What do you think will happen after October 24th ?

Nick Guats · 22-01-2012 09:23PM #1

I predict a few thousand older folk with blank screens and lots of calls to Joe Duffy from people saying its a disgrace Joe i didn't know this analogue switch off would effect me

Schorpio · 22-01-2012 10:47PM

It all depends on what happens from here on in imo. At the moment I don't think the Oct 24 date is pushed enough in the ads. To me, the ads seem to advertise Saorview as something you should want to get - not as something you potentially need to get. They'll need to up their game and put a ticker message along the bottom of the analogue broadcast or something similar to that.

aerial man · 22-01-2012 10:55PM

Ah jaysus..... Only kidding!

A lot of people have been switching over to digital, slowly but surely. Some buying one maybe two tv for the main room for example but are going to keep their old tvs for bedrooms until they really have to switch.

It can run into a lot of money if people changed every tv in their house, holiday home etc.

The ad's on tv, such as the Gay Byrne ad, are misinforming people saying they need to get rid of their old aerials completely, that a magic box will receive all your Saorview stations without aerials. It is leading to a lot of confusion, especially the elderly. I hope they improve the clarity of their ad's.

A proper interview on the late late show, early summer perhaps would catch a majority of the 'misinformed' audience.

Refering to Joe, he has recently had a proper explaination of how Saorview works and who and how the switchover will affect people.

juan.kerr · 22-01-2012 10:57PM

I'm fairly tech savvy but I have to admit I have no idea what's going on with the TV switchover and whether it will affect me.

I'll worry about it when it happens...

St Senan · 22-01-2012 11:06PM

The easiest way to let the Elderly people of Ireland know what will happen and what they need to do or get would be to have a piece on RTE six1 news every week like a countdown timer explaining it all to them and have the likes of Saorview Brian on it, Not some person who hasn't a clue. Also as some1 mentioned a ticker-tape should be put up around 6pm and 9pm every night mentioning the ASO on Oct24th.

juan.kerr · 22-01-2012 11:07PM

I do like Tommy and PJ though.

watty · 23-01-2012 12:30AM

For a kids show
They are a distraction to the simple message.

timesnap · 23-01-2012 07:10AM

The October 24th switch off date will become a movable feast imo.

the ASO will not happen until not a single home in the country is incapable of getting it,barring those who would need Saorsat.

some fudge will be found..

AFAIK people who already have a TV license will not get any free system.

which will be the most expensive for this Govt,delaying the digital dividend or subsidising those who will be left with a useless TV.

honestly i believe our Government will be so unpopular by next October they will not dare go through with a switch off.

Sponge Bob · 23-01-2012 09:31AM

timesnap wrote: »

some fudge will be found..

I suspect you are correct but that the fudge will only apply to the greater Maghera and Mullaghanish service areas and then only a 2 year extension.

The Midlands was always UHF as were Limerick and Cork cities once they got transmitters so no fudge is required there.

The more northern and eastern parts need to Co Ordinate with the UK anyway.

MarkK · 23-01-2012 10:32AM

aerial man wrote: »

The ad's on tv, such as the Gay Byrne ad, are misinforming people saying they need to get rid of their old aerials completely, that a magic box will receive all your Saorview stations without aerials.

The Gay Byrne ad does not say anything about getting rid of your aerial and does not even mention buying a box or new TV, it says:
"So if you are watching this on a TV with an aerial, you will have to take action to avoid your screen going blank."

The Cush · 23-01-2012 10:44AM

Sponge Bob wrote: »

I suspect you are correct but that the fudge will only apply to the greater Maghera and Mullaghanish service areas and then only a 2 year extension.

If there is a fudge it might be restricted to the RTÉ channels on VHF. Can't see TV3 paying for analogue transmission beyond ASO, TG4 maybe? Also Maghera's analogue UHF channels are in the 60s which is to be available for mobile services from 1st Feb 2013.

watty · 23-01-2012 01:12PM

timesnap wrote: »

The October 24th switch off date will become a movable feast imo.

the ASO will not happen until not a single home in the country is incapable of getting it,barring those who would need Saorsat.

some fudge will be found..

AFAIK people who already have a TV license will not get any free system.

which will be the most expensive for this Govt,delaying the digital dividend or subsidising those who will be left with a useless TV.

honestly i believe our Government will be so unpopular by next October they will not dare go through with a switch off.

This is all speculative nonsense.

There is International coordination. The only possible system to keep running is maybe Cork & Clare Band III and they won't.

A box already is 1/2 the annual cost of the TV licence and by October likely 1/3rd the cost of a TV licence. That's not counting special offers.

It's easier to install than a VHS and about as hard to add as a DVD player.

the ASO will not happen until not a single home in the country is incapable of getting it,barring those who would need Saorsat.

Why? Plenty of countries and UK regions have had ASO. Only in the USA was there a delay because of a mix up about the voucher scheme and also typical US politics.

Already DTT coverage is FAR better than Analogue for RTE1 & RTE2 and about 8% better for TG4 and about 20% better for TV3.

No broadcaster would pay the Analogue transmission charges past ASO anyway.

Like Decimalisation, Litres instead of Gallons for Petrol, Kms instead of Miles, breaking Punt from Sterling, The Euro instead of Punt etc this is happening.

If it wasn't for the stupidity of trying to find a Pay TV operator it might have happened already last May 2011.

There is no reason at all to believe it's not happening on 24th October 2012. It will not be end of world. Maybe a few people (Carlingford Village) need to get Saorsat first as though the coverage is better, a very few areas that do get analogue don't get Digital. More areas with no or poor reception on Analogue already get Digital.

The Government and Saorsat campaigns need to improve though. I think they are poorly conceived.

blackius · 23-01-2012 01:45PM

watty wrote: »

The Government and Saorsat campaigns need to improve though. I think they are poorly conceived.

Very true.

Conversation at lunchtime in an arklow office the other day and I kid you not...
Whats this saorview yoke.
We're going to lose RTE unless we get a box.

Rinse and repeat.

Half the people in that office have chorus.The person quoted has sky and a new mpeg4 telly in the bedroom.

Oh and these people are 30 somethings not pensioners

BostonB · 23-01-2012 01:50PM

Are their any stats on how many use the Analogue transmission these days.

Can't be many.

mcwhirter · 23-01-2012 02:16PM

BostonB wrote: »

Are their any stats on how many use the Analogue transmission these days.

Can't be many.

I'd say quite a lot considering majority of the tv's sold over the past few years were mpeg2 uk spec only so they can't receive without a saorview box.

A lot of people I know are very unclear whether they can receive via the regular sky dish or need a new aerial etc etc. It is very clear to people in the know but for the rest it isn't that simple.

BostonB · 23-01-2012 02:21PM

I reckon most people will have a UPC/SKY box, or using the internet. In which case having a mpeg2 isn't an issue.

The Cush · 23-01-2012 02:50PM

BostonB wrote: »

Are their any stats on how many use the Analogue transmission these days.

Can't be many.

The latest Comreg figures indicate approx 200,000 homes use an aerial only to receive analogue/DTT only. If would be difficult to break it down further as many will have mixed equipment and won't replace it until they have to.

Another survey from over a year ago indicates over 500,000 homes rely on an aerial for some of their tv reception in addition to cable/sat.

BostonB · 23-01-2012 02:54PM

Thats more than I was expecting tbh.

Sponge Bob · 23-01-2012 03:14PM

The Cush wrote: »

If there is a fudge it might be restricted to the RTÉ channels on VHF. Can't see TV3 paying for analogue transmission beyond ASO, TG4 maybe? Also Maghera's analogue UHF channels are in the 60s which is to be available for mobile services from 1st Feb 2013.

Correct, the fudge ( if any) will be for those households too stuck in their ways to get TG4 and TV3 sorted in the 1990s and who still bitterly resent the cost of having to upgrade from Band 1 to Band 3 in the 1980s.

And they mainly vote FG of course ...it was Ray Burke and them fecking FFers made them pay for that aerial in 1989.

ardmacha · 23-01-2012 03:59PM

There will also be confusion in the northern part of the country as the NI transmitters will not be transmitting digital at full power until the end, whereas with Saorview you can setup the kit anytime now.

The Cush · 23-01-2012 04:46PM

ardmacha wrote: »

There will also be confusion in the northern part of the country as the NI transmitters will not be transmitting digital at full power until the end, whereas with Saorview you can setup the kit anytime now.

This is the reason we can ASO in a single stage with all transmitters switched on and almost all at full power and an 18 transition period whereas up North the relays sites don't get switched on until 14 days before ASO, a two week transition for households that will only receive DTT for the first time.

watty · 23-01-2012 04:48PM

Our two Northern Border Transmitters increase power then too.
Mt Leinster should be better too on the new mast and lower group (moving to Group A, where Analogue is today).

watty · 23-01-2012 04:50PM

BostonB wrote: »

I reckon most people will have a UPC/SKY box, or using the internet. In which case having a mpeg2 isn't an issue.

18 percent don't have Pay TV. Of the 82% an unknown number use an aerial too.

timesnap · 23-01-2012 04:50PM

watty wrote: »

This is all speculative nonsense.

No need for that watty,the OP asked for speculation i speculated!

Saorview: Brian · 23-01-2012 05:02PM

The Cush wrote: »

If there is a fudge it might be restricted to the RTÉ channels on VHF. Can't see TV3 paying for analogue transmission beyond ASO, TG4 maybe? Also Maghera's analogue UHF channels are in the 60s which is to be available for mobile services from 1st Feb 2013.

I don't normally post outside of the "Queries for SAORVIEW" sticky thread, but I would like to comment on this discussion. I can say with 100% certainty that all analogue terrestrial television in the Republic of Ireland, VHF and UHF, will switch off on October 24th this year. There is no consideration being given in RTÉ or RTÉ NL, to any extension on that date, for any reason.

Regards,

SAORVIEW Brian.

The Cush · 23-01-2012 05:12PM

Saorview: Brian wrote: »

I don't normally post outside of the "Queries for SAORVIEW" sticky thread, but I would like to comment on this discussion. I can say with 100% certainty that all analogue terrestrial television in the Republic of Ireland, VHF and UHF, will switch off on October 24th this year. There is no consideration being given in RTÉ or RTÉ NL, to any extension on that date, for any reason.

Regards,

SAORVIEW Brian.

Thanks for the input Brian.

This is a comment from Comreg in a recent information notice

Potential for delayed commencement of Liberalised Use
Licences in Time Slice 1 for Lots in the 800 MHz, 900
MHz and/or 1800 MHz bands

2.22 It should noted that circumstances outside ComReg’s control could
lead to ComReg being unable to make any or all Lots in the 800
MHz, 900 MHz and/or 1800 MHz Bands available for Liberalised Use
by a Winning Bidder by the commencement of Time Slice 1 and/or
Time Slice 2 identified above.

...

Such potential circumstances include unforeseen delays to ASO resulting in delayed
access to Lots in the 800 MHz band in Time Slice 1 and/or Transitional Activities by
Existing GSM Licensees in the 900 MHz and/or 1800 MHz band resulting in delayed
access to Lot/s in Time Slice 1 and/or 2 in these bands.

Saorview: Brian · 23-01-2012 05:25PM

The Cush wrote: »

Thanks for the input Brian.

This is a comment from Comreg in a recent information notice

Needless to say I can't speak for COMREG, but I can say with absolute confidence that in RTÉ and RTÉ NL there is no plan to extend analogue transmissions beyond October 24th. At Mt. Leinster, Clermont Cairn and Holywell Hill the analogue channels will be used for SAORVIEW from October 24th onwards (at Holywell Hill this concerns Mux 2 only). There are numerous other reasons why analogue will not switch off in a phased basis. All analogue services will switch off at the same time on October 24th.

Regards,

SAORVIEW Brian.

Sponge Bob · 23-01-2012 07:40PM

Saorview: Brian wrote: »

I can say with absolute confidence that in RTÉ and RTÉ NL there is no plan to extend analogue transmissions beyond October 24th.

I firmly that to be true but you would be surprised at what a politically battered bunch of FG backbenchers could cook up for you yet through DCENR and Comreg.

Machinehead · 23-01-2012 08:48PM

mcwhirter wrote: »

BostonB wrote: »

Are their any stats on how many use the Analogue transmission these days.

Can't be many.

I'd say quite a lot considering majority of the tv's sold over the past few years were mpeg2 uk spec only so they can't receive without a saorview box.

A lot of people I know are very unclear whether they can receive via the regular sky dish or need a new aerial etc etc. It is very clear to people in the know but for the rest it isn't that simple.

I would think the TV retailers are in for a massive bonanza. Consider all the buildings such hospitals/nursing homes & pubs etc outside the cabled areas that don't have sky. The number of these locations that would require STB's or Saorview TVs for each existing connection must number in the thousands.

excollier · 23-01-2012 09:42PM

I very much hope that october 25th will happen after the 24th.

mcwhirter · 23-01-2012 09:45PM

Saorview: Brian wrote: »

I don't normally post outside of the "Queries for SAORVIEW" sticky thread, but I would like to comment on this discussion. I can say with 100% certainty that all analogue terrestrial television in the Republic of Ireland, VHF and UHF, will switch off on October 24th this year. There is no consideration being given in RTÉ or RTÉ NL, to any extension on that date, for any reason.

Regards,

SAORVIEW Brian.

Thanks, but is this stated on the saorview website? I can only find the information stating analogue will be switched off at the end of 2012.

What do you think will happen after October 24th ?

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