The future of RTE Radio 1 LW

TAFKAlawhec · 29-09-2014 4:16pm

In terms of Northern Ireland, RTÉ FM coverage west of the Bann ranges from from OK to excellent for most places though South Co. Derry does have topological issues. Main transmitter sites for reception from would be Clermont Carn, Truskmore & Holywell Hill with Moville & Monaghan for relays, Carin Hill for RTÉ Radio 1 is also an option in some places.

East of the Bann is a bit more of a problem, most of the Antrim Glens and especially along the East Antrim coast are non-existent for RTÉ FM reception. In Belfast reception ranges from good to very weak or no reception, the city centre being an example of the latter. Reception in County Down is also spotty in places despite the closeness of Clermont Carn, due to the Mournes.

As already pointed out by someone else, back in 2008 when RTÉ Radio one closed down on Medium Wave, the station swapped frequencies with Lyric FM at Clermont Carn from 95.2MHz to 87.8MHz - the effective geographic reception area will have only increased slightly by the frequency switch, but it would have helped against interference, in Belfast in particular the 95.2MHz frequency is plagued by interference from BBC Radio Ulster's relay at Carnmoney Hill on 95.3MHz, while 87.8MHz is effectively a clear frequency across Northern Ireland - in Britain the 87.6-88.0MHz sub-band is almost always used for RSL licences (a station in North Wales on 88.0MHz being an exception) but I've never seen it been used in NI.

Probably worth pointing out as well that RTÉ's DAB multiplex has almost no coverage in NI.

PukkaStukka · 29-09-2014 4:27pm

I visit Scotland frequently and always enjoyed news from home on LW252, particularly in the highlands north of Glasgow. In fact, the coverage and quality of that particular signal is better than R4 on LW, whilst local FM is practically non existent in many rural spots over there too. I'm quite surprised that there isn't a more concerted effort to retain this service

Digifriendly · 29-09-2014 4:50pm

This decision is disastrous for those outside the ROI who want to listen to RTE 'on the move' i.e. car radios. It will narrow down considerably the number of ex-pats also in other parts of these islands listening to RTE Radio 1.

Cork_chick_94 · 29-09-2014 5:41pm

Thing is though, when was the last time an new car radio had lw. ? Also cheap portable radios these days that have lw are useless for lw.

dxhound2005 · 29-09-2014 7:02pm

PukkaStukka wrote: »

I visit Scotland frequently and always enjoyed news from home on LW252, particularly in the highlands north of Glasgow. In fact, the coverage and quality of that particular signal is better than R4 on LW, whilst local FM is practically non existent in many rural spots over there too. I'm quite surprised that there isn't a more concerted effort to retain this service

I'm surprised by that. Radio 4 is broadcast on two 50 KW longwave transmitters in Scotland as well as the high power outlet in central England. This fact has not been mentioned much in the discussions about the possible cessation of BBC longwave.

PukkaStukka · 29-09-2014 7:08pm

dxhound2005 wrote: »

I'm surprised by that. Radio 4 is broadcast on two 50 KW longwave transmitters in Scotland as well as the high power outlet in central England. This fact has not been mentioned much in the discussions about the possible cessation of BBC longwave.

Where are those two 50Kw sites in Scotland?

Edit: found them at Westerglen and Burghead which are SE / NE Scotland respectively. I'd be more over the western side. Signal-wise the R4 on LW isn't bad but RTE LW is better.

TAFKAlawhec · 29-09-2014 7:47pm

Cork_chick_94 wrote: »

Thing is though, when was the last time an new car radio had lw. ? Also cheap portable radios these days that have lw are useless for lw.

My parents bought a new Dacia last year where the radio has a long wave band as well as MW & FM.

More Music · 29-09-2014 11:24pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

Some time ago, I bought a second hand car in the UK, not from anyone Irish (AFAIK) and the radio was tuned to 252LW. So people do listen to it in the UK.

The car probably wasn't used since Atlantic 252 closed down.

Antenna · 30-09-2014 9:20pm

TAFKAlawhec wrote: »

My parents bought a new Dacia last year where the radio has a long wave band as well as MW & FM.

Dacia owned by Renault, and the French would have the biggest use of LW in Europe, probably helped that it was included.

However major selling car brands in UK/Ireland haven't had LW coverage in cars sold in recent years - such as Toyota, VW, Opel/Vauxhall. (though Ford hasn't dropped LW as far as I know)

The size of backlash to RTE LW switchoff has been greatly lessened by the issue of receivers not having LW.
RTE LW has already been effectively been switched off for many people who used it in cars, when cars were replaced, and the new radios did not receive it. Other listening options could be used at home but not in cars for listeners beyond FM coverage in NI as well as Britain.

dxhound2005 · 30-09-2014 11:19pm

Antenna wrote: »

Dacia owned by Renault, and the French would have the biggest use of LW in Europe, probably helped that it was included.

However major selling car brands in UK/Ireland haven't had LW coverage in cars sold in recent years - such as Toyota, VW, Opel/Vauxhall. (though Ford hasn't dropped LW as far as I know)

The size of backlash to RTE LW switchoff has been greatly lessened by the issue of receivers not having LW.
RTE LW has already been effectively been switched off for many people who used it in cars, when cars were replaced, and the new radios did not receive it. Other listening options could be used at home but not in cars for listeners beyond FM coverage in NI as well as Britain.

All very true. But at any given time probably well less than 50% of the home and/or car listeners are listening to Radio One. Why was there no option on long wave for all the other listeners to get their preferred station?

Richard · 01-10-2014 1:23pm

dxhound2005 wrote: »

All very true. But at any given time probably well less than 50% of the home and/or car listeners are listening to Radio One. Why was there no option on long wave for all the other listeners to get their preferred station?

It's the main station for Ireland's national broadcaster.

Cork_chick_94 · 01-10-2014 8:08pm

I wonder will there be a special program to mark the transmitter closing down ?

Cork_chick_94 · 03-10-2014 10:06pm

http://www.irishpost.co.uk/news/rte-accused-ignoring-diaspora-longwave-radio-axe

Antenna · 07-10-2014 9:40am

From the Irish Post article:

Tom McGuire, Head of RTÉ Radio 1 added: “It’s part of our digital switchover. The 252 service only came into operation in 2004 — before that it was a pop station called Atlantic 252. But over the last 10 years, listenership of RTÉ on longwave has dropped considerably. We estimate that no more than 2,000 listeners in total avail of our longwave service — and that’s in Ireland and Britain.

“Earlier this year, due to technical problems, longwave RTÉ was off air for the whole of a Sunday. We only had seven complaints. With RTÉ now available on other platforms, including satellite, and with our FM service having improved dramatically,there is little argument for keeping the longwave service going.”

regarding the only "7 complaints" when it was off air for a day earlier this year? In the past couple of years the LW has been off air for a day on a good few occasions for "maintenance" . To be fair listeners would assume it was yet more "maintenance" and so would not bother complaining (if they otherwise would) and just wait until it came back.
Some might suggest the several outages in the past couple of years were to help wean people off the service in advance of a closure announcement. I can never recall Atlantic 252 going off-air during main listenership hours for maintenance, - they only went off overnight from midnight when there was maintenance needed.
There have been occasions of FM relays (serving 1000s of people) in this country for particular stations breaking down and going off the air for more than 1 day and no one at all complain!

Regarding the "The 252 service only came into operation in 2004 " comment - LW was of course introduced to replace RTE R1 on MW, it wasn't as if there was no external availability of RTE Radio 1 (on MW) in Britain, and NI beyond FM coverage before 2004

Cork_chick_94 · 08-10-2014 6:13pm

http://www.irishtimes.com/debate/letters/goodbye-longwave-1.1955171#.VDUGgJU_KRg.twitter

Sam Russell · 09-10-2014 8:18pm

If they are that sure no-one is listening, why do they not ask listeners to write in, and offer some kind of worthwile prize. That will give an indication of listeners.

Most people do not complain.

Cork_chick_94 · 09-10-2014 8:35pm

Infact RTE cut off people from outside Ireland texing R1 when they introduced 515xx text numbers a few years ago.

Elmo · 09-10-2014 10:20pm

Cork_chick_94 wrote: »

Infact RTE cut off people from outside Ireland texing R1 when they introduced 515xx text numbers a few years ago.

I though the 515xx where open to NI & Britain?

09-10-2014 10:21pm

Elmo wrote: »

I though the 515xx where open to NI & Britain?

80889 works in NI and UK.

The Cush · 11-10-2014 10:44pm

RTÉ representatives are in to meet the Oireachtas Transport and Communications Committee next Wed morning to discuss the decision to close the Clarkstown long wave transmitter and its impact on the diaspora in the U.K.

Wednesday 15 October 2014, Committe Room 4, 9.30 a.m.

Business of Seanad (Continued)

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

An Cathaoirleach:

...

I have also received notice from Senator Paschal Mooney of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to confirm whether he was consulted by RTE regarding its decision to end transmission of RTE radio programmes on 252 long wave, whether he is aware that the termination of this service will cause considerable unease within the Irish diaspora in the UK, and whether he is aware that the withdrawal of the service will be of significant inconvenience to the elderly Irish in Britain and others who do not wish to access RTE radio through other media platforms.

...

I regret I must rule the matter raised by Senator Mooney out of order as the Minister has no official responsibility in that regard.

http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/seanad2014093000003?opendocument&highlight=long%20wave

Business of Seanad (Continued)

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Senator Paschal Mooney: I am very disappointed that the Cathaoirleach has ruled out of order my motion on RTE's decision to terminate the 252 long wave transmission. While I respect the Cathaoirleach's decision, I want to tell RTE I am not letting go of the matter. As a news broadcaster, RTE monitors everything that goes on in the House. I intend to raise it at tomorrow morning's meeting of the Committee on Transport and Communications and I will request the support of my colleagues, which I believe will be forthcoming, in inviting RTE to come before the committee to explain its terrible decision to terminate the 252 long wave transmission. RTE tried this some years ago but was stopped in its tracks. Now RTE has got it in under the radar and the Minister is acquiescing in it by refusing to come into the House to give his response to this outrageous decision that will have a very adverse effect on the Irish diaspora in Britain.

It is unacceptable to state that only a small percentage of people are listening. How does RTE know? RTE says people have other platforms, but many people, Irish and otherwise, listen in their cars, travelling throughout England. I have received an extraordinary level of reaction to the decision from colleagues, friends and other representatives of the Irish community in Britain. I will not let go of it. RTE cannot and should not be allowed to do this. As a public service broadcaster it has a responsibility to look after the Irish diaspora as much as the people on the island of Ireland.

...

[Senator Maurice Cummins: ] Senator Mooney mentioned the termination of 252 long wave transmission. I agreed with him, some time ago, that it is a retrograde step. A saving of €800,000 has been quoted but it will be interesting to see how he gets on when he raises this matter at an Oireachtas committee meeting in the morning.

http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/seanad2014093000009?opendocument&highlight=long%20wave
http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/seanad2014093000015?opendocument&highlight=long%20wave

Seanad Order of Business (Continued)

Wednesday, 8 October 2014

Senator Paschal Mooney:

...

Last week I raised the issue of RTE closing down its 252 long wave, LW, radio transmission to the detriment of the Diaspora. I promised then that I would continue to press the issue. I wish to inform the House that earlier this morning at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications I got the agreement of colleagues that the committee would request RTE representatives to appear before it next week to explain this outrageous decision which has caused enormous anger among the Diaspora. A letter was received from the enterprise and communications committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly which was circulated at the committee meeting, in which it expressed its concern about the shutdown of the 252 LW transmission, which will deny listeners in Northern Ireland the opportunity to listen to RTE Radio One programmes. I wish RTE would understand what it is doing with this decision. I expect it to reply positively to the invitation for its representatives to appear before the committee. When ii does, I hope it will explain the spin it has put on its decision and that it cost €900,000 to transmit programmes on 252 LW. The whole business smells fishy and is not right. I will continue to raise the issue until there is a satisfactory resolution, namely, RTE suspending its decision at the very least. I am particularly disappointed that when I tabled this as an Adjournment matter - it is not the Leader’s fault as it came through the Cathaoirleach - it was turned down, as the Minister had claimed he had no competence in the area. How far have democracy and accountability gone that the Minister in charge of RTE allows this policy decision, not an operational one, to go ahead which affects a large segment of the Diaspora? The Minister seems to have washed his hands of the matter, claiming he has no competence in it.

http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/seanad2014100800008?opendocument&highlight=long%20wave

Cork_chick_94 · 11-10-2014 11:07pm

The problem with the likes of Paschal Mooney is, he was also causing a fuss when mw was being closed down, even though it was a total waste of money having the same output on every waveband.

11-10-2014 11:24pm

It was definitely a waste of money to have both MW and LW active at the same time.

I'm not sure if I buy the argument that it will affect the elderly because they would have had to make the switch from MW at the time and I'd say a fair number went to FM at that stage, unless they had really old radios. LW was always marketed as a service for those in the UK and maybe, in the absence of an alternative, it should be kept for that reason. BBC World Service is funded by the licence fee even though it's not aimed at UK licence fee payers, so that's the same thing really.

Sam Russell · 12-10-2014 9:47am

Karsini wrote: »

BBC World Service is funded by the licence fee even though it's not aimed at UK licence fee payers, so that's the same thing really.

The BBC World Service was always funded by the Foreign Office until recent times. [Not sure which Gov made the Beeb pay for it].

Cork_chick_94 · 12-10-2014 10:49am

This Oireachtas Committees has no power over RTE though right ? RTE must have expected that irish emigrants living in the uk were going to be brought up.

OldRio · 12-10-2014 11:09am

Sad news. When we lived in the UK we listened to this service. Many a happy memory.

13-10-2014 12:02am

A revised announcement was transmitted on the stroke of midnight, which said "please note that RTE Radio 1 is not available on FM or DAB outside the island of Ireland".

petronius · 13-10-2014 11:15am

I cant believe there is only a 1 month notice of the closure of this service.
This is a service which a lot of older people used, both in Ireland, especially the North and in Britain.
It is against the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement (Belfast Agreement) to remove this service from listeners who would have accessed it in the North of Ireland where FM reception was unavailable. Especially since the closing of the Medium Wave service 6 years ago, with the argument that 252 long wave would be a better more cost effective option! And not just an easy target for the accountants to cut
The listeners of this service are quite an older population, who would not be Internet Connected (so online is not an option) would have access to satellite or paid for cable services which provide RTE Radio, and not be in a region where FM is available, or have got up to DAB yet.
-
If the Diaspora are of concern to the Irish government (and by virtue RTE) and not just a market segment to be touched up for a few tourist euro on enterprises like "the gathering" then removing the Long Wave service is a betrayal.

Cork_chick_94 · 13-10-2014 11:30am

petronius wrote: »

I cant believe there is only a 1 month notice of the closure of this service.
This is a service which a lot of older people used, both in Ireland, especially the North and in Britain.
It is against the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement (Belfast Agreement) to remove this service from listeners who would have accessed it in the North of Ireland where FM reception was unavailable. Especially since the closing of the Medium Wave service 6 years ago, with the argument that 252 long wave would be a better more cost effective option! And not just an easy target for the accountants to cut
The listeners of this service are quite an older population, who would not be Internet Connected (so online is not an option) would have access to satellite or paid for cable services which provide RTE Radio, and not be in a region where FM is available, or have got up to DAB yet.
-
If the Diaspora are of concern to the Irish government (and by virtue RTE) and not just a market segment to be touched up for a few tourist euro on enterprises like "the gathering" then removing the Long Wave service is a betrayal.

What difference would it make if they gave 6 months or two years notice ? 5 weeks is plenty of time to get a cheap smartphone or paytv.

Thurston? · 13-10-2014 11:36am

Cork_chick_94 wrote: »

5 weeks is plenty of time to get a cheap smartphone or paytv.

Why pay TV?

Cork_chick_94 · 13-10-2014 11:38am

Thurston? wrote: »

Why pay TV?

R1 is on sky and virgin tv in the uk

Thurston? · 13-10-2014 11:49am

Cork_chick_94 wrote: »

R1 is on sky and virgin tv in the uk

It's free-to-air on satellite.

petronius · 13-10-2014 12:34pm

Yes RTE Radio One is free to air on Astra 28 -
However they dropped RTE Radio One Extra (which was relayed on long wave) in January 2013 - it was described as "quality speech from home and abroad" alas that commitment is now no more!

dxhound2005 · 13-10-2014 2:10pm

I don't want to see it going. I have a general coverage receiver beside my bed and it is handy to be able to go from the 40 meter amateur band for instance to RTE on longwave. But MW and SW are disappearing fast all round Europe and beyond. If RTE are correct that LW attracts only about 2000 listeners in Ireland it can hardly justify keeping it on the air. I don't buy the line that many people are that starved of technology that their only way to receive it is on LW.

And as I mentioned before, at times less than 25% if the listening audience is tuned in to Radio 1 via any of it's platforms. Often the aggregrate majority is tuned to local radio, exclusively on FM. All the other national stations and local stations have had to get by without a LW outlet, while a minority station was given that platform.

I know the argument about Britain and the North. As far as I know the Good Friday agreement only covers TV and it certainly does not have a remit in Britain. RTE is not an international broadcaster. And on the road the Radio 1 FM signal will disappear from the car here and there. But so will other stations and I suspect this applies in all countries which closed down MW.

http://www.mediauk.com/radio/discussions/radio-chatter/the-end-of-medium-wavelong-wave-in-germany-and-france

Digifriendly · 13-10-2014 6:26pm

dxhound2005 wrote: »

I don't want to see it going. I have a general coverage receiver beside my bed and it is handy to be able to go from the 40 meter amateur band for instance to RTE on longwave. But MW and SW are disappearing fast all round Europe and beyond. If RTE are correct that LW attracts only about 2000 listeners in Ireland it can hardly justify keeping it on the air. I don't buy the line that many people are that starved of technology that their only way to receive it is on LW.

And as I mentioned before, at times less than 25% if the listening audience is tuned in to Radio 1 via any of it's platforms. Often the aggregrate majority is tuned to local radio, exclusively on FM. All the other national stations and local stations have had to get by without a LW outlet, while a minority station was given that platform.

I know the argument about Britain and the North. As far as I know the Good Friday agreement only covers TV and it certainly does not have a remit in Britain. RTE is not an international broadcaster. And on the road the Radio 1 FM signal will disappear from the car here and there. But so will other stations and I suspect this applies in all countries which closed down MW.

http://www.mediauk.com/radio/discussions/radio-chatter/the-end-of-medium-wavelong-wave-in-germany-and-france

You begin by saying 'I don't want to see it going' and then proceed to give cogently strong reasons why it should go! Do you want it gone or not?

Cork_chick_94 · 14-10-2014 2:50pm

Jesus H christ, I am just listening
back now to the head of rte radio Jim
Jennings on the today show this
morning talking about this, he doesn't
have a clue what he is saying, he also
mumbled that they might deley the
switch off date.

kazoo106 · 14-10-2014 10:57pm

Hopefully I am not breaking Boards T&C's by providing a link to this interview below
http://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=9%3A20664400%3A0%3A%3A

This man is poorly informed - not only on the technical operation of the radio stations he manages, but also on the Geography of Ireland

If Long wave in cars is an issue - let them re-activate 567kHz from Clarkestown which will give better MW reception into the UK than it did from Tullamore (however does anyone know if spectrum are still on 558 in London)

567kHz has a wavelength of just short of 529m - a half wavelengh being 264.5m - meaning that extending the mast at Clarkestown by 16.5m would give a near perfect 1/2 wave length for 567 - with every car radio covered - If spectrum IS an issue - let them pump out 500kW on 612kHz - the mast is nearly a perfect half wave for 612 after they shave 3 or so metres off it !

TAFKAlawhec · 15-10-2014 12:54am

kazoo106 wrote: »

Hopefully I am not breaking Boards T&C's by providing a link to this interview below
http://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=9%3A20664400%3A0%3A%3A

This man is poorly informed - not only on the technical operation of the radio stations he manages, but also on the Geography of Ireland

If Long wave in cars is an issue - let them re-activate 567kHz from Clarkestown which will give better MW reception into the UK than it did from Tullamore (however does anyone know if spectrum are still on 558 in London)

567kHz has a wavelength of just short of 529m - a half wavelengh being 264.5m - meaning that extending the mast at Clarkestown by 16.5m would give a near perfect 1/2 wave length for 567 - with every car radio covered - If spectrum IS an issue - let them pump out 500kW on 612kHz - the mast is nearly a perfect half wave for 612 after they shave 3 or so metres off it !

If only the retuning of such a mast was that simple - activating a new MW service from Clarkstown would require transmitter retuning, aerial work, ITU co-ordination etc.

TAFKAlawhec · 15-10-2014 1:00am

Karsini wrote: »

A revised announcement was transmitted on the stroke of midnight, which said "please note that RTE Radio 1 is not available on FM or DAB outside the island of Ireland".

Hmmm, that be news to some parts along the western coast of Britain, not to mention parts of the Isle of Mann. I remember from my visits to Liverpool that in parts of the city a weak but perfectly listenable FM signal for RTÉ can be got with a very good radio.

The talk on the diaspora reminds me of the stories of English ex-pats on continental Europe, particularly in France who often listened to BBC Radio 4 on long wave as a connection to home, the idea back in the early 90's of turning R4LW into a rolling radio news service seen this example as one of the reasons it was opposed - it's not quite as vital a link these days with BBC domestic services outside the UK being more accessible via internet and to some extent satellite but it still has a following, especially in areas where receiving the UK & Ireland Astra 2E/2F spot beam isn't easy. Quite a few lost out when the BBC scaled down their Red Button service by shutting the transponder on 2A down that carried several RB streams and most of their domestic radio transmissions.

Apogee · 15-10-2014 11:44am

RTE News wrote:

RTÉ is postponing the closure of its longwave radio transmitter, the Managing Director of RTÉ Radio has told the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications.

Jim Jennings said what was evident was that more time was needed to engage with groups affected.

The closure has been postponed to 19 January 2015.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1015/652492-rte-longwave/

Cork_chick_94 · 15-10-2014 11:48am

Apogee wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1015/652492-rte-longwave/

Waste of time, Doesn 't matter if its halloween or January.

Sam Russell · 15-10-2014 1:41pm

Are they posponing the closure or perhaps revising the decision to close?

DrPatrickBarry · 16-10-2014 2:51pm

Gutted by this decision as living in Manchester 252 has been excellent in the car while driving to/from work.

I heard it has been postponed for a while delighted to hear that.

Antenna · 17-10-2014 10:26am

Cork_chick_94 wrote: »

head of rte radio Jim
Jennings on the today show

I listened to the interview.

Mr Jennings said "The BBC are also moving away from it" (LW) - the BBC have said it will close at some point in the future - but no date has been set, it could be over 10 years time. BBC Radio 4 on 198kHz is staying put for the foreseeable future.

He asserted RTE is available on DAB in parts of NI with no RTE FM coverage - FALSE.

regarding FM coverage - he says even UK broadcasters have issues in parts of Antrim - which is probably one of the reasons why BBC R. Ulster still has 1341kHz MW/AM in addition to FM.

Its also worth noting that numerous lightning strike damage last week left many people in the south of this country without broadband service for an extended period (over a day+), it just goes to show how online is more 'fragile' than traditional radio.

formerly scottish paddy · 17-10-2014 1:30pm

The Longwave service should be turned into an "international" programme with no advertising and with a selection from across all Irish radio. The costs should be met by the Dept. Foreign Affairs and the service available on the net and on satellite in countries with a large Irish expat community.

Richard · 18-10-2014 8:55am

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

The Longwave service should be turned into an "international" programme with no advertising and with a selection from across all Irish radio. The costs should be met by the Dept. Foreign Affairs and the service available on the net and on satellite in countries with a large Irish expat community.

Actually why couldn't it take UK advertising? It wouldn't cover the cost but might get more listeners if people knew it was there.

Richard · 18-10-2014 8:59am

I wonder how much a mono slot on UK dab (there's lots of free slots on local multiplexes) or Freeview TV would cost.

The Cush · 18-10-2014 9:16am

Richard wrote: »

I wonder how much a mono slot on UK dab (there's lots of free slots on local multiplexes) or Freeview TV would cost.

Have a look at Arqiva reference offer for DAB radio here - http://www.arqiva.ie/documentation/reference-offers/

petronius · 20-10-2014 12:12pm

I notice some more discussion in the media about this.
The more I read about it the more RTE LW 252 is a valuable resource for the Irish in Britain - and this should be maintained until there is a suitable viable alternative - it also seems to be the poor relation since on the RTE website there is little if any details about how to receive it
And there is areas of the north were since the closing of medium wave, LW 252 is the only RTE service available to them on a radio.
As part of the Good Friday Agreement there should be some obligation on RTE to ensure that the whole of Ireland is covered by its broadcasts.
DRM sounds like an improvement and possible replacement, but unless there is widespread access to DRM receivers, and there is an uptake (which i cant see) by the elderly irish living in the UK who are not Internet users, or Satellite TV subscribers and who listen to the radio on a radio or in their car then this service should be maintained and improved.

winston_1 · 20-10-2014 7:50pm

At the end of the day if people choose to live in a foreign country and no longer pay taxes to the old country they cannot expect the old country to provide them services such as radio. RTE are under no obligation to provide radio to Britain or even NI. (The good Friday agreement did not include radio).

Digifriendly · 20-10-2014 9:48pm

winston_1 wrote: »

At the end of the day if people choose to live in a foreign country and no longer pay taxes to the old country they cannot expect the old country to provide them services such as radio. RTE are under no obligation to provide radio to Britain or even NI. (The good Friday agreement did not include radio).

While what you say is no doubt true this would still be a retrograde step and hugely unpopular. The GFA maybe did not include radio but why then is RNAG available on Freeview in NI?

The future of RTE Radio 1 LW

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