Digital terrestrial television in the Republic of Ireland

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The deployment of digital terrestrial television in Ireland has taken some time, with the first small tests being carried out in 1998. 2002 saw the cancellation and non-award of the DTT commercial licence and transmission network sale. In August 2006, a major regional DTT trial began in conjunction with major television channels in Ireland including Raidió Teilifís Éireann, TV3, TG4 and the now-defunct Channel 6. By 2008 the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland announced that three groups had come together with proposals to manage commercial DTT in Ireland.

Contents

Historical testing

DVB-T was repeatedly tested from RTÉ Network Limited's Three Rock Mountain transmitter, with relatively long tests in 1998 and 2001, and shorter tests in 2004, with a single multiplex carrying the four Irish analogue terrestrial channels, and Tara Television while it was in existence, on both UHF (channel 26) and VHF (channel D). These were under temporary licences for testing, which are regularly awarded.

A contract to run a nationwide system, with six multiplexes from main sites and four from relay sites, was awarded in 2001 to ITS Digital Limited, trading as "It's TV" and led by former RTÉ executive Peter Branagan, who intended to launch a pay TV and broadband service. ITS wanted to offer broadband internet access using the DVB-RCT standard (which, while providing 30 Mbit/s, did not provide sufficient reverse link capacity for 20,000 people on one mast). ITS did not have a broadband licence and no viable business plan without selling broadband, and due to lack of funding withdrew its application in October 2002.

The government also planned to privatise RTÉ's transmission network at this time but this too failed in October 2002 following the withdrawal of ITS Digital Limited DTT licence application and a number of other factors. [1] [2]

National digital terrestrial plan

Ireland currently uses the DVB-T standard with MPEG-4 compression. MHEG-5 is also used for epg and interactive services. The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007 assigned one multiplex to RTÉ to ensure the continued availability of the four former free-to-air services in Ireland – that is, RTÉ 1, RTÉ 2, TG4 and TV3. RTÉ then established and now runs this DTT multiplex independently of BAI-licensed multiplexes in fulfilment of its public-service obligations. Under the 2007 Act, the BAI is required to license commercial DTT in the State. In the first instance, the BAI sought to license three DTT multiplex operators for the establishment, maintenance and roll-out of commercial DTT in Ireland. Afterwards one further multiplex was assigned to RTÉ and one multiplex to the BAI for licensing. A public DTT Information Campaign took place from March 2009 until the full digital switchover was completed on 24 October 2012.

2008 multiplex licensing

The Authority engaged in two phases of targeted consultation to assist in the development of its DTT Multiplex Licensing Policy. These consultations ran from May to December 2007 and involved the production of a comprehensive consultation document outlining policy proposals in relation to DTT licensing and the commissioning of independent research on DTT.

The BAI launched the commercial multiplex processes with a minimum of twenty-four channels specified. Interested parties submitted their applications as specified in ads in National Papers on Friday 7 March 2008.

The BAI's application process for the DTT multiplex contracts ran for a period of eight weeks. The application document sought a considerable amount of information including: proposals for programming; financial and business plan; the transmission/multiplexing proposals as well as details regarding the shareholding and management of the applicant group.

Nine applicants consisting of 3 bid consortiums for all 3 muxes made presentations to the Authority, which was open to the public at 1:30pm in the Westbury Hotel, Grafton Street, Dublin 2 on 12 May 2008 and the award of contract was offered to the most suitable bid team shortly after 21 July 2008 following evaluation by the BAI on the applications received.

The BAI on 21 July 2008 announced Boxer DTT Ltd trading as Boxer as the sole winner to operate the three commercial multiplexes. Boxer DTT Ltd was a consortium made up of Communicorp, Boxer TV Access in Sweden and BT Ireland. The award of the contracts was subject to clarifications and the successful outcome of contract negotiations.

In the 2008 perspective Boxer DTT Ireland proposed a tentative start date of January 2009, which was considered unrealistic. [3] Standards chosen were MPEG4/H.264 and DVB-T. Boxer TV Access had a 50% holding in Boxer Ireland.

In April 2009 it was announced that Boxer had decided to decline the licence offered to the consortium. The BAI instead offered the licence to the runner up, Onevision.

At the end of April 2010 the negotiations with Onevision ended. In May 2010 the Contract was offered to Easy TV (the RTÉ / Liberty Global consortium. [4] A DTT Information Campaign was announced by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, to launch in March 2009 ahead of the September 2009 launch of Irish DTT. [5] By October 2010, the information campaign had been launched in coincidence with Saorview launching its public testing phase. [6] The Information Campaign was undertaken by the BAI, with support of the Department.

By of 30 October 2010 FTA DTT, known as Saorview, had launched [7] following a direction from the Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, to RTÉ and signing of the RTÉ (National Television Multiplex) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 85 of 2010) on 26 February 2010. [8] The rollout of FTA Saorview DTT then proceeded, but the commercial DTT competition was deferred indefinitely. [9]

Easy TV considered its position on the licence offer which it was offered on 29 April 2010. [10] [11] The Easy TV consortium informed the BAI on 12 May 2010 that it was declining their offer to pursue negotiations regarding the Commercial DTT Multiplex Licence. [12] RTÉ publicly confirmed on 14 May 2010 that Easy TV was "declining their offer to pursue negotiations" on the DTT contract. [13] The BAI officially confirmed Easy TV's withdrawal and the conclusion of the current DTT licensing process on 18 May 2010. [14] On 1 July 2010 RTÉ announced that Mary Curtis, RTÉ's then deputy head of TV programming, would take on the role of Director of Digital Switchover (DSO). [15]

Commercial DTT Licence Process Suspended

In August 2013 a report into Commercial DTT by Oliver & Ohlbaum was given to the BAI, the report outlined the main problems associated with DTT in Ireland including the lack of free-to-air services on Saorview. Based on this report the BAI have decided not to proceed with a licence competition for pay-DTT. The report was published on the BAI website in January 2014. [16] On its publication Bob Collins, Chairperson of the BAI said “The contents of the report raise a number of policy implications for consideration by Government and also for the BAI, having regard to its statutory obligations and its enduring objectives in respect of diversity and plurality. In submitting copies of the review to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the BAI would now welcome the opportunity to discuss the findings of the report and the policy implications arising at an early date.” [17]

Channels

Television

LCNChannelSaorview MultiplexResolutionNotes
1 RTÉ One 2RN Mux 2HD (1080i)Full-time
2 RTÉ2 2RN Mux 1HD (1080i)Full-time
3 Virgin Media 1 2RN Mux 1SD (576i)Commercial
4 TG4 2RN Mux 1SD (576i) Irish-language
5 Virgin Media 2 2RN Mux 1SD (576i)Commercial
6 Virgin Media 3 2RN Mux 2SD (576i)Commercial
7 Virgin Media 4 2RN Mux 2SD (576i)Commercial
8 Challenge 2RN Mux 2SD (576i)Commercial (United Kingdom channel)
11 RTÉ One +1 2RN Mux 2SD (576i)Timeshift
12 RTÉ2 +1 2RN Mux 2SD (576i)Timeshift 19:00–02:00,
(Weekends 12:00–02:00)
17 RTÉ Junior 2RN Mux 2SD (576i)06:00–19:00 (Children's)
21 RTÉ News 2RN Mux 1SD (576i)Rolling news (20% live content/80% repeats)[ citation needed ]
22 Tithe an Oireachtais 2RN Mux 1SD (576i) Oireachtas and European Parliament proceedings
23 Sky News 2RN Mux 2SD (576i)Commercial, 24-hour news (United Kingdom channel)
29Saorview Information2RN Mux 2SD (576i)Saorview platform rolling information
Test service (no LCN)Tástáil Innealtóireachta Ardghléine2RN Mux 2HD (1080i) Test Card (captions "2rn" "Ath Cliath" and "Ardghleine")

[18]

Channels with no LCN are test services which are not visible on most receivers. There are also a large number of blank audio and data channels [19] (again invisible on most receivers) which are presumably reserved for future services.

Radio

LCNServiceSaorview MultiplexBitrate
200 RTÉ Radio 1 2RN Mux 1128 kbit/s
201 RTÉ Radio 1 Extra 2RN Mux 1128 kbit/s
202 RTÉ 2FM 2RN Mux 1128 kbit/s
203 RTÉ Lyric 2RN Mux 1160 kbit/s
204 RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta 2RN Mux 1128 kbit/s
205 RTÉ Pulse 2RN Mux 1112 kbit/s
206 RTÉ 2XM 2RN Mux 1112 kbit/s
207 RTÉ Junior and RTÉ Chill (timeshare)2RN Mux 1112 kbit/s
208 RTÉ Gold 2RN Mux 1112 kbit/s
210 Radio Maria Ireland 2RN Mux 2unknown

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freeview (UK)</span> British digital terrestrial television platform

Freeview is the United Kingdom's sole digital terrestrial television platform. It is operated by Everyone TV and DTV Services Ltd, a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky. It was launched on 30 October 2002, taking over the licence from ITV Digital which collapsed that year. The service provides consumer access via an aerial to the seven DTT multiplexes covering the United Kingdom. As of July 2020, it has 85 TV channels, 26 digital radio channels, 10 HD channels, six text services, 11 streamed channels, and one interactive channel.

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Digital terrestrial television is a technology for terrestrial television where television stations broadcast television content in a digital format. DTTV is a major technological advance over analog television, and has largely replaced analog television broadcast, which had been in common use since the middle of the 20th century. Test broadcasts began in 1998 with the changeover to DTTV, also known as the Analog Switchoff (ASO) or Digital Switchover (DSO), which began in 2006 and is now complete in many countries. The advantages of digital terrestrial television are similar to those obtained by digitizing platforms such as cable TV, satellite, and telecommunications: more efficient use of radio spectrum bandwidth, provision of more television channels than analog, better quality images, and potentially lower operating costs for broadcasters.

Boxer TV Access is a Swedish brand owned by Tele2 AB providing pay television channels on the digital terrestrial television network in Sweden. Modeled on the British ITV Digital, it was founded in October 1999. Some channels on the Swedish DTT are free-to-air, but most of the channels require subscription from Boxer. Boxer has claimed to have around 500,000 subscribers by June 2016 when it was acquired by ComHem.

Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom encompasses over 100 television, radio and interactive services broadcast via the United Kingdom's terrestrial television network and receivable with a standard television set. The majority of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services, including the five former analogue channels, are broadcast free-to-air, and a further selection of encrypted pay TV services are also available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2RN (RTÉ Networks)</span>

2RN is the trading name of RTÉ Transmission Network DAC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Raidió Teilifís Éireann, formerly trading as RTÉNL, which runs Ireland's principal digital terrestrial television and radio broadcast networks. In December 2002 it became an incorporated company and subsidiary of RTÉ; it was previously a division within RTÉ. It operates 12 main TV and radio transmitter sites and many smaller relays and transposers, which carry television and/or radio. It also provides site hosting for mobile telephone operators, the emergency services, wireless broadband and other private mobile communications service providers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital switchover dates in the United Kingdom</span> Process of replacing analogue terrestrial with digital terrestrial television in the UK

The digital switchover was the process by which analogue terrestrial television in the United Kingdom was replaced with digital terrestrial television. It is sometimes referred to as the "analogue switch off".

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The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007 is an Act of the Oireachtas which was enacted in April 2007. It deals with Irish Analogue broadcasting systems and the amendment of legislation on Digital Terrestrial Television dating back to 2001. This act amends previous acts in particular the Broadcasting Act 2001.

Television in Northern Ireland is available using, digital terrestrial, digital satellite and cable.

Boxer DTT Limited was a company that had been awarded the contract to operate a mainly pay-TV digital terrestrial television service in Republic of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital television transition</span> Global switchover to digital television

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Saorview is the national digital terrestrial television (DTT) service in Ireland. It is owned by RTÉ and operated by 2RN.

Easy TV was a consortium that were offered a licence by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to run the pay television services on the DTT platform in the Republic of Ireland. It was last one standing and least preferred in the 2008 contest results.

Saorsat is a free-to-air satellite service in Ireland. The service launched on 3 May 2012.

References

  1. ↑ "Move to drop sale of RTE network". independent. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "RTE pulls sale of transmission unit". independent. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)  — The Irish Times — Monday, 21 July 2008". The Irish Times. 7 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  4. ↑ "Coordination issue likely to delay DTT roll-out: ThePost.ie". Archives.tcm.ie. 27 July 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  5. ↑ "Minister Ryan announces end of Digital Terrestrial Television trial". Digitaltelevision.ie. 24 July 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  6. ↑ New York (9 July 2009). "RTE admits digital TV launch delay – Media, Business". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  7. ↑ "New digital service starts on trial basis". RTÉ News. 29 October 2010. Archived from the original on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  8. ↑ "Parliamentary Debates (Official Report – Unrevised) Dáil Éireann Tuesday, 2 March 2010 – Page 1". Debates.oireachtas.ie. n.d. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  9. ↑ "Ryan: Ireland will meet DTT deadlines". Broadband TV News. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  10. ↑ McCaughren, Samantha (2 May 2010). "Digital television negotiations reach crisis point | The Post". Thepost.ie. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  11. ↑ "Chorus-NTL renamed UPC as it rings changes with new services – Irish, Business". The Irish Independent. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  12. ↑ "Irish DTT on the brink after Easy TV refuses BAI offer". Broadband TV News. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  13. ↑ Noonan, Laura (15 May 2010). "Plans for digital terrestrial TV in tatters after pullout". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  14. ↑ "BAI – Broadcasting Authority of Ireland". Bai.ie. 18 May 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  15. ↑ "RTÉ Appoints Director of Digital Switchover (DSO)". RTÉ Press Office. 1 July 2010. Archived from the original on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  16. ↑ "Publications". Broadcast Authority of Ireland. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "BAI Publishes Review of Potential for Commercial DTT in Ireland". Broadcast Authority of Ireland. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  18. ↑ "DIGITAL TELEVISION SCANNING". digitalbitrate.com. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  19. ↑ "DVBT DVBT2 Bitrate Monitoring DTT Ireland Dublin". www.digitalbitrate.com. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
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