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Saorview Connect

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  • #602
    corm500
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭corm500


    A little bit more info here. Apparently its still not finished.

    http://www.telcotransformation.com/author.asp?section_id=401&doc_id=726461


  • #603
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,128 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    corm500 wrote: »
    A little bit more info here. Apparently its still not finished.

    http://www.telcotransformation.com/author.asp?section_id=401&doc_id=726461

    Thanks for the link corm500, good info. I'll paste the Saorview Connect specific info here just in case the link disappears.
    Telco Transformation: Freesat has just announced deployment of your in-house TV guide on another operator's network. How did that come about?

    Matthew Huntington, Chief Technology Officer, Freesat: We developed Metaphor, our connected TV guide platform to serve our own strategy for multiscreen delivery. But it was developed as a truly cloud-based infrastructure, accessible from anywhere in the world. We deployed it very successfully -- it has been downloaded 750,000 times -- and then decided to take the technology package to resell internationally. And we won business with RTÉ (Ireland's national TV broadcaster). They needed help developing their own multiscreen platform and we were able to address their needs.


    TT: What is the technology you are providing them with?

    MH: It's a comprehensive package for the Metaphor product. We aggregate metadata for the service, and, using their website, launched their website TV guide and mobile service. This included a rebranding of the service to "Saorview." The Saorview app has a seven-day programme guide, and an editorial recommendation service, "Spotlight", showcasing the best programming for the week ahead. Freesat has an editorial team that produces, artwork, content etc. for that, and it includes linear and VoD selections.

    It's all built off of Metaphor, which allows any operator to build a customizable connected TV product, within its existing brand and infrastructure using the platform. The entire solution can be managed by Freesat's operational team, from our NOC in the UK. Saorview, for example, has only two employees for the hybrid service. Obviously the organization has many others there. But for this service, they have just two people. We manage the rest. Others can choose just to use the consoles, but for Saorview we handle the full operation.

    The guide uses existing linear infrastructure but is an end-to-end solution for hybrid platforms. It includes metadata, service management, recommendations, ID management for registration and it can take the existing guide and rework it for mobile. And the guide deployment is part of the Saorview Connect project, which isn't done yet, but will see us offer an end-to-end solution for the Saorview service
    .


  • #604
    gordongekko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,299 ✭✭✭gordongekko


    Anyone have any update on this?


  • #605
    channelsurfer2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,684 ✭✭✭channelsurfer2


    gordongekko wrote: »
    Anyone have any update on this?

    other than maybe launching in 2017 there is very little info on it..


  • #606
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,395 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    GDY151


    I'd say with no announced release date yet it's going to be a minimum of 6 months before anything is in a shop to actually buy. If I was to guess I would say November 2017 at the earliest.


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  • #607
    former total
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭former total


    Considering all the commercial channels are now owned by Virgin Media, who want people to sign up to their rival platform, any 'Saorview Connect' functions are likely to contain only RTE content, and of course any new developments would have to be funded exclusively by RTE.

    Conclusion: it is dead in the water.


  • #608
    slinky2000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,288 ✭✭✭slinky2000


    If they just give me a decent/performant combo box with the 7 day Saorview/freesat EPG has built in together and a record function, I'd be happy.


  • #609
    JDxtra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,060 ✭✭✭JDxtra


    Was in a relatives house over Christmas and they had one of these Walker TVs with a built-in satellite receiver.

    The UK channels were all over the place, with the duplicate regional variations included - just like any bog standard FTA receiver. People don't have the patience to tidy that up and keep it maintained. Any sort of organised satellite EPG (even with just NOW/NEXT data) would be a vast improvement.


  • #610
    corm500
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭corm500


    slinky2000 wrote: »
    If they just give me a decent/performant combo box with the 7 day Saorview/freesat EPG has built in together and a record function, I'd be happy.

    We'll be lucky to get half that


  • #611
    Gerry Wicklow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,574 ✭✭✭Gerry Wicklow


    slinky2000 wrote: »
    If they just give me a decent/performant combo box with the 7 day Saorview/freesat EPG has built in together and a record function, I'd be happy.
    Too late. You just missed your chance to ask Santa as he's the only likely to provide such a thing. :rolleyes:


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  • #612
    galtee boy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,522 ✭✭✭galtee boy


    Atlantic Dawn wrote: »
    I'd say with no announced release date yet it's going to be a minimum of 6 months before anything is in a shop to actually buy. If I was to guess I would say November 2017 at the earliest.

    If it is next November, it would make it TWO years since it was first announced in The Sunday Times ! Nothing moves fast in Saorview world, does it ? !!


  • #613
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 95,415 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    slinky2000 wrote: »
    If they just give me a decent/performant combo box with the 7 day Saorview/freesat EPG has built in together and a record function, I'd be happy.
    That's pretty much what anyone wants.

    UK EPG is jealously guarded by SKY / Freesat.
    Irish EPG is open but the above boxes don't use it.

    Options

    - Pay SKY/Virgin €'s per month

    - A Saorview TV and genuine Freesat box with a universal remote.

    - Roll your own Linux box with multiple tuners, lots of people will help you out but there is a learning curve. Web management is cool and you get full EPG.



    I use Freesat because it's got the biggest EPG ,10 times as many channels , series link that works and the box retunes itself as needed.
    So if a program is on Saorview and Freesat I won't be looking at any Irish ads.

    Combo box might be useful for someone who watches mainly Irish Channels and can get the satellite channels updated every few months and isn't that bothered with recording UK channels.


    I'm still not sold on the Saorview Connect box because if you have internet access you could already stream from the Irish channels, in lower quality.

    So no changes


  • #614
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,395 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    GDY151


    Having TV3 HD for the 6 Nations in 2018 is the only plus that would make me even consider buying one.


  • #615
    JDxtra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,060 ✭✭✭JDxtra


    Atlantic Dawn wrote: »
    Having TV3 HD for the 6 Nations in 2018 is the only plus that would make me even consider buying one.

    Any new box won't help with that - TV3 have to want to be HD on Saorview and pay for it (but that's for another thread).


  • #616
    FastFuse
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 110 ✭✭FastFuse


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

    - Roll your own Linux box with multiple tuners, lots of people will help you out but there is a learning curve. Web management is cool and you get full EPG.

    Would love to know more about this but I fear the learning curve is steep and that it is a significant time investment.
    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    I use Freesat because it's got the biggest EPG ,10 times as many channels , series link that works and the box retunes itself as needed.
    So if a program is on Saorview and Freesat I won't be looking at any Irish ads.
    So you go can go without live TV Irish channels?


  • #617
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,924 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    Originally Posted by Capt'n Midnight 

    - Roll your own Linux box with multiple tuners, lots of people will help you out but there is a learning curve. Web management is cool and you get full EPG.
    FastFuse wrote: »
    Would love to know more about this but I fear the learning curve is steep and that it is a significant time investment.

    There are threads about this scattered on Boards, but probably mostly in HTPC section.

    I found the most difficult parts were
    1. choosing hardware .... I waay overspecified the PC at first and now run things a bit differently and much much cheaper
    2. there are dedicated operating systems for such systems (OSMC, LibreELEC etc) which are easy to install and use.
    The learning curve for me was tuning up the backend server for the tuner cards .... I use tvheadend.

    The functions available far outweigh the effort involved IMO.

    I now have a split system ..... old PC with tuner cards serving client devices to drive the TV.
    As I don't have any smart TVs I use the likes of R-Pi, NUC etc as client devices.
    All of them run LibreElec, so there is consistency across all devices for everyone.


  • #618
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 95,415 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    FastFuse wrote: »
    So you go can go without live TV Irish channels?
    By law every TV sold here since 2010 is supposed to support Saorview, so people already have EPG. And most with the option to record on USB too.

    (recording while using the HDMI cable isn't a given because these TV's are NOT real PVR's)

    I have Saorsat too so can flick over to RTE/TG4 using the satellite remote. ( Don't buy a SHARP TV - you can't use universal remotes :mad:) No EPG for RTE on the Freesat box of course.

    The one channel I'd like is TG4 HD

    The other channels there's not so much "Live TV" as it's mostly UK repeats of stuff I can get on Freesat in HD or cheap talking heads TV.

    On UTV Ireland tonight after the news it's Emmerdale followed by Corrie followed by Myleen Klass : single mums on benefit, followed by Loose Women all in glorious SD. Over on Freesat UTV has Shawshank in HD.


  • #619
    FastFuse
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 110 ✭✭FastFuse


    Does anyone know if the Saorview Connect service will be purely an FTA catch-up / on-demand service for Irish and (some) UK FTA channels - rather than a live service?


  • #620
    Dave..M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 693 ✭✭✭Dave..M


    Alas very little concrete info around (and not through want of trying!) but what we don't know about Saorview Connect can fill a whole thread :)


  • #621
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,128 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    FastFuse wrote: »
    Does anyone know if the Saorview Connect service will be purely an FTA catch-up / on-demand service for Irish and (some) UK FTA channels - rather than a live service?

    Saorview Connect will be a hybrid broadcast broadband (HbbTV) service, live linear TV channels via aerial/dish and catch-up/push services via broadband.
    As posted just previous we don't yet know what services will be available via broadband but unlikely to include UK catch-up.


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  • #622
    Mint Sauce
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,293 ✭✭✭✭Mint Sauce


    Do they even have details of when this service will be launched, made available, devices on sale?


  • #623
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,128 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    Mint Sauce wrote: »
    Do they even have details of when this service will be launched, made available, devices on sale?

    No.


  • #624
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,852 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    They'll never see the light of day at this rate.

    I'm partial to your abracadabra,

    I'm raptured by the joy of it all.



  • #625
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,128 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    A bit off topic, Mary Curtis, a name people might remember in the period leading up to analogue switchoff, RTÉ's then Director of Digital Switchover and later Head of UTVI, has been appointed to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

    http://www.dccae.gov.ie/news-and-media/en-ie/Pages/PressRelease/Minister%20Naughten%20announces%20appointments%20to%20the%20Board%20of%20the%20BAI.aspx


  • #626
    Worple
    Closed Accounts Posts: 25 ✭Worple


    The Cush wrote: »
    A bit off topic, Mary Curtis, a name people might remember in the period leading up to analogue switchoff, RTÉ's then Director of Digital Switchover and later Head of UTVI, has been appointed to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

    http://www.dccae.gov.ie/news-and-media/en-ie/Pages/PressRelease/Minister%20Naughten%20announces%20appointments%20to%20the%20Board%20of%20the%20BAI.aspx

    Amazing how failure is rewarded in this country.


  • #627
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,128 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2017/02/15/nordig-adopts-hbbtv-2-specs/#more-142886

    HbbTV v.2.0.1 has been included in the latest revision to the specification and is mandatory for hybrid receivers from 1 July 2018.

    https://nordig.org/nordig-unified-specification-2-6/
    https://www.hbbtv.org/news-events/hbbtv-association-welcomes-nordigs-adoption-of-hbbtv-2-specification/

    I wonder if this is a reason for the delay launching Saorview Connect, awaiting approval for the incorporation of the latest HbbTV standard into the Nordig specification?

    This particular version of the HbbTV standard, version 2.0.1, was developed for the UK and Italian terrestrial markets and approved early last year.

    https://www.hbbtv.org/news-events/hbbtv-2-0-updated-for-uk-and-italy-deployments/
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=100136461


  • #628
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,395 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    GDY151


    Womens Rugby World Cup only 6 months away, perhaps that will be the first major event to be shown on it?


  • #629
    FRIENDO
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,417 ✭✭✭FRIENDO


    That sounds good Cush,

    Also comes with,

    "standardised Ultra HD delivery with HEVC."

    Hopefully it's also Saorsat approved.

    Don't mind waiting if they can get it right.


  • #630
    lukeeman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 213 ✭✭lukeeman


    When the connect boxs comes out will you need 2 cables from ariel to boxs for recording and watching different channels.


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  • #631
    mackersdublin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,491 ✭✭✭mackersdublin


    lukeeman wrote: »
    When the connect boxs comes out will you need 2 cables from ariel to boxs for recording and watching different channels.

    Most likely no, as twin tuner Saorview TVs only need 1 feed from the aerial


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