Boxer win Irish DTT, but pull out.

Elmo · 22-07-2008 11:34AM

The Boxer boxes can also be bought from Boxer and I believe you can have a short subscription and then continue to get the 4 free channels, like the Sky Model (not cable where NTL/UPC own the bax, Sky box is owned by you from day 1).

And this is where the problem lies, people will just assume that they need to have boxer to get the FTA services and won't get rid of their Pay TV in 4 months time. Boxer should have to sell the settop boxes with an entry level fee i.e. Just FTA services with no charge (bar the cost of the Settop box), then the 9.99 monthly offer (with a reduced price settop box to make it more attractive) and then the premium rates.

Did RTE sell B&W TVs in 1962 or colour TVs later?

No but they did enter the cable market in the 70s. Remember people will be left without TV reception with ASO this was not the case when Colour TV came on the market. So its not really the same thing.

The ESB sold electrical goods

and eircom rented out phones, and still sell phones. And most phone companies subsides their mobile phones.

ronan.michael@g · 22-07-2008 12:42PM

Propellerhead wrote: »

This is utter ****e.

Cramming BBC3 and 4 into one channel?
Cramming the extra ITVs into one channel?
Charging double to get the Free to Air Film 4 and Sky News?

Are these people insane or more likely haven't a bull's notion what they are doing?

I'm keeping my test box for widescreen RTE and I'll be installing a Freesat PVR by hook or by crook for the rest when they come out

Hi Propellerhead. Google and investigate the Technomate TM6900 Combo (Sat AND terrestrial digital receiver). Receiver purchased in the UK - slight drawback - external Maxtor hdrive for recordings - can't get mine to work consistently. HD a joy -- and BBC-HD free on "Freesat" on 28degrees including ITV/HD now and then. Also Luxe HD. Looking forward to Ch4- HD when it (hopefully) arrives in, perhaps, October.
(Must sort out my recording HDrive problem) More good news - comes as mpeg4. Slight drawback - comes with 1080i - would have liked 1080p as well
-- have I got that right? Is'nt 1080p the better system? Can't remember right now - a senior moment occuring! Cheers Michael r.

Mossy Monk · 22-07-2008 12:51PM

watty · 22-07-2008 12:57PM

No-one will be transmitting 1080p. Uses twice the data for same vertical and horizontal resolution.
"p" means progressive rather than "i" Interlaced, its twice the TEMPORAL resolution. More important in USA where you can't convert from film 24fps "p" to 30fps "i" without 3:2 pulldown artifacts. Hence the lower resolution 1440x720p popular in USA (not transmitted here) that uses almost exactly same transmission bandwidth as much sharper 1920x1080i

USA regular Digital is 720 x 480i and ours is 720x576i, hence 720 lines is much more of a step up than for us, hence broadcasts here in HD are 1080 lines. The 3:2 USA problem is why Progressive DVD players (480p) are popular there and fairly pointless here (slight advantage if you have component progressive DVD player and HD TV, but a decent BluRay DVD player will output progressive on the HDMI from regular DVDs).

Onikage · 22-07-2008 12:58PM

Sky are a broadcaster who are happy to sell you their own equipment but of course they have an agenda to sell more services. Can't imagine that RTE would want to get into the crowded DVB-T hardware market but who knows? They've done stranger things in the past.

watty · 22-07-2008 12:59PM

Sky are PayTV. RTE are not.

barnicles · 22-07-2008 01:13PM

Mossy Monk wrote: »

epic_fail.jpg

LOL

Onikage · 22-07-2008 01:34PM

watty wrote: »

Sky are PayTV. RTE are not.

If we ignore the yearly tv license fee then this is clearly true. But it's not unknown for subsidies to be granted by the public sector to encourage adoption, like the americans have done for their digital switchover. Isn't there a requirement that every Irish person is able to receive the public channels? I couldn't see a pay tv operator doing this without trying to bundle the free content with the paid-for content, which is what seems to be happening.

dgently · 22-07-2008 02:31PM

Onikage wrote: »

I couldn't see a pay tv operator doing this without trying to bundle the free content with the paid-for content, which is what seems to be happening.

Er, isn't that always what happens? How many of the top 5 channels on the Sky EPG are FTA?

What I find interesting is

1. Denis O'Brien just won another high profile competition for a communications license. The naysayers were out in force the last time too. If I had to back one of the bidders to make "Pay-DTT" popular and profitable, I'd back him.
2. How many of Sky Sports 100,000+ customers will be tempted by €10+Setanta price, available only from DTT.
3. Q2, for Sky Sports cable customers
4. How many Freesat users will turn to DTT for Setanta

The €10/month for a basic package of channels with a free STB is not bad at all. UPC are not the only sitting duck - Sky have about three employees in the Republic, pay not one cent in VAT or tax, selling an expensive service to a base of customers who suddenly have some high quality low cost alternatives.

I'd say Boxer have a fighting chance.

mumhaabu · 22-07-2008 02:35PM

So let me get this right, Boxer will launch a DTT Service with plans for a January 2009 launch.

OK so they will have a basic line up like below

Starter Pack FTA + 7 channels €9.99 per month
• RTÉ ONE
• RTÉ TWO
• TV3
• TG4
• BBC 1
• BBC 2
• UTV
• C4
• Discovery
• Eurosport
• BBC News 24

Only Discovery and Eurosport are Encrypted, (although Eurosport in German can still be got FTA on Analogue Satellite on 19°East) So basically you would be paying €9.99 for one channel.

However what I do like is that their will be FTA DTT channels such as, RTE1, RTE2, TV3, TG4, and the future planned channels such as IFB (Irish Film Bord) Channel and OTV (oireachtas TV), RTE3 (a mix of old and new programming) and RTE 1 +1. Added with RTE International on Satellite it will give a good range of FTA Irish programming.

Hopefully this FTA service will launch soon on DTT it would be great for people who have a poor analogue terrestrial reception. This service added with either a FREESAT box or FTA Satellite Receiver will give plenty of FTA Digital channels to watch.

I can't see Pay DTT being a success here (look at how ITVDigital went). The right way to market this is to get a DTT Receiver with a CI slot into every home with a good range of FTA channels like Freeview in the UK and then offer premium channels like Top Up Tv does in the UK, this would be a much more feasible option and would definitly give Sky a run for its money.

Regardless of what happens it is great to have competition and eventually break Sky's near monopoly of carrying RTE's channels digitally to Irish homes especially in the countryside, where UPC is not available. With RTE's channels on FTA DTT and the great offerings available with FREESAT or FTA satellite on 28° East I can see Sky being the real loser as loads of Irish pay TV customers have Sky only for RTE as their analogue terrestrial reception is so crap.

Anyone know when/if DTT will launch on the Mullaghanish transmitter?

scath · 22-07-2008 03:01PM

I hope they call that DTT chamption guy they have, Pat. Or how about they go with a female instead! I suppose Bob is okay too. But Pat is more familiar and Irish! I see they're still using this bleddy Terrestrial term. I doubt the public will warm to it. Can't they use the term 'aerial TV' instead. Everyone understands it. How many understand 'terrestrial'.Bleddy ET! Imagine a scene of the they with no reception asking their partner-'Oh, my TV isn't working, I wonder is it the 'terrestrial' that's broken or the box-haha...I hear the oldies ask in my imagination lol.

pH · 22-07-2008 03:06PM

I've some questions ...

What % of the population will be able to get this *without* an external aerial? I live in Clondalkin and any current analog RTE reception is shocking without a rooftop antenna, I was just wondering is DTT different and how many will need a man climbing on their roof and holes drilled to get it working.

Will all the UK "freeview" kit now be useless over here? So all the PVRs and TVs with built in receivers be useless ... leading on to

The Irish market is quite small, will Boxer make and sell their own boxes (a la Sky) or let others make them under license.

Will the FTA portion be open enough for a non-propriety PC solution to work, will CAMs be available, will you be able to get a PVR?

Are there any HD plans at all?

watty · 22-07-2008 03:34PM

I'd say mostly people in South Dublin via Three Rock (all on Cable and Dish already

), some in Dundalk (But they have huge outdoors for UK TV) and Bishopstown etc served by Spur Hill.

Not Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Athlone.

The boxes that Boxer needs are quite normal and standard. France and others using the same system. Sky wants to use it in UK instead of current Topup TV box.

It's likely the Neotion Module will work for existing TVs, and many branded DTT MPEG4 boxes with CI using compatible CAM. (The Neotion Module can take a viewing card and work as a CAM as well as converting the MPEG4 to MPEG2, though an MPEG4 set box gives better quality).

We need to wait and see which CAM they use. It won't be at all proprietary like SkyDigibox.

CAMs should be available to allow you to use a PC, Humax, Lyngbox, Reelbox, Topfield, Technisat and many other PVR solutions. Though PayTV, it's more like Sky/TopupTV DTT in UK service or TNT pay DTT in France than like Sky Satellite proprietary service.

They have to use MHEG5 EPG/Interactive. So PVRs with CAM will have EPG, unlike Satellite before FreeSat without Sky+

pa990 · 22-07-2008 03:38PM

i'd imagine that Boxer will use the same or similar STB that they use in Sweden, (presuming sweden uses mpeg4)

Boxer ireland will be using viaaccess encryption, i dont know that encryption they use in sweden, but thats only a change of cam, not a big problem.

Or we could have similat box's to frances TNT, (they use mpeg4) it will only be a matter of rebranding it

watty · 22-07-2008 03:38PM

mumhaabu wrote: »

So let me get this right, Boxer will launch a DTT Service with plans for a January 2009 launch.

OK so they will have a basic line up like below

Starter Pack FTA + 7 channels €9.99 per month
• RTÉ ONE
• RTÉ TWO
• TV3
• TG4
• BBC 1
• BBC 2
• UTV
• C4
• Discovery
• Eurosport
• BBC News 24

No

RTÉ ONE RTÉ TWO TV3 TG4 extra RTE channels Oireachtas Are not part of Boxer. They are provided by RTENL / RTE and there anyway, even if Boxer never launches.

I doubt they will be on more than 4 sites by Feb 2009, if at all.

weehamster · 22-07-2008 03:38PM

Anyone know when/if DTT will launch on the Mullaghanish transmitter?

Here are coverage maps that were submitted with Boxers application;
2Q - 2009
3Q - 2009
3Q - 2010
3Q - 2011
4Q - 2012
1Q - 2013

Now for my my 2 cents.

1 - Same rubbish, different platform. So the only choice on offer is watch it over an aerial instead of a dish or over cable/MMDS. There is really only one platform an that is Sky where Cable/MMDS and now DTT gets their channels from.

2 - Apart from the 4 main channels, out of the other 24 channels, only 1 is Irish. No other digital platform in Europe has such a disproportionate number of channels from outside a country. Welcome to the UK.

3 - Out of the other 24 'Pay-TV' channels, 10* are available on digital
satellite unscrambled, so they are free with no monthly subscriptions.

4 - Now that these UK channels are broadcasting from within ROI, do they now have to comply with Irish law regarding broadcasting, particularly advertising.

The only good side of DTT appears to be RTE's plan to offer more Irish channels. I hope when the other 2 muxes are up for grabs that RTE get them.

* BBC Ireland is a compilation of BBC 3, 4, Cbeebies, CBBC. ITV Ireland is a compilation of ITV 2, 3, 4, CITV. All of theses channels are available on digital satellite unscrambled, so they are free with no monthly subscriptions

DTTfan · 22-07-2008 03:46PM

Hi all,

I have been reading all the posts for sometime now and waiting for the right moment to reply, now that the decison has been finially revealled all i can say is that no matter who would have got the contract the majority of people here would have objections,

One vision, i am glad they didnt get it, thay have enough hold on the market and their offering would have been bad, their service even worse and we would have been dictated to.

Boxer were the obvious choice even without Mr O Brien, they have the experience, the back up and most importantly the technology and it works. Imagine the other 2 trying to get up to speed with that.

Comments about boxer being doomed???? Why,,,,, They now have to go to the table and put their plan into action, target the areas and rollout schedule, I would imagine that most of it is already done.

Now as for Ms Lucy Gaffney , speaking from New York, She hasnt got a clue, she is just a puppet on Mr O Briens arm, and instead of his hand up her,,,, shes well and truly <<<<<<<<<<<<<< need i say more.

The muscle in this partner ship is Boxer, they bring everything to the table and whats more Boxer DTT Ireland, will be run by real people from Ireland.

So guys come on accecpt it, this is going to happen, the east coast is going to loose the free signal they have no matter what and will have to pay for the service like the rest of us, NTL have had a good run at it and from my experience havent got the stamina or back up.

Now lets get on with it and welcome 2009 as a new era, i am looking forward to turning the TV on in my car and watching TV as I am driven around "!!!!

JT

DTTfan · 22-07-2008 03:52PM

From what i know Boxer have the latest boxes Mpg4, so you can either get a boxer direct from Boxer or thier listed agents ( DID, Currys etc) or when you buy a new TV you will only have to insert the card into the slot, thats my understanding but hey who am I to comment.

J

weehamster · 22-07-2008 04:18PM

Hi JT, Interesting 1st post

One vision, i am glad they didn't get it, they have enough hold on the market and their offering would have been bad, their service even worse and we would have been dictated to.

Boxer were the obvious choice even without Mr O Brien, they have the experience, the back up and most importantly the technology and it works. Imagine the other 2 trying to get up to speed with that

The reality is there really wasn't much a difference between them. I say is that the 10€ p/m price tag that won it for them.

Technology was already there between RTENL and BT who were running the trial. So it didn't matter who won. It still would have been MPEG4.

Comments about boxer being doomed???? Why,,,,, They now have to go to the table and put their plan into action, target the areas and rollout schedule, I would imagine that most of it is already done.

Other DTT platforms haver struggled with Pay TV on DTT. Boxer is one example and ITV digital is the best example of them all

The muscle in this partner ship is Boxer, they bring everything to the table

Well their operation in Sweden has been very slow to start. I think Sweden has a better package on offer than here. They are starting in Denmark on 1/09/09.

and whats more Boxer DTT Ireland, will be run by real people from Ireland.

I don't understand. What do you mean?

So guys come on accept it, this is going to happen, the east coast is going to loose the free signal they have no matter what

The PBS mux is free. Keep an eye on that one.

and will have to pay for the service like the rest of us

Who is this 'us' that you are referring to.

NTL have had a good run at it and from my experience havent got the stamina or back up.

NTL is now UPC, Europe's largest cable operator and backed by Liberty Global. And what is your experience exactly.

DTTfan · 22-07-2008 04:36PM

weehamster wrote: »

Hi JT, Interesting 1st post

The reality is there really wasn't much a difference between them. I say is that the 10€ p/m price tag that won it for them.

I would agree the price tag had a lot to do with it but i would also imagine the the experience good or bad also did it. I read the whole proposal and it was good, the others read ok, but in my opinion it was streets ahead.

Technology was already there between RTENL and BT who were running the trial. So it didn't matter who won. It still would have been MPEG4.

technology was already there, yes, but was it as strong or secure as the current software boxer have at the moment. We will never know.

Other DTT platforms haver struggled with Pay TV on DTT. Boxer is one example and ITV digital is the best example of them all

Isnt " Struggle " what makes things work.

Well their operation in Sweden has been very slow to start. I think Sweden has a better package on offer than here. They are starting in Denmark on 1/09/09.

Swedan started slow but has picked up the pace and is now successful, despite the glitches.

I don't understand. What do you mean?

The PBS mux is free. Keep an eye on that one.

Free, there are loads of free optons out there, the truth is that if someone wants the service they will pay for it, it probably will be a struggle at first but i reckon they ( Boxer DTT) will go all out to get the sevice out there.

Who is this 'us' that you are referring to.

"US" the paying public who currently pay for a TV service.

NTL is now UPC, Europe's largest cable operator and backed by Liberty Global. And what is your experience exactly.

NTL, UPC, Chorous whatever they like to be called is fine by me, I dont really care, my Experience of NTL , sorry UPC , over the past 20 years has been crap, back in the days when Sky could only be got if you re morgaged your house it was the only option by cable, and for the most part the signal was crap, and it always seemed to be the weathers fault. Chorous in thier own day provided a limited service by MMDS and it too was crap, I dont know how many times i had to top the trees, and to deal with them was even worse.

Now i am not saying Boxer DTT are going to have an easy ride , far from it, they are up against it, but with their history and Communicorps and in particular Mr O Brien's backing i cannot see them sitting back and waiting for the whole thing to happen.

My experience does not really matter, as this is all new to us all. Yes we have all probably seen the trial and even picked up the signals if we had a DTT box, if you are not a current Sky subscriber or Freeview freak then when you see what DTT has to offer you have to be impressed.

time will tell what happens , how it goes, and if it will all run to plan, i for one would like to think positive about it, that is once the government doesnt step in and charge us a charge for the charge on the charge and then put BIK and stamp duty to boot.

Anyway , thanks for the reply and the feed back

j

Onikage · 22-07-2008 04:51PM

Hi J, as the sole representitive of Boxer posting here how do you intend to compete with free satellite which offers 90% of what is available on your lowest package?

DTTfan · 22-07-2008 05:03PM

Onikage wrote: »

Hi J, as the sole representitive of Boxer posting here how do you intend to compete with free satellite which offers 90% of what is available on your lowest package?

Well what can i say to that, if i was the sole representitive of Boxer which maybe i am as i havent seen anyone else, anyway where was i , how could they compete with free to air , they cant, if i wanted to see a Mars bar and Mr smith down the raod was giving them away for free id be out of business. this is a strange country, we all know what goes on and how things can change, people used to say they would never pay for sky, they did, they said they would never pay to watch Man U, they do, so why not pay for a decent reliable television service. Of course you are going to get those who will get the freeview boxes and those others who will get the cable scramblers and poach off the cable, what can we do, nothing. Business wasnt meant to be easy, and in this case it will be difficult.

what would you suggest??? would you pay for DTT ? would you pay the basic 9.99 or go to the next level, maybe add a top up every few months.

I cant answer for Boxer, but i look forward to seeing thier finial line up and offering, who knows what else we will get.

cheers
j

Elmo · 22-07-2008 05:23PM

I cant answer for Boxer, but i look forward to seeing thier finial line up and offering, who knows what else we will get.

Surely what they have put in the application is the final offer for the moment.

I have to agree with you J, no matter who got this licence everyone here (including myself) wouldn't have been happy.

All 3 applicants bullied the BCI into only one licence instead of 3.

Boxer aren't providing anything new, I cann't see the market for this product. I think that it is time someone marketed Freesat in Ireland with DTT Ireland from RTE, TV3, TG4, OTV, IFB and who ever else is willing to provide free Irish services to Ireland. Because from what I can see that is what Boxer is providing viewers with. But then all applicant suggest the same.

what would you suggest??? would you pay for DTT ? would you pay the basic 9.99 or go to the next level, maybe add a top up every few months.

No I wouldn't pay the basic 9.99 why because I couldn't be bothered to change operator (Many people are like that). I am happy with UPC even their dreadful customer care (but fortunately for me I rarely have to call them). But then I only have UPC because I like their broadband and phone package.

Boxer will have a battle to fight in the main urban areas to get people to go with their DTT.

By the way RTE 1, RTE 2, RTE 3, RTE 1+1, TV3, TG4, OTV and IFB Channel will not be part of the basic 9.99 package they are FREE.

This will mean that the following will be an extra 9.99 per month BBC 1, BBC 2, C4, UTV, Discovery, Eurosport and BBC News 24.

7 EXTRA CHANNELS FOR 9.99 that is madness. IMO.

Any mention of Channel 6 in the basic package?

Reception so far with RTE 1, RTE 2, TV3 and TG4 on DTT has been perfect for me with an indoor ariel in an upstairs bedroom. No settop box required.

watty · 22-07-2008 05:39PM

UPC today passing almost 62% of homes and spending millions on Broadband enabling and Digital Distribution is a completely different product to the 20 years of neglect and under-investment of a succession of cable operators in various cities with mostly a rubbish analogue service.

The Boxer line is unimaginative. It's only of interest outside cable areas where people are more prepared to have a Dish. With an Aerial + Dish and no subscription and a combo DTT/Sat box (or two separate boxes) you get nearly 50 quality TV and over 20 quality radio including all the Irish and main UK channels, free.

The PSB / RTE Mux is not part of Boxer.

DTTfan · 22-07-2008 05:42PM

Elmo wrote: »

Surely what they have put in the application is the final offer for the moment.

I have to agree with you J, no matter who got this licence everyone here (including myself) wouldn't have been happy.

All 3 applicants bullied the BCI into only one licence instead of 3.

Boxer aren't providing anything new, I cann't see the market for this product. I think that it is time someone marketed Freesat in Ireland with DTT Ireland from RTE, TV3, TG4, OTV, IFB and who ever else is willing to provide free Irish services to Ireland. Because from what I can see that is what Boxer is providing viewers with. But then all applicant suggest the same.

No I wouldn't pay the basic 9.99 why because I couldn't be bothered to change operator (Many people are like that). I am happy with UPC even their dreadful customer care (but fortunately for me I rarely have to call them). But then I only have UPC because I like their broadband and phone package.

Boxer will have a battle to fight in the main urban areas to get people to go with their DTT.

By the way RTE 1, RTE 2, RTE 3, RTE 1+1, TV3, TG4, OTV and IFB Channel will not be part of the basic 9.99 package they are FREE.

This will mean that the following will be an extra 9.99 per month BBC 1, BBC 2, C4, UTV, Discovery, Eurosport and BBC News 24.

7 EXTRA CHANNELS FOR 9.99 that is madness. IMO.

Any mention of Channel 6, Setanta Sports in the basic package?

Well at least we are not getting TV3 news 24 and Expose 24, that would have been hell, as for Setanta and Channel 6, I suppose its down to discussion between Boxer and setanta, Channel 6 as it is, is having enough trouble with Sky trying to get placed higher up in the program guide, but you never know,

Even though the proposal stated what channels would be available, Boxer and BCI still have a few months hammering out a few bits and pieces yet so i wouldnt be surprised, sure I am sure we can all hold our breath a little bit longer.

My opinon is purely mine, i may be a Boxer fan, i like the name anyway but i thought they were the strongest of the lot even if most of what was offered by all 3 was similarish!!

j

Elmo · 22-07-2008 05:46PM

Well at least we are not getting TV3 news 24 and Expose 24, that would have been hell, as for Setanta and Channel 6, I suppose its down to discussion between Boxer and setanta, Channel 6 as it is, is having enough trouble with Sky trying to get placed higher up in the program guide, but you never know,

There is nothing to suggest that the BCI won't force Boxer to provide positions for channels licenced by the BCI. There is nothing to suggest that TV3 won't be awarded 3TODAY and 3XPOSE when the renegociated the terms of their contract in the coming months.

DTTfan · 22-07-2008 05:47PM

watty wrote: »

UPC today passing almost 62% of homes and spending millions on Broadband enabling and Digital Distribution is a completely different product to the 20 years of neglect and under-investment of a succession of cable operators in various cities with mostly a rubbish analogue service.

The Boxer line is unimaginative. It's only of interest outside cable areas where people are more prepared to have a Dish. With an Aerial + Dish and no subscription and a combo DTT/Sat box (or two separate boxes) you get nearly 50 quality TV and over 20 quality radio including all the Irish and main UK channels, free.

The PSB / RTE Mux is not part of Boxer.

Were the other 2 applicants also unimaginative as well, all packages were the same , we even would have got TV3 News 24 hours a day, and Expose, Wow, i wish i could have got that, One day they will start repeating the news like every other program the have.

Seriously though what will be will be, nobody is going to be happy all of the time and even though i have an interest in the system i will not be changing my current supplier but i might use DTT when traveling, it has so many applications outside of the home enviroment.

DTTfan · 22-07-2008 05:53PM

Elmo wrote: »

There is nothing to suggest that the BCI won't force Boxer to provide positions for channels licenced by the BCI. There is nothing to suggest that TV3 won't be awarded 3TODAY and 3XPOSE when the renegociated the terms of their contract in the coming months.

The BCI may inforce certain sanctions to the channel line up, and it will be up to Boxer to identify what the consumers want, if TV3 news 24 or Expose 24 for example were part of the free mux well then thats fine, but if i was to pay for them , i wouldnt pay. I may sound like im picking on TV3 , well to be honest i am, again my opinion.

i am sure that between the BCI and Boxer DTT they will provide a service that contains channels that people want, i think that the beauty of the Boxer set up is that you can pick and choose what you want to view, by topping up. For most of us who have a current supplier , i doupt many of us will change, but for those out there in rabbit ear land they may have only 2 choices, sky or DTT.

Elmo · 22-07-2008 06:04PM

Were the other 2 applicants also unimaginative as well, all packages were the same , we even would have got TV3 News 24 hours a day, and Expose, Wow, i wish i could have got that, One day they will start repeating the news like every other program the have.

Those on boards will be happy to point out how if OneVision had got the licence I would be even more angry at the discission. I hate the idea of TV3 getting any more TV services.

I agree with you that if TV3 do get extra channel they won't be on the Pay packages, even if OneVision had won the licence TV3's extra channel would be quickly given as part of the FTA to gain more viewers.

TV3 could always buy a slot on the boxer muxs and boxer could give them to viewers for free, just in the same way TV3 and TG4 pay to be on RTENL.

i am sure that between the BCI and Boxer DTT they will provide a service that contains channels that people want, i think that the beauty of the Boxer set up is that you can pick and choose what you want to view, by topping up. For most of us who have a current supplier , i doupt many of us will change, but for those out there in rabbit ear land they may have only 2 choices, sky or DTT.

I don't really get the pick an choose. they have 3 options without contract??? or can you take the basic package and the sports package or would you have to take the basic, additional service plus the sports package??? Could you get the FTA services and the sport/movie package only?

You also have the choice of get a free to air satellite, which will give you all of the BBC, ITV and C4 channels for Free, as will sky digital, plus your FTA settop box for the extra Irish channels.

Also if you are in a part of the country where sky is your only option then you will be the last to see Boxer.

From boxer.ie

The 12 year licence will enable Boxer to operate three multiplexes (broadcasting networks) providing about 30 channels of crystal clear digital TV through existing roof top aerials. The service will debut in major cities and coverage will be extended to the whole country by 2012, when current analogue TV signals are likely to be phased out.

pa990 · 22-07-2008 06:11PM

weehamster wrote: »

Here are coverage maps that were submitted with Boxers application;
2Q - 2009
3Q - 2009
3Q - 2010
3Q - 2011
4Q - 2012
1Q - 2013

hmmm.. looks like i wont have coverage .. ever