Saorview Changes - 2026

doney84 · 24-01-2026 11:45AM

I noticed over Christmas that when I press the info button on my LG tv when tuned to RTÉ1 it's showing the HbbTV icon. Not sure how long that's been the case though.

butwhynot · 30-01-2026 11:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124172065#Comment_124172065

28 is back 🤔

JDxtra · 30-01-2026 01:00PM

We need a few more years of testing, just to be sure.

Hotblack Desiato · 30-01-2026 03:30PM

As for test cards "proving" that a new service is coming… don't make me laugh.

There will be no new content on Saorview unless someone is prepared to pay for it. That someone will definitely not be 2rn, and very very unlikely to be RTE (yes I know RTE own 2rn)

It's completely bizarre that there's a "2025" thread and now a "2026" thread for something which hardly ever changes and then more likely than not it's a service being removed…

Aidan McCarthy · 30-01-2026 04:28PM

What new services is coming to saorview

cakedrive · 30-01-2026 05:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124123384#Comment_124123384

There's no pay TV or streaming services in this house for several years at this point. The TV is on from morning to night mostly on saorview, but a few hours of UK channels on satellite free to air.

My aunt is saorview only. No internet, no streaming, no satellite. And she watches a lot of tv.

Glaceon · 30-01-2026 08:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124192678#Comment_124192678

From some of what I’ve seen, the test channels are sometimes a bit of a playground for the engineers. There was a thing about a year ago where they started putting old black and white patterns on overnight, only spotted it because digitalbitrate.com captured them. But they might as well have them, the space would be wasted otherwise.

galtee boy · 30-01-2026 09:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124192955#Comment_124192955

Fair play and I'm sure you and your aunt are not alone in being Saorview only with a little bit of fta satellite thrown in, but you guys are definitely in a small minority nowadays, which is actually a pity, because if I could get all the Irish channels in HD ( for me, this is a deal breaker ) and the UK channels on one box or tv, fully recordable, with full 7 day epg on Irish and English channels, with series link etc and no faffing about with enigma this and enigma that and needing a university degree in IT to set it up, I would be happy with that. I can only presume that the market must be too small for someone to produce a box that would do this. Even Saorview couldn't produce a proper pvr, only a doorstop piece of horse manure that didn't have a built in hard drive.

EdmondB1 · 31-01-2026 10:00AM

Is it next year or the year after that RTE One +1 & RTE 2+1 are closing down ?

EdmondB1 · 31-01-2026 10:07AM

Over on a Facebook group, somebody was asking why can't there be more radio stations on Saorview and a ceo of one the ILR stations answered, saying that being on saorview wouldn't bring in an extra red cent in advertising revenue

dxhound2005 · 31-01-2026 10:18AM

I just noticed on the EPG for the Virgin channels that they close down from around 2 am to 6 am. I don't know if this is a recent thing, or if it has been like that all along.

Aidan McCarthy · 31-01-2026 10:59AM

They do close between 2 am to 6 an

Glaceon · 31-01-2026 11:01AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124194443#Comment_124194443

Yep, they just run continuous programme promotions during that time.

RoTelly · 31-01-2026 07:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124194423#Comment_124194423

I think it is 2028. Yeah end of their new direction.

This year is supposed to bring about a new schedule for RTÉ1 and 2. Live restart on the player, with 6000 hours of content on the player. Increase number of Children's hours by 100% on the player. But it doesn't say if this extra hours are for new Irish programming, archive or imports.

galtee boy · 31-01-2026 07:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124195512#Comment_124195512

I think they are missing an opportunity to make some money out of the player, why dont they offer an option like ITVx, where you could pay for example €5 a month to get it advert free ? Though I suppose there would be uproar as people would say they are already paying a licence fee .

Aidan McCarthy · 04-02-2026 12:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124195527#Comment_124195527

hi all. I see this test card on channel 25 and it has something on it. 2rn Ardghleine test card. Just wondering is there something going on or is there a another channel coming on the air

marclt · 05-02-2026 11:53PM

RE: comments by ILR CEO:

That cosy view might change when DAB roll out upsets the Apple cart. Being available where the audience is, is probably becoming more important as technologies change. But if content providers had been better curated at the outset, it could have been a real winner.

marclt · 05-02-2026 11:54PM

deleted

Hotblack Desiato · 06-02-2026 03:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124204042#Comment_124204042

Ardghleine just means high definition.

There have always been test cards on Saorview. It means nothing.

thomasking22008 · 06-02-2026 05:49PM

if test card on HD why they put on virgin media one 1 it been awful pic during rugby 6 nation ?

dxhound2005 · 06-02-2026 07:03PM

Virgin won't pay the extra cost for HD. Probably because they would not make the money back from extra advertising.

Hotblack Desiato · 06-02-2026 07:28PM

They also want to push people towards their paid services.

Aidan McCarthy · 07-02-2026 12:43AM

And here is another reason why that virgin media won't put their tv channels in HD is because they have to pay for it on saorview and they are Mean out. That's what is wrong with them

josip · 09-02-2026 01:39PM

I need help.

I purchased a TV for my mother in a nursing home. She has always relied on subtitles but we can't get subtitles on this TV. She has a very a small 'Ideal' TV in her room that can get subtitles. The TV is connected to the wall using the normal TV cable. The nursing home have told us this is connected to an aerial on the roof.

When we tune in the Samsung TV I bought using the same aerial, the pictures are received ok, but it's impossible to get subtitles. I tried for the first few weekends to retune and get them but no joy. I've now got the TV back at home where I can test it in my own time. Subtitles come through fine when there is a set top box providing the signal over a HDMI cable.

But when I connect a pair of rabbit ears to the TV, I see the same behaviour as with my mother. Audio and video are fine but not subtitles. The TV model is Samsung UE43U7000FKXXU. 3 of us have followed the manual and googled for similar issues but no joy. Friends of ours who also have a Samsung TV using an an aerial also cant get subtitles.

Any suggestions? The new TV is useless for my mother without subtitles.

dxhound2005 · 09-02-2026 02:57PM

AI Overview

Yes, subtitles (Closed Captions) on a Samsung TV using an aerial generally require a better-quality signal than just the audio and video to function consistently. While you might receive a picture and sound with a weak, "just barely working" signal, the extra data required for subtitles is often the first thing to break, leading to missing, delayed, or jumbled text.

Why Subtitles Need a Stronger Signal

Data Stream Dependency: Digital TV via aerial (Freeview, ATSC) carries video, audio, and subtitle data in the same stream. If the signal quality is poor, the TV struggles to decode the text data.

Red Silurian · 09-02-2026 03:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124212757#Comment_124212757

Well they have just bought the rights to show the nations championship free to air so not too bad really

josip · 09-02-2026 03:13PM

Thanks dxhound. I was wondering that but thought that if a non-premium brand such as Ideal can show the subtitles using the terrestrial signal, surely a Samsung TV would be able to?

Would the EEA apply in this case?

Under the European Accessibility Act (EAA), implemented in Ireland via S.I. No. 636/2023, TV manufacturers and importers must ensure digital products, including smart TV interfaces and, crucially, the capability to display closed captions/subtitles, are accessible to people with disabilities. Coimisiún na Meán ensures compliance for these services.

Would a signal booster definitely/probably solve this problem?

dam099 · 09-02-2026 03:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124220494#Comment_124220494

Not sure I would trust that AI answer. Subtitles should be using only a small amount of bandwidth and if the picture and sound which would use more bandwidth work seems unlikely the data stream wouldn't work. There should also be error correction going on if the signal is weak.

Some TVs sold here are not properly Saorview compliant so its possible it doesnt support the Saorview subtitle encoding.

dxhound2005 · 09-02-2026 03:19PM

Not all signals are equal from the many transmitters in the country. And every home installation is different. I don't think going after the Commission is a solution.

AI Overview

To receive Saorview in Ireland, an external (rooftop) UHF aerial is strongly recommended for the best, most reliable signal. While some areas may work with an indoor/attic antenna, an outdoor, professionally installed aerial ensures high-quality reception. A standard UHF aerial is required; specialised "digital" aerials are not necessary, though new installations should use modern UHF antennas.

batistuta9 · 09-02-2026 03:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124220560#Comment_124220560

dig around in the settings. try this first Home > Menu > Settings > All Settings > General & Privacy > Accessibility > Subtitle Settings > Subtitle > On.

Saorview Changes - 2026

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