Irish TV carriage on Saorview approved

The Cush · 03-07-2016 12:10PM #1

The SBP reports today the Irish TV channel was given ministerial approval last week to launch on Saorview. Carriage fee €1m, which is the approx. SD tariff.

Expected to be available by Sept on LCN 7, the position currently occupied by RTÉjr.

STB. · 03-07-2016 02:06PM

When I read that I asked myself who was funding this. Then I read the story of where the finances came from.

I don't get it though. A station that was launched with the diaspora in mind as a terrestrial station ? The content is very niche.

All the best, but you would wonder about its viability if they have to pay €1m pa in carriage for dvb-t alone.

mackersdublin · 03-07-2016 06:35PM

The picture quality on satellite is very low, hopefully Saorview won't be taking that feed

Atlantic Dawn · 03-07-2016 06:49PM

€1 million per annum, that's nearly €20k a week, the adverts alone will hardly come close to covering that. Will they be subject to rules requiring them to have a certain output of news throughout the day causing them additional expense?

I don't know why someone doesn't launch a music channel on it with premium rate text for song requests and comments, surely it would clean up if the mix was right.

JDxtra · 03-07-2016 07:01PM

This is a relatively niche station. Can't see the business model working with those high carriage costs.

The Cush · 03-07-2016 07:11PM

Ministerial Decision and Order, signed by the Minister last week

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/Pages/Legislation/Broadcasting-Act-2009-(Section-130(1)(a)(iv)-Designation)-Order-2016.aspx

The Cush · 03-07-2016 07:17PM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I don't know why someone doesn't launch a music channel on it with premium rate text for song requests and comments, surely it would clean up if the mix was right.

It must be designated by the Minister as having the character of a public service to be carried on one of the public service muxes.

JamesyBelfast · 04-07-2016 07:37AM

The Cush wrote: »

Expected to be available by Sept on LCN 7, the position currently occupied by RTÉjr.

Where's RTÉ Jr going? Is it closing?

The Cush · 04-07-2016 07:43AM

JamesyBelfast wrote: »

Where's RTÉ Jr going? Is it closing?

LCN 8 most likely. Moved down the epg to make way for a general entertainment channel.

JamesyBelfast · 04-07-2016 07:47AM

I think this is very good news.
Saorview is great IMO. Just wish (like everyone else) that the likes of TV3 and TG4 would go HD on it.

Digifriendly · 04-07-2016 09:47AM

JamesyBelfast wrote: »

I think this is very good news.
Saorview is great IMO. Just wish (like everyone else) that the likes of TV3 and TG4 would go HD on it.

How is Saorview great with so few channels (compare it to Freeview) and only RTE Radio stations on it, no commercial stations unlike Freeview? I know you may say I'm not comparing like with like but Saorview has all these 'empty' channels taking up space and in addition as you point out 2 of the main channels are not in HD and we're living in 2016!

JamesyBelfast · 04-07-2016 09:53AM

Digifriendly wrote: »

How is Saorview great with so few channels (compare it to Freeview) and only RTE Radio stations on it, no commercial stations unlike Freeview? I know you may say I'm not comparing like with like but Saorview has all these 'empty' channels taking up space and in addition as you point out 2 of the main channels are not in HD and we're living in 2016!

Just me maybe - but I have both Freeview and Saorview - and indeed Freeview is full of channels - but 90% of those I never ever go near.

Obviously Freeview is way ahead - but Saorview isn't bad at all IMO.

Up here, it's great to get RTE channels in HD FTA and I quite like the News Now channel and some stuff on TV3 and TG4. Also love having RTE1+1.

The Cush · 04-07-2016 10:31AM

JamesyBelfast wrote: »

Just me maybe - but I have both Freeview and Saorview - and indeed Freeview is full of channels - but 90% of those I never ever go near.

Saorview combined with Freeview is the most user friendly setup and wish I had that option, all channels available with one remote and easily distributable around the house on a single cable.

Digifriendly · 04-07-2016 10:38AM

The Cush wrote: »

Saorview combined with Freeview is the most user friendly setup and wish I had that option, all channels available with one remote and easily distributable around the house on a single cable.

I tend to agree. If I had Saorview only I would feel deprived but both together is excellent. I have to admit that I watch RTE News Now quite a bit and I've always thought that RTE News output is on the whole excellent and compared to BBC more objective. I still think they should have HD asap on 4 main channels and more radio stations available e.g. Newstalk.

theoneeyedman · 04-07-2016 10:46AM

JDxtra wrote: »

This is a relatively niche station. Can't see the business model working with those high carriage costs.

DUNNO about the finances, but it will get a fair following from older viewers I'd say. The current diet of celebrity bull**** on other channels has left a lot of them behind. Good luck to them if they can make it work.

Atlantic Dawn · 04-07-2016 11:05AM

All I want is TV3 and TG4 in HD and I couldn't give a damn what happens the system after that.

steveon · 04-07-2016 12:15PM

All I can say is well done to all involved they are showing its possible for them to do it then whats stopping others. So there content isn't great but surely the higher there viewership the higher the price they can conquer from advertisements will be...and the better there programming and video quality will become

Their channel is a lot better at times than a lot of the rubbish on Rte as well and the county programming is certainly very popular with many of the older viewers I put the channel in for on satellite at present...

Im amazed Liberty Global hasnt pushed TV3 on Saorview into HD as they have the money to pay any fees and now a rumor of them wanted to buy UTV Ireland is rife maybe they will push both into HD for viewers..

JamesyBelfast · 04-07-2016 01:25PM

The Cush wrote: »

Saorview combined with Freeview is the most user friendly setup and wish I had that option, all channels available with one remote and easily distributable around the house on a single cable.

You are right. It is perfect - and I know most people in Belfast have NO IDEA what on earth Saorview is or how easy it is to get it.

Just please TV3 go HD.

decor58 · 04-07-2016 02:01PM

It would be great to have TV3 and TG4 in HD, but you haven't remember freeview/freesat has about 60 channels with only ITV1, C4, C5 and 4 BBC channels plus some news channels in HD and C5 only went HD recently. TV3 looses out in our house because we are more inclined to switch to ITV to watch in HD as do many others I am sure, it's up to TV3 to up their game or be forced to go HD with TG4. Saorview is a good service, plenty of room to improve but how many channels would a UK region with a comparable size population support.

ei9go · 04-07-2016 03:22PM

We never watch anything on Saorview other than RTE simply because they are not in HD.

Anything they have will usually be available on ITV in HD

mikeecho · 04-07-2016 05:43PM

On one hand it's great that we're getting more saorview content.

But on the other hand it's disappointing that we're getting poor quality content.

Irish tv is not something that I would ever watch on FreeSat.

Euronews, or a music channel would be much preferred.

lertsnim · 05-07-2016 11:44AM

A channel for the diaspora on Saorview. That makes loads of sense.

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 22-08-2016 01:00PM

I'v noticed the last couple of weeks irish tv have added some new content. I wonder is this because they maybe joing Saorview and want to increase their viewership overall?

DamnLeech · 22-08-2016 03:15PM

Raylee Embarrassed Oceanographer wrote: »

I'v noticed the last couple of weeks irish tv have added some new content. I wonder is this because they maybe joing Saorview and want to increase their viewership overall?

I wish it would come it would add so much more variety to saorview there is so much trash like tv3 3e and that UTV Ireland now owed by virgin.

Saorview would be amazing with channel 4

mikeecho · 22-08-2016 03:19PM

DamnLeech wrote: »

I wish it would come it would add so much more variety to saorview there is so much trash like tv3 3e and that UTV Ireland now owed by virgin.

Saorview would be amazing with channel 4

http://www.irishtv.ie/schedule

ehhh.. no

lertsnim · 22-08-2016 03:54PM

DamnLeech wrote: »

I wish it would come it would add so much more variety to saorview

Have you see Irish TV?

mikeecho · 22-08-2016 04:36PM

lertsnim wrote: »

Have you see Irish TV?

i've seen it briefly...................... unfortunately

DamnLeech · 22-08-2016 06:12PM

mikeecho wrote: »

i've seen it briefly...................... unfortunately

It's not that bad still it would be a addition to saorview.
Why do people hate it so much?

h7nlrp2v0g5u48 · 22-08-2016 06:42PM

DamnLeech wrote: »

It's not that bad still it would be a addition to saorview.
Why do people hate it so much?

Although it wouln'd be my choice of channel it's better than watching a test card. Also there are alot of people that don't or c'ant afford pay tv. So for those people I think it is a good addition to Saorview.

Jakey Rolling · 22-08-2016 06:49PM

I'd imagine that being on Saorview will improve their prospects of generating advertising revenue, the ads I've seen on it previously were akin to the home made ones you used to get in the cinema for local businesses!

former total · 22-08-2016 08:30PM

I'd be surprised if it ever launches but if it does, it will add zero to Saorview.

Irish TV carriage on Saorview approved

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