2008
Diaspora TV
press release
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel +353-1-6782000 Fax +353-1-6782449
Paris France 17th March 2008
This St. Patrick’s Day, Communications Minister Eamon Ryan announced that Diaspora TV would be on air in the UK by next St. Patrick’s Day. Diaspora TV will be an RTÉ channel available on the new Freesat service in the UK.
This channel will be a hybrid of RTÉ One and RTÉ 2 with some additional programming from TG4. The One, Six-One and 9 o’clock news bulletins will be carried live. It will carry a range of home-grown Irish programming that will be of real interest to Irish communities abroad.
Minister Ryan: The 2001 Census in Britain records a figure of 850,000 Irish born people living in Britain. There is many more of direct Irish descent. I know that many of these people have been looking for an RTÉ channel in the UK for some time. I am pleased that foot of last year’s Broadcasting Act, this new channel will be up and running by next St. Patrick’s Day.
I will be working closely with Minister Dermot Ahern to ensure that vulnerable groups in the UK will be supported in receiving the service.
This new channel will provide the Irish abroad with a valuable link to home.”
ENDS
Note to editors:
Freesat is a new free-to-air satellite service that will be available throughout the UK and across the Astra satellite footprint, covering Ireland and some other parts of Europe. It is led by the BBC and ITV. Further information is available at www.freesat.co.uk
comment by RTE2FTA. we welcome this move we will monitor the progress. nothing in it says how RTÉ will fund Diaspora TV, RTÉ have real funding issues when it come to this project (according to statements made by its DG to the old audience council). It is a shame that the Minister Eamon Ryan TD has failed to press release on next Mondays medium wave close down that he supports that will CUT THE VALUABLE LINK TO HOME he mentions above. We also look forward to Freesat a project, we are happy to see RTÉ involved with Freesat a move away from the RTÉ/BSKYB encryption deal that stinks. Perhaps RTÉ along with Channel 4 will leave Sky encryption in 2008, don’t hold your breath. No mention of Dáil TV output
personal comment. I don’t like the name Diaspora TV, i hope its only a working title.
Richard Logue has made a Comment
Diaspora TV as a title stinks. However I note there’s no comment from RTE on this press release. Is this Ryan kite flying to force RTE to meet their obligations under the relevant broadcasting acts?
We all know RTE and the Department have been at loggerheads over the funding of this channel so I suspect this is the Department’s attempt to paint RTE into a corner over starting the channel by giving a deadline (albeit a year) to get the channel up and running.
I dare say there will be some government funding for the new channel eventually.
It would be nice to hear what RTE have to say on this!
March 22, 2008 @ 1:26 am
Kevin Ross has made a Comment
Re- Diaspora TV. oh please RTE, don’t lumber us with such a horrible and insignificant title. RTE international or RTE overseas sounded perfecto. We’ve been waiting for over half a decade since the demise of ill fated Tara TV.. It would be nice to see this thought put into action. Whilst most European countries have been transmitting overseas tv for many decades without making too much issue about the cost, we’ve been forced to wait yet again. I mean, didn’t the first talk about this in 2005. It’s cruel dhat’s been happening to the overseas tv watching Irish diaspora. Please don’t make us lonely tv watchers wait much longer and delay and delay and delay. What’s the problem with broadcasting now? you’re a public service and law has been passed. Stop being so lazy and get transmitting pronto!
March 30, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
Brian Greene has made a Comment
RTE are too quite about this.
Richard you are correct RTE have not commented. But Ryan never press released the demise of Medium Wave! I think you are correct ~ there is more in the paddy’s day paris release about dept. foreign affairs (DFA) funding than there is about RTE duties or promises.
Kevin. Yes the name ain’t great, but RTE didn’t think of it. RTE International was/is their working title. diaspora TV is a department of communications (DoC) idea.
I think we are in the same mess we were in with DTT 10 years ago here in Ireland. Nobody, no public service broadcaster (PSB) wants to own it.
If diaspora TV gets going then it is game set and match for RTE2FTA. I am not looking to get bought in junk broadcast on agreed/not agreed over spill FTA TV, a selection of IRISH TV is what we need, and a maximum of it live, subtitled and with a bloody good text service.
If RTE lose the PSB plot then citizens will gain control of licence fee from BCI, DFA & DoC sources, or we will steal back the spectrum legally.
March 30, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
Seo Catháin has made a Comment
Diaspora TV could relate to any country. But the concept is alright. Okay, how about Ireland TV, bring in other investors such as BBC NI & UTV, TV3, TG4, Channel 6 Irish content and City Channel content rounded of by Oireachtas TV feeds. Now there’s 24 hours of broadcasting from the Island of Ireland?
Of course BBC NI content would be a mini duplication but let’s forsee Ireland TV beyond Freesat on the USA and Australian dishes. BBC NI & UTV news, TV3 News, TG4 news, mainly RTE and TG4 content thus majority shareholders. Of course all content one have to be Irish with ads UK in nature. Joint venture the best way to go I think.
Also Irish Kids TV channel made up of TG4 and RTÉ 2 kids programming could form the 2nd channel. Would be a good monetiser for RTE/TG4 from the UK market & archive programming. This will enable DTT Oireachtas TV to be piloted as such.
An Ireland Today News Channel made up of all island of Ireland broadcasters and UPC and either ITN or BBC international news reporters partner>
The Ireland TV Brand on freesat? Could use 1 firm to sell ads for all 3 channels.
April 17, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
Crochuair Mac GiollaMhuire has made a Comment
I don’t like the name either for an Irish FreeSat/Freeview channel – Tara TV was fine and a missed opportunity. Maybe “IrelandTV”, “RTE World” or “RTE International” would be better – relaying homemade content, cultural shows, music, news, dáilTV, etc. should not be a problem with copyright. Indeed content could be sourced from throughout Ireland UTV/BBC NI.
Funding surely some cultural funding would be justified if the channel caters for the diaspora, but advertising from the likes of Uncle Arthur, Bord Fáilte, Airlines who travel to ireland as well as adverts aimed for Irish people living in the UK.
The sooner the better RTE cancels its link up with sky the better.
April 21, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
Seo Catháin has made a Comment
Oireachtas TV went live following a week of the test graphics. Went live for Cowen’s appointment in the Dáil for Taoiseach. See my blog http://irishdigitaltvfan.wordpress.com for graphics. Have to say well done to them. Yellow placeholder with black type, also white brand with green circle around gold harp and oireachtas TV in green. They don’t even do like the UK ie BBC Parliament. No mention of RTE Oireachtas. So they’re making an effort to be partners. Time to praise them for good work! I don’t know if it can be picked up on boxes outside of the trial ones. Should be unencrypted I would think!.
May 11, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
Michael O'Brien has made a Comment
Interesting topic being covered. I think an ALL Ireland TV channel for the UK etc including programmes from RTE/TV3/UTV and BBCNI. Allow adverts to at least cover the cost of running the channel. Suggested line up could be Ireland AM, Factual shows, RTE news at 1, Afternoon show, Kids progs, TV3 news at 5.30, Xpose, Nationwide, Fair City, RTE 9 o’clock news, Late Late, Tubridy, TV3 Sports Tonight etc. Obviously these programmes broadcast at set times and other programmes would be broadcast in between. There ye go, a ready made Irish TV Channel for the UK etc.
June 4, 2008 @ 4:45 pm
Seo Catháin has made a Comment
a..I see on other sites the addition is used. So not so unusuals ;-D But ya’ve changed to words. Understandable ie spammers.
Well, just heard, Oireachtas TV trial ending this week. Equipment was just on loan. The Joint Admin Committee will take stock now. Basically, funding, unless RTÉ extend their coverage on this channel 18 slot meantime its off-air til the Broadcasting Bill 2008 goes through. So I’d say near the end of the year or the new year is probably it. They did well. That’s probably why the Irish Film Channel hasn’t trialled yet. They’re waiting for the legislation, whereas the Oireachtas was given a few bob to rent equipment and get some knowledge.So well done to them. They got some knowledge now for when they go back up, & some time to consider ideas.
July 1, 2008 @ 10:34 am