS: While I would not be so stupid to presume that Bob Collins would confide in me, I wondered about the ethics of effectively publishing the contents of a letter written to me by him. I decided that he would probably send the same letter to anyone who enquired, and that any/all of us on this board would enquire, so would probably get the same response.

LegacyUser

Great effort Mark!! <!--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--> I am surprised you got a response at all! Hopefully, RTÉ will take up the proposal from Sky. As Dublin4 stated, TV3 were sharing costs with RTÉ for carraige on Dsat. Even if D4's story is hoax, it would be a good idea both for TV3 and RTÉ to share costs

LegacyUser

"He confirmed that RTE and Sky have been in touch and a proposal had been put forward by them."

A proposal by whom - Sky or RTE?

LegacyUser

A proposal (have to assume a cost proposal) by Sky.

Mark.