Just seen announced that the Sky News channel will be added to Saorview. Be interesting to see will any more broadcasters follow in the coming months/years!
It will be interesting to see if they add any Irish output or make any partnerships here, or if it causes the RTÉ News channel to improve its offering. More choice on Saorview is a good thing.
Do you have a source for this? Unusual but welcome.
Yes, interesting, any idea when this is to happen 🤔
Gavan Reilly says it launches next week:
Wonder if it'll be SD or HD? If HD, that'd be a bonus over FTA satellite...
https://www.saorview.ie/en/news/article/sky-news-is-coming-to-saorview
I would imagine it'll be SD, the only way to get Sky News in HD OTA as currently stands is through pay TV. Their FTA broadcasts are all SD.
Moved to terrestrial
They tried that back in 2004 when they launched Sky News Ireland a special Irish broadcast at 7pm and 10pm each night.
Anchored by Gráinne Seoige
It closed in 2006
I remember and it was utterly appalling shyte
Yeah but that was a very different time. They could easily start a joint venture with a local radio station and simulcast short bulletins or panel discussions like France Info does.
is it testing yet ?
I nearly fell off my chair... Saorview have actually done something and added a channel?
Hopefully it wets their appetite for change.
The broadcasters decide to go on Saorview, not the other way around.
Is there anything stopping Saorview approaching broadcasters though? They need to promote the platform and make it attractive.
I presume they do, but that's unconnected. The decision to go on is not theirs to make.
It will be on channel 23 which is currently the rolling Saorview info channel called 'Faisneis Saorview'. So a retune shouldn't be necessary, it's a straight replacement.
Can't see that there's any requirement for a 'test'.
I wonder will it be H or SD
Most likely SD since the HD version is encrypted on satellite.
From what I can make out, it will be the international version of Sky News, rather than the UK version, but unconfirmed yet. As Sky keep all HD for themselves on a pay to view basis, it will unfortunately be in SD. Who knows, maybe Sky Sports News might follow eventually, is it on Freeview in the UK ?
Surprised RTE not up in arms over it. I suppose the Irish versions of E4 and Pick could easily join them too with more Irish specific adverts.
I'd be surprised at that. The only difference I know of is that the international version doesn't carry advertising and doesn't show a clock, it instead carries a looping weather summary. Since they have a feed on satellite with Irish advertising, it would make sense to carry this one instead. Oddly enough, the international feed is available in HD on YouTube, albeit in 60 Hz rather than 50.
As I said , I'm not sure, it would make more sense to show the "Irish" satellite version, but you could have RTE/Virgin complaining about advertising being taken from them etc.
I can't see why RTE would have any basis for an objection.
Agree regarding E4/Pick, you could also include More4/Film4/Pick/Sky Arts.
I would be surprised if it is not the ROI version tbh, unless there is some licensing or regulatory reason for it not to be.
FTA on sat for the past 30 years
Anyone complaining because someone else is showing Irish ads on Saorview would rightfully be told to take a hike.
I know before they refused to allow Newstalk advertise on RTE because of the term 'Move the dial' was referened in the ad, this was despite them having no problem taking mountains of cash from Sky for ads 😁. RTE are an odd bunch.
https://www.independent.ie/business/media/rte-blunder-as-it-airs-newstalks-move-the-dial-ads-it-banned-31214325.html
The way it usually works is radio will carry ads for TV shows and stations, even rival owned. TV will carry ads for radio, even rival owned. Both will carry ads for platforms, e.g. Sky, Virgin, even if they own other channels.
Its not normal for a TV channel to carry ads for a rival TV channel or for specific shows on another platform.
Anyway, this has nothing to do with whether they'd try block the Irish and feed of Sky News. And they have no grounds to do that
You would assume RTÉ / 2RN (same crowd, different hat) would be glad of any extra revenue these days.
A useful addition for anyone on Saorview only especially for breaking international news/incidents.
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