RTE/ TG4 Deal Northern Ireland - Is true.

Hmmm, I'll take my very strong scepticism back on the original story back to being sceptical , probably because I don't find the Irish News' journalism standards as high as they used to be. Some items of interest there...

Currently the plans provide for the 7th mux transmitting RTE1, RTE2, TG4 SD services and some radio from Black Mountain; Brougher Mountain; Carnmoney Hill Relay; and from the Divis, using its old mast and antenna. NOTE that plans are not finalised but currently the mini mux is planned to be MPEG4 based and is expected to use the latest DVBT2 standard. This would mean that homes with MPEG2 only Freeview models would need a new box , TV or recorder based on this standard to receive the existing Freeview services and also the new MPEG mini mux.

So it looks like the provisional proposal is for three TV channels and an unspecified amount of audio services on a DVB-T2 multiplex. Possibly RTÉ1, RTÉ2 & TG4 in HD with 64QAM used instead of 256QAM to improve potential coverage, giving about 8Mb of video for each channel. Three of the transmitters are Belfast based (Black Mountain and Carnmoney Hill acting as in-fillers) to blanket the city and urban area. No idea how far its coverage would extend, wherever it would come close to matching the rest of the potential Freeview services post DSO. Brougher Mountain's inclusion is a little strange, as most of its service area can receive RTÉ from across the border without too many problems albeit needing larger than 10 element UHF aerials and masthead amps in the majority of cases. Perhaps western parts of Omagh where RTÉ struggles a bit would be the main benefactor. There's already possible problems in store at DSO due to Brougher's COM multiplexes using the same frequencies as Divis' PSB multiplexes. Might be possible that Divis & Brougher Mountain may be run as a DVB-T2 SFN multiplex (on E30?) with a reduced guard interval, along with a smaller SFN on Carnmoney Hill and Black Mountain (UHF Group B frequency)?

RTE’s plans for switchover in the ROI continue and are targetted for 2012 too. The potential for transmitter overlaps between some masts in the ROI and NI networks is being considered and what this means for viewers wishing to purchase kit. We are well aware of NI and ROI consumers purchasing from either side of the border and the need for them to fully recognise what models will best match the services they want to watch. RTE’s plans to use Nordig will mean that there will be some incompatibility between text and interactive services and possibly the EPG as I wrote to you about previously.

The main EPG problem I can think of is ensuring that program data for these three channels is included in the general 7-day Freeview EPG without having to tune into the mini-multiplex. At present, Freeview program data is fully carried equally across all six multiplexes. In areas with current Freeview & Saorview reception overlap, to receive updated EPG data for Freeview, you must tune in to a UK DTT multiplex - no info is carried for Saorview channels until you tune in to a RoI multiplex when the receive should start to populate the EPG. The rest of the incompatibility problems I wouldn't know a huge amount about right now.

watty wrote: »

If it's a separate mini-mux with MPEG4, that solves the feed issues. Just feed from Saorsat (if that service succeeds).

We will get BBC via Satellite.

UTV effectively may cease to exist post ASO if ITV get their way (as a Separate ITV channel).

If this happens, it won't be till after ASO. That will give them time to gauge Direct Saorview coverage and takeup and Saorsat takeup (Maybe over one year of both).

IMO when you consider funding etc, there is a high probability nothing will happen.

How is it all to be paid for?

Surely Limavady is one of the TX areas (along with North Antrim) that Terrestrial coverage is most needed?

Would a Saorsat feed be practical? Unless RTÉ1, RTÉ2 and TG4 could all be on the same multiplex/transponder then the statmultiplexing of Saorview would make this process tricky at best, surely?

The future of UTV appears to be reasonably sound, if ITV wants to cut the remaining parts of its PSB obligations then they'll need to vacate Mux2 (and resurface on COM1 probably). UTV don't appear to have many qualms about providing local programming itself so could probably keep going without ITV ,though it would lose many of its biggest ratings pullers - a mini network with STV could keep them going, whom have expressed that they would prefer a relationship with ITV plc similar to that with TV3 currently enjoys. I think the problem with ITV1 at the moment is that it wants to have its cake and eat it.

In terms of coverage prediction, the Digital UK postcode database I see was updated last month for Northern Ireland at least. With experience from RTÉNL, Arqiva, Ofcom and Comreg all parties should have a good idea what terrestrial coverage of Saorview in the north should be like through computer models.

As for funding, well the Irish government almost certainly won't - they're broke, and won't commit to anything which hasn't already had significant funds ploughed into it so they're out. Westminster are going around on a load of public spending cuts so aren't going to fund it. Stormont? Might give partial funding but I'd be sure not all costs. I think it's the Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure that currently covers the cost of TG4 at Divis. UK licence fee? Possible, there is a £130 million per annum surplus that'll be available after DSO from licence fee money designed to cover the DSO. The BBC is being allowed to keep this, but it's still possible that a tiny fraction of this amount may be used to fund the costs required for at least an agreement of several years by slicing off a small amount of that money as a one-off to fund the service for several years, with a look at renewal further down the line at the end of this decade. Selling of spectrum space? If there is spare space for SD channels to be carried, some broadcasters (particularly international ones) might stump some money up to be carried and helping cover some of the operational costs. It's a tricky economic climate right now, but costing the service and the funds to supply it isn't impossible.

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

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I don't know what RTÉ's intention for Moville and Malin are, but they will be two of only a handful of sites which will broadcast only analogue radio and will actually cease TV broadcasting, based on the 51-site plan. Moville was even a VHF TV relay so its necessity has been long established

Yes. Early next year by all accounts. And for that reason Limavady would not be required.

They're fill-in txs in a large urban area, why wouldn't they be interested?