Saorview Changes - 2026

JDxtra · 01-03-2026 04:48PM

From the often forgotten about viewer perspective, Saorview has been a consistent disappointment.

It was capable of luring viewers away from pay TV, but instead is has done the exact opposite.

You may blame ministers, broadcasters, 2RN, regulators or whomever - however as a platform operator they could have pushed for better.

RoTelly · 01-03-2026 04:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124275490#Comment_124275490

If there is no room, Saorview would have to kick off either or both of the sky channels under the act, it must provide space for the PSBing channels.

Aidan McCarthy · 01-03-2026 10:48PM

They could kick off Challenge TV and keep sky news on saorview

thomasking22008 · 03-03-2026 10:57AM

what about 6 or 7 test card on at moment taking to long testing

Would give idea

UTV Ireland, channel 4 sky mix sky art virgin sport Irish film channel maybe like to see premier sport Ireland

Poland have lot good terrestrial around 37 channel include polish sport and movie also documentary free to air would be same Ireland

SodiumCooled · 03-03-2026 11:14AM

With more stuff now in UHD with sky sports etc and also the streaming platforms I feel even HD is starting to look a bit tried at times especially for sport never mind SD. I suppose we will never see UHD versions of the saorview channels.

Red Silurian · 03-03-2026 11:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124280520#Comment_124280520

Would be nice to see a publicly funded Irish sports channel on Saorview. Something to cover the fringe sports All Ireland League, League of Ireland, Basketball etc etc

thomasking22008 · 03-03-2026 11:30AM

exactly we don’t need put “Rte news channel” on sport live event need have own sport proper channel 2 sport channel free to air

Aidan McCarthy · 03-03-2026 02:57PM

Exactly maybe utv from the north of ireland and bbc 1 bbc 2 bbc 3 and bbc4 but not channel 4 and the other channel 4 channels and an Irish sports channel but not premier sport ireland and some news channels too would be better too

L1011 · 03-03-2026 03:00PM

Absolutely none of these are going to happen without there being massive funding provided for it.

And that funding doesn't exist.

You may as well be telling us what you'll spend your Lotto winnings on.

Mickey Mike · 03-03-2026 03:01PM

The less channels the better and have them in proper full High Definition

dublinman1990 · 03-03-2026 09:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124281170#Comment_124281170

Why would you not want any of the stations owned by Channel 4 on Saorview?

They do provide feeds of them with Irish adverts on various pay tv platforms to subscribers here for several years at this point.

Do you not like the content that's provided from them or something?

Aidan McCarthy · 04-03-2026 12:38AM

Well I thought channel 4 would have to pay to go on saorview and that channel is cashstrap which means they can't afford to go on saorview

fritzelly · 04-03-2026 12:54AM

Can anyone remember the promotion of Saorview - more channels (maybe I'm remembering wrong but wasn't their talk of a dedicated movie channel among other things), interactive channels, a competitor to Sky - none of that happened but forced everyone to have to change their TV's (or buy STB's) to be able to use this more modern digital version that would have allowed all the aforementioned.

Then you look at the likes of Talking Pictures on Sky - the guy basically runs it from his bedroom - could never afford to run that on Saorview due to the costs involved

Saorview really is a failed digital transformation, looking at other small countries with similar populations and have multiples of channels
Always thought having Saorview in the remit of RTE was always a bad idea, should have been a separate entity who may have pursued other opportunities for the service

dxhound2005 · 04-03-2026 10:41AM

When discussing the capacity of transmitters to carry a maximum number of channels, I assume that not all transmitters are equal. In the North and the rest of the UK, Freeview have a full list of channels on their main high power transmitters. The lower power relay transmitters have what is called Freeview Lite/Light, which does not have the full list.

It doesn't matter now because there are no broadcasters offering to pay to go on Saorview. I don't know why anyone thinks the BBC or Channel 4 would be interested. But in the past could Saorview have done a full service from their high power transmitters, and a Lite service from the rest?

RoTelly · 04-03-2026 11:03AM

I mention Channel 4 (and would only expect channel 4 from their suite of channels) because they seem to have an Irish policy on broadcast into Ireland. Also that Channel4 itself has lost an audience and addition to Soarview would boost that. But entirely up to them, but I feel of all of all the UK broadcasters they'd be the most likely. Which, really means to say that none are likely at all.

Hotblack Desiato · 04-03-2026 08:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124283590#Comment_124283590

All Saorview transmitters carry two muxes, there is capacity in the frequency plan for at least four on all transmitters IIRC.

The UK has a huge number of relay transmitters and a lot of muxes on the main transmitters, there just aren't enough frequencies available to offer the full line-up of muxes on all the relays as well.

What does or did "a full service" mean? Anything broadcast has to be paid for - rights/clearances as well as bandwidth. The BBC in particular is cash strapped and not going to spend money on non-UK licencepayers.

Orban6 · 04-03-2026 09:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124285348#Comment_124285348

I have heard that 2RN do have 4 muxes. Obviously only 2 are used as they couldn't get anybody else on board. Apologies if that info is wrong but that is what I was told.

The Cush · 04-03-2026 09:26PM

DTT frequency plan is for 6 multiplexes , as per the Broadcasting Act.

Three muxes iirc have near nationwide coverage, the other three lesser coverage at most but not all transmitters, as part of the coordinated plan.

RTÉ is allocated 2 per the Broadcasting Act, the old BAI is allocated the other 4 muxes for award to commercial licencees.

The Cush · 04-03-2026 10:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124285348#Comment_124285348

The UK commercial mux licencees were offered frequencies on all transmitters and relays but for commercial reasons decided against it, only going with the 80 main transmitters for full service Freeview. The 1,000+ relays carried the Freeview Lite 3 mux service.

There was one exception, a small Welsh relay (Ferryside, SDN mux, carrying Welsh channels), it was the pilot digital switchover site and had a 4th mux. Not sure if it still has it.

At the time it was referred to as the 80/81 plan.

Orban6 · 04-03-2026 10:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124285532#Comment_124285532

I might be completely thick here but what is the 3rd MUX?

2RN run 2 from Cairn Hill, my local site, and I presume that is the case throughout the country. There is no 3rd MUX from that site.

As regards your second point, commercial licencees, would these be transmitters owned by operated by those other than 2RN?

L1011 · 04-03-2026 10:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124285768#Comment_124285768

the first commercial, and hence unused, mux in the old frequency plan.

The Cush · 04-03-2026 10:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124285768#Comment_124285768

If required RTE could be allocated a 3rd mux by CnaM via a licence unlike the first two muxes which were gifted to RTE by the Broadcasting Act.

On your second point, if you remember 2008/10, specifically the BAI commercial DTT tender process where Boxer were the chosen consortium for the commercial DTT licence.

It failed because RTE/RTENL required a €20m bond (insurance policy) from Boxer, in case the commercial rollout failed after the transmitters had been upgraded to DTT and RTE would be left with the debt. Boxer declined to pay the bond.

Boxer withdrew from the process and the other 2 consortia declined also. (This was the second attempt at commercial DTT after ITS TV, 2001/02)

I guess if something similar we're to happen today, a commercial licencee would have to cover 2rn's upgrade costs.

After the commercial DTT failure Saorview/Saorsat was born about mid 2010.

Prior to this the commercial DTT licencee was to be the "digital champion", promoting DTT, with RTE's two FTA muxes bolted on.

The Cush · 04-03-2026 10:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124285784#Comment_124285784

Also the current 6 mux DTT frequency plan.

Coordinated by the WEDDIP group for the 700 MHz clearance around 2017.

Infoanon · 04-03-2026 11:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124285939#Comment_124285939

Boxers proposed channels included channels that did not exist and no agreements were in place with broadcasters. The requirement to have a bond in place was a bit of a red herring.

With circa 90% coverage through cable and satellite any commercial operator was doomed to fail.

The Cush · 04-03-2026 11:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124286044#Comment_124286044

Yes, I guess Boxer didn't have enough confidence in their own product to provide the bond.

dxhound2005 · 05-03-2026 12:44AM

Just to show the difference between full Freeview and Lite. Put BT1 1AA in the postcode box and it will list 131 channels from Divis. BT34 1AT will list 51 from Camlough.

https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/coverage-checker-results

thesandeman · 05-03-2026 01:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124286334#Comment_124286334

Sorry, I got stuck at Olivia Atwood.

Red Silurian · 05-03-2026 10:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124280613#Comment_124280613

I can't see 2 sports channels really kicking off, pardon the pun. Even one would be struggling to fill time unless they show a lot of repeats

Døm · 05-03-2026 12:54PM

I don't get this nonsensical pining for more/new stations on saorview when DTT is clearly on the way out in the next 10/20 years. The uk are openly talking about the possibility of shutting down Freeview in the 2030s. Talk of Irish Film channels or whatever that was in a green paper back in 2011 is as relevant today as MPEG 5 Aertel, the whole broadcasting world has moved on to streaming.

RoTelly · 05-03-2026 01:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124287212#Comment_124287212

I suppose the talk is due to the failure it has been, I'd say Ireland will close DTT before the UK. TBH.

Irish Film Channel is in the act, no green paper need, Screen Ireland tried to slightly move in as a streamer at one point (VOLTA but no longer streaming from what I can see) but would have probably have been better to work work TG4 on co-service between them using the CINE4 brand and to use TG4 streaming service.

Saorview Changes - 2026

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