DTT Commercial Multiplexes (was OneVision, Boxer etc...)

If it ends up being totally freeview than I hope to god we don't see +1 channels.
Why?
1.Because its a waste of space.
2.Freeview is not encrypted, you can record from your tv, pc, ps3... the hardware is cheap, and competitive unlike sky..
3.There is no added subscription fee unlike sky because there is no subscription...
4.Just spend the 50euro's instead of lowering the amount of channels possible to broadcast for repeats an hour later, 90% of them you wont even watch PVR's are much more effeciant

And as for british channels paying to broadcast on irish free to air service, I think its a hell of alot smarter than trying to sell bundle space(3 mux) with a 12 year contract.
In fact if it were changed to a 4 year contract on a channel per channel basis(cheaper deal) then I bet 50euro's we would have at least 2 british broadcasters interested(and not the ****y game show channel variety either).
And if not why not, maybe advertising will need to be tought out again with the consideration of non irish broadcasters broadcasting irish adverts on the channels they pay for a licence to broadcast in ireland over dtt.

The demise of Boxer won't lead to the end of the DTT platform in the Republic. RTÉ are obliged to migrate their exisiting channels to DTT as are TV3 and TG4.

FTA DTT is the only way we can have free digital TV in Ireland thanks to RTÉ's secret deal with Sky so we can forget about cheap satellite transmission filling in the many analogue blackspots. TV3's scandalous neglect of Donegal and much of rural Ireland must be sorted out or else TV3 should lose their licence. DTT must have greater coverage than the exisiting analogue network. Irish people should not have to rely on a Sky sub or a deflector for Irish TV.

The TV3-Setanta-Eircom consortium seem doomed to me. I can't think any of the partners are that cash rich that they could go ahead and launch a pay-TV service in this market. In my opinion the only viable DTT pay TV platform would be a discounted Sky Sports package. That's about the only driver for Pay TV apart from relaying the UK channels.

From my time inside the BBC there is no way the Beeb or any other UK terrestrial broadcaster would be prepared to offer their channels for free to an overseas broadcaster. So those channels have to be paid for too.

What options are available?

I bet there'll be a merger between the TV3/Setanta/Eircom and the RTE/UPC consortiums. It makes no sense for the remaining two bidders for the DTT licence to be at loggerheads. Not in this economic climate.

A two tier package should be made available. The basic pack would have the Irish channels plus the UK terrestrials including BBC HD. The premium pack would be Setanta plus Sky Sports. The premium pack would have to be VERY competitively priced as a cheaper alternative to satellite.

Will this happen? If all the parties have any sense it might.

These quotes are taken from an RTE document entitled "Letter in Digital Switchover" written in August 2007 by Conor Hayes, RTE's Chief Financial Officer.
So what the hell happened?

RTE's original plan to Offer BBC1 and BBC2 on free to air:

The political and religious landscape of NI, and the ongoing peace process, allied to the traditional reliance on the analogue terrestrial television transmission network based in the Republic of Ireland, poses a key challenge for DTT in Ireland - North and South.
In particular it may be both necessary and opportune to arrive at some form of reciprocal cross-border arrangement, politically or otherwise, which would allow a degree of synchronization between DTT in both parts of the island of Ireland.
Such co-operation might perhaps be achieved by ensuring that the primary Public Service Broadcasters on both sides of the Border are carried on a reciprocal, even-handed basis in each territory such that RTE1 and RTE2 are carried on Freeview in NI with BBC1 and BBC2 being carried on a (nil or matching cost) reciprocal basis on DTT in the Republic of Ireland

RTE's aspirations for an Irish DTT Platform

RTE desires to see the implementation and rollout of an efficient DTT platform in Ireland to replace the current analogue television transmission service. RTE believes that this is the best means of facilitating analogue switch-off and of ensuring the continued delivery and viability of Public Service Broadcasting to the greatest number of people in Ireland in a digital era.

In line with that overall goal RTE would therefore like to see an Irish DTT platform emerge which has the following broad characteristics:

• Majority of its capacity is dedicated to FTA channels;

• Carries all of the existing Irish national terrestrial channels;
• Carries most of the 'traditional' UK Terrestrial channels;
• MUXES are rolled-out in accordance with a co-ordinated and synchronized plan;
• Is an integrated and operationally efficient delivery mechanism;
• Carries national radio channels and has text interactive capability;
• Is HD enabled;
• Has initial coverage of 90%+ of the population from 13 sites with subsequent expansion;
• Facilitates the synchronization and reciprocation with DTT services in NI;
• Facilitates the adoption of an agreed irish regulated EPG;
• The DTT transmission and DTT multiplexing activities are regulated in Ireland;
• Heavily promoted and marketed by Government and by all stakeholders.

Advertising of Ireland the interest of British broadcasters:

The Irish market for television advertising is highly competitive. Currently we estimate that some 17 television channels sell television advertising ratings in respect of the Irish market.
The increasing number of channels selling television advertising is primarily driven by the greater number of UK based channels now sell marginal Irish 'opt-out advertising.

So essentially theres my freaking proof right there, 17 british channels invest in Irish advertising already. Which roughly interprets to them finding our country lucrative in terms of advertising revenue. Which in turn means they want more viewers from Ireland.
So I will disagree with the neigh-sayers here, the bulk contract didnt work in england and it wont work in Ireland. We need to sell channel by channel contracts and reduce the contract to 4 years like the british freeview system instead of 12 like our current joke of a system that boxer nearly got and that the BCI are throwing around again.

I have read every post so excuse me if i dont mention by name.

love the idea of an irish film tv channel,doubt it would survive as a stand alone though so agree with the poster who said add euronews(or simulor)setanta sports news,archive rte shows,prime time shows timeshifted&all the other good ideas it would be an awesome channel!

the movie section could be along the lines of brit shorts and encourage budding Irish filmakers to send in their efforts.

also love the idea that say sky sports could be paid for without taking on crap channels ya dont want.

loads of great ideas,the best of them merged and proposed as a buisness model would i feel gain backing finance wise.

why does.nt, somebody here with buisness skills gather the best ideas together from this thread and try a submission to regulators,broadcastors and banks(:mad:) I think many of the ideas posted here could actually achieve two very popular channels as well as providing plenty of coverage of Irish culture,arts,crafts,music&more.
GO for it somebody! I for one want such a powerful mediam, as tv to keep Irelands many great aspects alive and thriving,our core values continued and passed on,not hidden under a bushel.!