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

jammygit · 21-12-2009 10:48AM

Sam Russell wrote: »

DTT has to go ahead. 1. It's built. 2. ASO is committed to 2012. 3. RTE need it to justify themselves. 4. The politicos need to have a service to appear on, telling us how marvellous they are. 5. Ireland is a hive of high tech, leading edge, highly educated, thrusting young bloods who are/must be the best in the world at everthing modern. Obviously we cannot fall behind the rest of Europe, not now we have passed the Lisbon Treaty. Isn't DTT part of the dividend. And don't we need it to take our mind off the NAMA thing.

Or something like that.

We wont pass this up. Surely?

DTT has to go ahead - we must switch off analogue by 2012. It's just a case of how, when, and by whom. At the very least RTE have the mandate to proceed with FTA.

scath · 22-12-2009 12:10AM

jammygit wrote: »

DTT has to go ahead - we must switch off analogue by 2012. It's just a case of how, when, and by whom. At the very least RTE have the mandate to proceed with FTA.

WE'll we mustn't have to do anything. We can stay analogue until 2015 if we wanted to and even after that though the service would be affected in some areas.

But I think in reality, the economics of spectrum management argue towards the economic benefits of switching over to DTT. That is one driver. The other is in not being seen to lag behind Europe. RTÉ have acted on the mandate by upgrading the network which is largely complete so therefor I do expect its just a case of how, when and by whom. So I think jammgit you have it correct.

I still didn't see if they approved the changes to the shareholding but I expect that they have (BAI). I don't expect to hear anything during January except something in the media about negotiations. I think in February that the BAI will crack the whip with a deadline of a month to sign or have the license offer taken from One Vision. The BAI won't want to be seen to do it. But they may have to if they want to progress matters. I'm sure One Vision should be in a position to decide.

Basically what's needed is for RTÉ to give a bottom line on the security bond. Then its simply a case of if One Vision will agree or not. That's it really. I expect that One Vision are really waiting now for Eircom's new owner to weigh in regarding the bond. If they decide yes following Eircom's recommendation, then its green light. If not, then we need to know in February and to get on with Easy TV and get DTT going. Time is ticking.

channelsurfer · 22-12-2009 08:48AM

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/eircom-move-lifts-hope-of-ending-digital-tv-impasse-1984365.html

lastest update on this.....looks increasingly likely that if it does launch it will be part of triple play from eircom with a bundle of channels probably free to entice you to take broadband etc..

22-12-2009 09:17AM

channelsurfer wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/eircom-move-lifts-hope-of-ending-digital-tv-impasse-1984365.html

lastest update on this.....looks increasingly likely that if it does launch it will be part of triple play from eircom with a bundle of channels probably free to entice you to take broadband etc..

I can see them launching as part of a loss leader triple play option like that alright.
They wont get anyone who has free bbc ,itv and ch4 and five though but if they want to operate it as a loss leader with Singapore telecoms money,it's a win win for RTE unless and untill singapore think the loss isn't worth it any more.

scath · 22-12-2009 10:19AM

Yea, exactly, agree and also with he commentry from industry sources of it being a strategic benefit primarily to Eircom, 'triple play'. It does make sense for Eircom to be able to compete with UPC on triple play as we know broadband contention rates and speeds. My brother has fixed broadband in, and I can tell ya its as fast as my wireless broadband connection. Now perhaps its the bundle he has (voda).

Anyway this is good news, about the renewed discussions. I suspect that the other shareholders in the consortium weren't keen in coughing up more money and that it'll be Eircom that is the reason they sign with some contribution from others as a sort of 'punt', should it be successful. Setanta's holding of 10% surprises me, though they have a more solid shareholding ie Dermot Desmond I think than before and possibly will see it as a way to grow their base. Tv3 I'm sure need to run a tight ship and could spend surer money on 3e and perhaps the news channel 3Today. I can't see them launching an Xpose Channel. Its more likely they'll Xpose 3e more!

As for Arquiva? Well its a foot in the Irish TV transmission market to increase their visibility and presence, and provide their transmission expertise and switchover expertise to the project, which I would think would benefit RTÉ NL. That will enhance Arquiva's existing business here.

Eircom is in danger of being squeezed down positions in the marketplace unless it re-invents itself as something more than Eircom and paid for Digital TV and Meteor gives it that.

I think Eircom could do with a brand change to Digicom, reflecting their change to digital TV. Eircom=Digicom sound similar eh! Change Meteor to Digicom, One Vision to Digcom. Only thing is, that name is used by an AV and Office technology firm. But I guess it could be bought with a price and licensed back to the current owner, which seems to be Irish.

Elmo · 22-12-2009 11:52AM

Tv3 I'm sure need to run a tight ship and could spend surer money on 3e and perhaps the news channel 3Today. I can't see them launching an Xpose Channel. Its more likely they'll Xpose 3e more!

Pack of scroges in TV3 IMO. And 3e in the New Year begins to show repeats of TV3's mornings shows! Nominal shareholding sounds like they are pretty much out of the picture on this.

scath wrote: »

I think Eircom could to with a brand change to Digicom, reflecting their change to digital TV. Eircom=Digicom sound similar eh! Change Meteor to Digicom, One Vision to Digcom

Eircom to Digicom (a little too similar to Digico IMO). Why not DigiEir? Can't see it happening. Why not just rebrand all companies as Eircom.

Also the competition authority will really have to investigate this.

galtee boy · 22-12-2009 01:28PM

This news made it into the RTE 1 TV One O'Clock news today. Newsreader saying that DTT has moved a step closer to launching etc with the greater involvement of Eircom. It maybe on later tv news bulletins this evening.

Elmo · 22-12-2009 04:47PM

galtee boy wrote: »

This news made it into the RTE 1 TV One O'Clock news today. Newsreader saying that DTT has moved a step closer to launching etc with the greater involvement of Eircom. It maybe on later tv news bulletins this evening.

22/12/2009

http://www.rte.ie/news/1news/

Under business news around 4 mins 30sec.

RTÉ News: One News seems to have a new Business section in the last number of months.

scath · 23-12-2009 01:46PM

Elmo wrote: »

22/12/2009

http://www.rte.ie/news/1news/

Under business news around 4 mins 30sec.

RTÉ News: One News seems to have a new Business section in the last number of months.

http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1063045 would be more helpful

lol Joking lol...

Yes, the new business section is very welcome and of general value to students of business alike. I think though that it should be repeated on Six One. I see it as more important than Sports News which could be cut back by that amount of time.

But it enhances One News, gives it something and is in line with what Channel 4 News at Midday have done for more than a year.

KeRbDoG · 27-12-2009 10:54AM

Elmo wrote: »

22/12/2009

http://www.rte.ie/news/1news/

Under business news around 4 mins 30sec.

RTÉ News: One News seems to have a new Business section in the last number of months.

Its at 13 mins 26sec

Elmo · 27-12-2009 07:39PM

kerbdog wrote: »

Its at 13 mins 26sec

I was talking about just the business section, not the full show.

scath · 28-12-2009 04:35PM

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2009/1228/1224261300612.html bodes well for DTT, doesn't it! No surprise about the increased stake. Makes sign-off quite likely now.

John Collins writes in Irish Times: 'SINGAPORE-BASED STT has indicated to the Communications Regulator that it will invest in Eircom’s network infrastructure when it acquires the business and that it intends to stay in Ireland for the long term....“From our discussions with them they are looking at Eircom like it’s a telco and not an ATM,” said John Doherty, chairman of ComReg told The Irish Times '

It seems its prepared to invest money. So I think indications are good. Am just suprised Sky aren't taking a stake in the operation. But hey, they may be happy enough not to create more competition for themselves. Anyways, pay DTT is win win for Sky, more subscription potential.

snaps · 15-01-2010 09:16AM

Who owns freeview in the UK? Would it be possible for a deal to be done with freeview so that the UK freeview platform could be carried here with the 4 Irish channels carried on it as well? Perhaps then Freeview in the North could carry the 4 Irish channels? Just a thought, then Rte would be on the epg along with the Uk channels? This could give Sky a run for their money?

craoltoir · 15-01-2010 09:57AM

I recall RTÉ had proposed that the British channels would be available FTA on Irish DTT but that this was appealed to europe by the commercial operators (UPC/cable) as they would lose a lot if not most of their business in such a scenario. Indeed this was mentioned at the time of the Good Friday agreement - public service channels from the south being available FTA in the North and vice versa.

icdg · 15-01-2010 12:56PM

snaps wrote: »

Who owns freeview in the UK? Would it be possible for a deal to be done with freeview so that the UK freeview platform could be carried here with the 4 Irish channels carried on it as well? Perhaps then Freeview in the North could carry the 4 Irish channels? Just a thought, then Rte would be on the epg along with the Uk channels? This could give Sky a run for their money?

Freeview really only exists as a brand name, there is a company DTV Services Limited which owns it but its really just a marketing operation. The multiplexes themselves are owned by the BBC, Digital 3 and 4 (ITV/Channel 4), SDN (ITV), and Arquiva. There's no one person to do "a deal" with, it would have to be on an operator-operator basis.

Besides, the Irish terrestrial channels could only ever be on DTT in Northern Ireland. Putting them on DTT in Great Britain would for rights reasons be a definite no-no.

snaps · 16-01-2010 09:13AM

icdg wrote: »

Besides, the Irish terrestrial channels could only ever be on DTT in Northern Ireland. Putting them on DTT in Great Britain would for rights reasons be a definite no-no.

Yes that is what i actually meant, Allowing us to have the same DTT service than they have up north with the deal for them to be the addition of RTE, TV3 etc?

Could it work, even on a scaled down version? Im sure with 4*Mpeg 4 multiplexes thats more than enough space for a majority of the UK freeview channels? Would could 4 multiplexes hold? 32 channels?

Elmo · 16-01-2010 11:32AM

snaps wrote: »

Yes that is what i actually meant, Allowing us to have the same DTT service than they have up north with the deal for them to be the addition of RTE, TV3 etc?

Could it work, even on a scaled down version? Im sure with 4*Mpeg 4 multiplexes thats more than enough space for a majority of the UK freeview channels? Would could 4 multiplexes hold? 32 channels?

IMO PBS NI 1, 2, 3 and 4 and PBS ROI 1, 2, 3 and 4 should be available across the country with New niche FTA ROI channels available across the 26 counties and on Cable and sat.

The Cush · 21-01-2010 01:33AM

"STT executives are in Dublin this week and will be meeting Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan and regulator Comreg". I wonder if OneVision will come up in the discussions?

STT asks Sullivan to stay on as chairman of Eircom
CIARÁN HANCOCK Business Affairs Correspondent

Thu, Jan 21, 2010

SINGAPORE Technologies Telemedia (STT) has asked Ned Sullivan to remain on as chairman of Eircom following its takeover of the business earlier this month.

Meanwhile, ratings agency Standard Poor’s (SP) has placed Eircom on credit watch with “negative implications” and warned of a possible breach of covenants in the next 12 months on its €4 billion debt. Eircom has a “B” rating.

...

STT executives are in Dublin this week and will be meeting Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan and regulator Comreg.

SP, meanwhile, raised concerns yesterday about Eircom’s level of debt and STT’s future strategy for the Irish company.

“The rating action reflects our opinion that various financial covenants present in ERCIF’s [Eircom] senior secured facilities could be breached over the coming three to four quarters,” SP analyst Xavier Buffon said.

“We think that the range of feasible measures to address this situation could be narrowed, and the risk of breach increased, by the current challenging combination of ongoing revenue pressures, tough competition and regulatory scrutiny, restructuring measures and fixed outlays required to preserve operating margins and market positions, and possible future cash contributions to fund the pension deficit.”

SP said it was “uncertain” about “the future orientation of strategy and financial policy to be set” by STT and would seek information from management regarding what “possible measures” it might take to address any covenant breach”. It warned it could lower its rating.

© 2010 The Irish Times

scath · 21-01-2010 02:45AM

Mm..I'd say it may come up, and bottom lines could be charted to Eircom regarding negotiations with RTE NL etc. Could coincide with an RTE NL-One Vision meeting this week as STT are in town?

reslfj · 21-01-2010 11:00AM

snaps wrote: »

Yes that is what i actually meant, Allowing us to have the same DTT service than they have up north with the deal for them to be the addition of RTE, TV3 etc?

Could it work, even on a scaled down version? Im sure with 4*Mpeg 4 multiplexes thats more than enough space for a majority of the UK freeview channels? Would could 4 multiplexes hold? 32 channels?

One DVB-T2 40.2 Mbps and compressing all channels with MPEG-4 can carry 19-20 SD channels.
The UK PSB muxes transmits 15 SD channels.

If the UK PSB-1 (BBCA) and PSB-2 (D3&4) were MPEG-4 encoded, then all UK PSB SD channels + 3-4 Irish SD channels could be stat-muxed into just ONE mux.

'FIVE' SD could even be excluded if the UK HD mux were broadcast across the island of Ireland (FIVE will simulcast AFAIK). This would allow a 5th. ROI SD channel or improved video quality.

The DVB-T2 standard would be a de-facto island-wide standard no later than DSO NI in 2012.

In order to extend the life of present NI MPEG-2 receivers, 7 UK PSB channels including the 5 main UK channels could continue in NI for some years after NI DSO.

One or two extra mux(es) will be needed later for more HD channels.

This will require new MPEG-4 encoders for the 19-20 SD channels plus one stat-mux. At each main transmitter one MUX must have the modulator replaced with a DVB-T2 modulator, but this is not expensive.
Operating cost will be for just two muxes.

Eventually more muxes will be needed for more HD channels.

Lars

The Cush · 21-01-2010 11:35AM

BAI monthly meeting next Monday, can we expect an update on negotiations with OneVision?

All ears in radioland are eagerly cocked, awaiting news on levy

Thursday January 21 2010

AS THE Broadcasting Authority [BAI] prepares for its first board meeting of the year next Monday, all ears in radioland will be eagerly cocked for news on the controversial soon-to-be introduced broadcasting levy.

...

http://www.independent.ie/business/media/all-ears-in-radioland-are-eagerly-cocked-awaiting-news-on-levy-2024402.html

Elmo · 22-01-2010 10:32PM

The Cush wrote: »

BAI monthly meeting next Monday, can we expect an update on negotiations with OneVision?

Do the BAI issue minutes of their monthly meetings?

breaux · 23-01-2010 02:26AM

Can't see DTT been high on the agenda with the eircom executive board considering they are battling hard to keep the wolf from the door just to keep their core business in operation...unfortunately perliously close to defaulting on their debt repayments....crisis meetings held daily....not looking good i'm afraid.!!!!:mad::mad::mad:

scath · 23-01-2010 08:27AM

breaux wrote: »

Can't see DTT been high on the agenda with the eircom executive board considering they are battling hard to keep the wolf from the door just to keep their core business in operation...unfortunately perliously close to defaulting on their debt repayments....crisis meetings held daily....not looking good i'm afraid.!!!!:mad::mad::mad:

Mm, I read an article on the debt too but I would imagine that STT and the board will work on that issue over the next while. But DTT ie triple play is a ke strategic issue for Eircom tbh that if will feature largely. STT's visit to these isles would strengthen negotiations no doubt as to whatever was needed by way of assurances etc I would expect DTT will be on the agende. As for the BAI, well the broadcast regulator will surely only want to know are things progressing with RTÉ NL & if they are they will wait a few weeeks more before pushing for a conclusion. I'm sure they are probably near finished on the regulatory negotiations & awaiting word from RTÉ NL as to if terms have been agreed.

23-01-2010 12:33PM

Scath.
Nothing is ever sure..

A triple play option is the only way forward for this.
It won't be getting me as I have ITV, BBC,ch4,Five and others free with no risk of interruption by RTE NL via my aerial as it is,as do most people in wexford now.
It will have to compete with freesat and sky as the loss leader third of the triple play.

Another question I have and it's an important one-when was the decision by Eircom taken to increase it's stake in one vision? We know when it was publicised but we don't know when or if Singapore had anything to do with it do we?
Ergo this going ahead is far from a certain proposition yet.

The Cush · 23-01-2010 12:45PM

Elmo wrote: »

Do the BAI issue minutes of their monthly meetings?

Havn't seen minutes of the BAI or BCI meetings uploaded previously, information from the meeting may appear in the press up to a week later.

scath · 23-01-2010 10:03PM

The Cush wrote: »

Havn't seen minutes of the BAI or BCI meetings uploaded previously, information from the meeting may appear in the press up to a week later.

That's true. They upped the stake end of November. STT took over the company first week in January. Am sure they knew about One Vision so approved of it.

The Cush · 24-01-2010 03:13AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Another question I have and it's an important one-when was the decision by Eircom taken to increase it's stake in one vision? We know when it was publicised but we don't know when or if Singapore had anything to do with it do we?
Ergo this going ahead is far from a certain proposition yet.

scath wrote: »

STT took over the company first week in January. Am sure they knew about One Vision so approved of it.

Only someone on the Eircom board can give you the answer to that.

STT has been the preferred bidder since last Jun when the ESOT and the CWU indicated support for the bid.

STT entered the bidding process for Eircom before OneVision were awarded the licence last May so they would be fully aware of any developments.

Terms for the sale of Eircom were agreed between the Australian shareholders and STT in mid Sept about the time the shareholding in OneVision was increased. Eircom has increased its shareholding twice in recent times, in Sept they went from 25% to 40% and in Dec to 65%. I think STT would have had an input into these decisions.

DTT would appear to be part of the STT plan for Eircom. This from Friday's Irish Times

O2 and Vodafone both recently launched services that allows users to watch TV on their phones for a regular fee, while Eircom is the main shareholder in the One Vision consortium which holds the digital terrestrial television licence, which may be used to complement its home and mobile offerings.

The Cush · 25-01-2010 11:48PM

Two recent articles on today's BAI monthly meeting relating to OneVision. An error that appears in the first line of both articles - this is not their first meeting, first meeting of the new year - yes. They had a meeting on Dec 14th.

Digital TV on new broadcast body’s agenda

24 January 2010 By Catherine O’Mahony

The board of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland meets for the first time tomorrow with the much delayed contract negotiations over Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) among the main items on its agenda.

A proposed levy on broadcasters to help fund the BAI’s activities is not expected to arise.

A BAI spokesman said the efforts to finalise a contract with the OneVision consortium to provide DTT services were ‘‘at a critical stage’’, but he could make no further comment.

OneVision, which includes Eircom and TV3, has been seeking flexibility on the financing of DTT, which is due to take over free-to-air broadcasting here when analogue transmission ends across Europe in 2012. RTE, itself under financial pressure, has asked for a guarantee of €20 million from OneVision to ensure that the commercial partners will stick with DTT if RTE builds the network at a projected cost of more than €100 million.

The meeting will also discuss framing the BAI’s strategy document for the next three years. This is due for publication in September, and a number of internal issues will also be discussed.

The new BAI board was formally appointed on October 1.

Eventually, it will have nine members, but so far, just five members of the board have been confirmed and will attend the meeting. They are chairman Bob Collins and journalists John Waters, Maria Maloney, Paula Downey and Michelle McShortall.

The board members who have been proposed by an Oireachtas committee, but who have not yet been approved by the government, are Larry Bass, managing director and chief executive of Screentime Shinawil, Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the Irish Vocational Educational Authority, Colum Kenny, professor of communications and journalism in DCU, and producer Siobhán Ní Ghadhra.

http://www.sbpost.ie/mediaandmarketing/digital-tv-on-new-broadcast-bodys-agenda-46894.html

Talks start on digital future

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland board meet for the first time today and have listed discussions on contract negotiations over Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).

OneVision, which includes Eircom and TV3, has been seeking flexibility on the financing of DTT.

RTE have asked for a guarantee of €20m from OneVision to ensure that the commercial partners will stick with DTT if the state broadcaster builds the network at a projected cost of more than €100m.

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/talks-start-on-digital-future-2030461.html

Elmo · 26-01-2010 12:22AM

Does TV3 have any interest in this project?

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

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