2008
DTT FTA?
While RTE will be FTA on DTT, BBC & ITV look like they will not be. RTE are trying to partner with other players to bring a more cohesive DTT platform. RTE want the UK channels FTA on DTT but the other potential players may have UK channels on their existing platforms where they are in a mixture of FTA & subscription. If the UK public service broadcasters (PSB) are not FTA on Irish DTT I predict that DTT in Ireland will fail, and here are the reasons why.
1. it makes sense to have UK Public Service TV in Ireland
over spill history - we have been used to FTA analogue TV from the UK from since before Irish TV was born in the mid to late 1950’s
reciprocal arrangements - If we will show theirs, they will show ours,
2. it makes sense to have Irish Public Service TV in UK
RTE international has been sanctioned by the Dail. - there is no requirement for RTE to broadcasts any blackout images (as they suggest) into the UK. RTÉ seem to think that if they were to broadcast into the UK they would be broadcasting blackouts every second programme, this is rubbish. Take 50% of RTE1 50% RTE2 50% TG4 50% Dail TV 50% RTE International and 45 years of archive, RTÉ has lots of programmes to broadcast, they just need to transmit a modified version of itself, blackouts and the old copyright arguments do not stop RTE transmitting in the UK.
GFA - the Good Friday Agreement encourages TV / Radio in an all island way.
Emigrants - the public service remit of the national broadcasters does not end at the sea shore or the border. We have a 70M diaspora outside Ireland versus the 4-5 million Irish / non Irish in Ireland, the broadcasters have been shown that they have a duty to emigrants through the dicta of RTE International coming from the Dáil.
3. Current thinking of BCI, RTE & DCMNR
BCI - the BCI (old IRTC) are not yet the BAI. They are there to regulate the Irish commercial sector. TV3 is being carried on RTÉ multiplex leaving regulation by the BCI where? the BCI seem to be regulating foreign imported commercial TV to the remaining 3 multiplexes. very odd. see point 6. do the BCI even regulate the foreign imported commercial TV channels? No.
RTE - RTÉ want FTA DTT UK public service channels operating in competition with RTE. this is a mature view, and a realistic view. RTE is well able to compete with Digital BBC / ITV / C4 who have 55 million more potential viewers / licence payers than Ireland will ever have. How can RTÉ compete? they are Irish, and the BBC / ITV / C4 are not providing local programming that is still essential to making network television successful.
RTE stated this in August 2007 in this document http://url.ie/7ik Advisory Note to the Directorate General For Competition and the Directorate General For Information Society & Media of the European Commission concerning RTÉ’s approach to Digital Switchover in Ireland. see Page 9 para 3. Although recent utterances by RTE in front of the Dail Broadcasting committee 27/02/2008 would seem to suggest that RTE has moved away from this objective a little, following their incomplete attempts to team up with potential commercial operators of the remaining 3/4 multiplexes.
DCMNR - the DCMNR via the website Digitaltelevision.ie does not dispel the indication in the Sunday Business Post article [last sunday]
http://www.sbpost.ie/post
that “RTE has held talks with a number of parties with regard to joint ventures for the operation of the DTT platform. While RTE will be free-to-air on DTT, it looks increasingly likely that there will be a modest charge to access British channels.”
4. The UK’s analogue switch off has begun
The analogue switch off began in Whitehaven Cumbria in the first week on October 2007 when BBC2 went off the air.
The analogue switch off has begun in Ireland when we can not access UK analogue signal we once did, digital is the replacement and Irish audiences who get the spill over are measured in this RTÉ document. http://url.ie/7ik these audiences are large!. They watch everything from Animal Magic to Z-Cars on the trusty old analogue TV since the 1950’s. Policy must allow this to continue without hindrance of encryption or a charge in favour of commercial operators - OR DTT WILL FAIL in terms of adoption like ONdigital did in the UK. RTÉ are clearly concerned by this also.
5. The Irish DTT system is still being designed
While it is still on the drawing board, policy should drive the shape of things to come for DTT (as well as technical development like HD and wide screen & MHEG5 text services MPEG4 transport streams & EPG). RTÉ claim that the DTT service will be sovereign and DTH satellite can not be. While satellite is not sovereign neither is DTT. The shareholders of BT Ireland and Sky & Eircom & UPC are not sovereign and 3/4 multiplexes will be commercial, 1/4 public service. As HD enters the equation there will be less room on newly vacated analogue space that boasted extra room via compression by the digital believers (of which I am one). Less channels than low definition DTT means less channel choice versus other platforms making DTT less of a player against DTH SAT & cable where 100 channel bouquets are now expected by the digital clientele. Space on the DTT system will always be precious. If the commercial operators are to provide imports and DTT needs ITV / BBC / C4 to succeed then market logic will dictate that those 3/4 multiplex owners (3 companies) will need / require the UK PSB channels to survive, but read point 7. What if some the 3/4 multiplex operators fail spectacularly like ONdigital? will the Irish tax payer be called in to bail them out? for it to work (for DTT not to fail) a multiplex of reciprocal arrangement should be provided FTA for the UK channels at the tax/licence payers expense up front. Like wise RTE TV3 TG4 should be carried by BBC / Crown Castle on the Freeview DTT system in the North. Meeting GFA kite mark.
6. you can’t do that
Sky & UPC will not be happy with the point made in number 5 above. They will see free / supported carriage of UK PSB channels as interference in the marketplace, but its not their marketplace, they are all not regulated in Ireland by Irish law. Some do not pay tax here, they do not even comply with advertising policy when it comes to childrens TV, they are not regulated here and they no longer serve an Irish brand of their news services. They do not employ many people here either. Meanwhile 500,000 Irish dish owners need to pay up to 40 million euro per month to carriers like Sky - yes 40Million. or 0.5Billion euro per annum, aided by RTÉ policy to encrypt its signal via Sky under a secret deal.
Sky gains as currently the only wide screen digital RTÉ is on Sky while Sky Ireland advertises in Irish media the fact that if you do not want TV snow (interference), then get Sky. This is an insult. While foreign carriers may not like point 5, they would have to put up with it if policy dictated instead of market forces dictating.
7. DTT & freesat
while RTE has been positioning itself under BSkyB encryption, claiming copyright spill over for its cozy Sky deal, BBC 1 2 3 & 4 BBCNews24 BBC Parliament ITV1 2 3 & 4 (all? +1) and 6 BBC interactive streams and Film 4 have all gone FTA unencrypted on Astra 2003-2006 led by Greg Dyke in the BBC. Thus staying on Sky EPG but dropping encryption. Channel 4 are due to join them in late 2008, and to top this all off, BBC & ITV and others have joined up and created http://www.freesat.co.uk to launch march? 2008 as a DTH (direct to home) satellite provider to challenge BSkyB at its own game. Remember Freeview DTT has more subscribes than BskyB in the UK already, but where freeview has penetration issues Freesat will have 99% penetration. Freesat will be available to all of ireland Free To Air. It will be impossible for DTT in Ireland to compete with cable or DTH sat from Sky or Freesat IF UK PSB channels are not FTA on Irish DTT.
8. other items not yet considered that will impact on DTT success
IPTV,
apple TV programme downloads,
the end of TV’s golden age,
community TV access to digital is non existent
I hope this will help the debate (if there is a debate on DTT)
comments welcome
when you only deal with stakeholders you end up getting a lot of stakes, DTT should be for the citizens of Ireland Like FreeView not a mini platform for the big 3 to put up low cost shop windows to their other PPV platforms.
Brian Greene - digital media consultant http://doop.ie
disclaimer - “i could be wrong, i could be right”
Seo Cathain has made a Comment
What’s this math’s thing for? Anyhow lol, a very good article.
I have been thinking the same thing. Charges for UK channels on Irish DTT are going to adversely affect DTT’s chances. But there are two solutions to this problem which I have passed onto two of the interested parties.
Before I discuss the solution the issue is around UK FTA on Freesat from Sky (E150 one off equip+install) and Sky subscription and shortly FreeSat UK (BBC-ITV).
Presently these can be received free from Sky without subscription. Channel 4 as you say are likely to join the club. UPC are currently competing with Sky but as Sky are regulated in the UK there is little they can do with the Television without Frontiers Directive which was amended in December last.
As the new kid on the block and the one most likely affected the onus is on the Irish pay DTT mux winners a-c of the bci muxes to pay subsidise partly this cost to UPC in return for a strategic alliance to allow cable to offer a combined cable DTT box and keep satellite out as much as it can legally do. This can enable UPC to free up RTE and UK FTA channels to other channels by agreement with the BCI on the must carry requirement. It helps if UPC win a mux on Irish DTT pay tier to strike this agreement.
Sky may have issue with this but with RTE not involved in the payment it is more a competive issue that state support one. How to bring Sky into the fold- well this involves RTE removing its channels from the Sky Ireland package but enabling Sky provide combined DTT-Sky digibox. This frees up valuable slots on sky’s epg for other channels. This deal could be done at a discount and takes both Sky and UPC complaints out of the picture.
fee’d UK FTA channels won’t help either cable or DTT but will give sky a big differentiator to the Irish public. RTE won’t lose out really as it can strike a deal with Sky by taking of its channels and recieving a royalty from Sky to retail combined DTT-Sky digiboxes.
The other solution is to let satellite in but retail Freesat UK combined with DTT at launch. This involves satellite coming in and again assists sky to say, we can offer you that and much more without a contract ie Freesat from Sky. Thus the only real solution is the striking of deals that enables DTT FTA and pay-tiers alongside satellite and cable as a way to satisfy must carry obligations without the spectrum used while offering UK FTA across all platforms. This would enable a fair playing field. It would allow UPC and Sky commission on Irish pay-DTT customers, and free up their EPGs to match the UK ones.
Options for DTT and indeed cable and satellite are Campus TV and an opportunity for Ireland to lead on though this opens up the possibility of competition from foreign universities, subscription enabling distance courses via TV set and amigo TV IPTV overlay on DTV voice and text interactivity taking into account IPTV current feasibility due to slow broadband speed in Ireland. This is something I have contacted the HEA and IUA and Council of Institutes of Technology on. It is a very exciting prospect that will free up campus so that evening courses don’t have to be provided on campus freeing labs up for day students to the convenience of evening students, via home TV or workplace TV set.
March 20, 2008 @ 6:23 pm
Seo Cathain has made a Comment
Just to where I say of I mean off. Sorry for the typos. The working of DTT with cable and satellite will enable DTT to have the highest market share as a compliment to cable and satellite without affecting cable or satellite. It will enable UPC and Sky as a result of these deals to let RTE go ahead without complaint with reciprocity. Its a win win. Due to capacity disadvantage and DVB-C2 on the way in 2009 it is likely that cable and satellite(currently DVB-S2) will slug it out for the greater number of channels that DTT cannot offer. The only issue really is the duplication where satellite is adopted of Sky being available on both the sat epg and DTT epg, but this is a convenience for the benefit of non sat and cable people to subscribe. Also it is a convenience for satellite people who can simply chose not so subscribe to to Sky channels on one of the Irish pay-tier muxes.
I think there is sense in cable reallocating its spectrum to high speed internet and IPTV if it wins a mux or enable it convert its spectrum to DTT spectrum if possible to receive another mux because cable-mmds only covers 70% unlike DTT which can cover 98%. This would enable pay DTT to challenge satellite head on and also enable UPC to become a serious broadband competitor to Eircom via its network.
March 20, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
Brian Greene has made a Comment
the maths is poor mans captcha
its late. so I wont reply in detail. I can see you have a full on solution/s here. has combined boxes DTT DVB worked before? is there a FreeView DVB/Sat box?
more later. thanks for the comment.
March 21, 2008 @ 12:35 am
Richard Logue has made a Comment
Brian, I worked at the BBC on a consultancy basis last year and I can tell you they are not at all interested in being broadcast for free in the Republic. They (and ITV and Channel 4) want to be paid for any rebroadcasts of their channels. It’s not that they don’t want RoI viewers to watch their channels, it’s that they want revenue from any RoI platform that rebroadcasts their work. This absolutely includes any Irish DTT (and yes, I did ask).
I believe that any DTT operator in the Republic will be obliged to pay the UK broadcasters for the rights to rebroadcast their channel and this cost will either be absorbed by the Irish taxpayer (unlikely) or will be recouped via subscriptions.
March 22, 2008 @ 1:18 am
Seo Catháin has made a Comment
There are also dvb-T/S (S = satellite) “combo” boxes are available. A couple of examples (these are without hard drives):
http://www.satshop.tv/en/Satellite-Receivers/Vantage/Vantage-X221TS-CI::319.html
http://www.humaxdigital.co.uk/global/products/combo-9000.asp
However these are not promoted as platforms are in the business of competing for profit and market share. If you let a competitor in you rish losing profit to them. The market size determines the strategy.
The Irish market is small and thus viability is the issue. Also UPC appear to have overlooked the combined box solution. A compliment DTT strategy seems to make perfect sense rather than competing with cable and satellitte to be their friend, allow it in the door so they can offer it without losing customers. No doubt if RTE drop from Sky sub, as you would expect they would to support DTT that sky will want to offer this to keep their customers. It would be obvious business sense. However they trick is DTT insisting that pay DTT must be allowed in also with Sky getting commission (a cut of the sub) ofor subs to pay DTT channels. This would also mean Sky freeing up its EPG or offering a combined DTT-Sat EPG.
This would suit sky although they’ll miss the fees RTE pay to them for carriage.
UPC seem to have missed the idea that they could save on UK channel subs with their EC complaint by also doing a combo deal with DTT. A combo deal will save them money. I take back my idea on pay DTT compensating UPC. No need. UPC would free up spectrum on must carry Irish and Uk channels and let DTT fufill those. It could then let RTE ahead to do reciprocity deal.
Richard’s point is understandable. But this is an issue that the Irish gov will need to take up with the UK gov to get BBC into line. I have no doubt that UTV will play ball if they can be enable to apply for a BCI channel license for the ROI market. The solution to rights is and Island of Ireland market with BBC NI becoming a partner in RTE in return for advert profit slices and contributing some NI programming. An RTE-BBC News 24 from Dublin with Irish news casters+studio would aid this ie news channel.
TV3-UTV ITN channel could compete with that in both cases with international correspondents doubled up for the Uk and Irish news channels. There are cost savings and foreign market advert localisation possibilities here.
Gov need to make argument that UK platforms are beaming into ROI yet expecting to recoup from irish platforms as inequitable. If it comes to it then a TV license cut rather than sub is the next best solution.
Sub will disadvantage but UPC and Irish DTT in favour of Sky. Who’ll go for BBC-ITV freesat when sky can offer this and more.
April 1, 2008 @ 6:43 pm
Antoin O Lachtnain has made a Comment
Is there a problem with the length of the word? Is the word ‘no’ not clear enough? There is simply not going to be free BBC on Irish DTT unless there is a change in UK public policy. There is not going to be a partnership between RTE and BBC unless Ireland agrees to pay its way to be part of the partnership. Likewise, there is not going to be an arrangement to carry RTE on UK DTT, because channels on the UK mux’s are scarce and valuable. I agree that this is a real problem for adoption, especially with freesat, but it has to be dealt with realistically. I don’t know what the solution is, but I’m sure there is one. Maybe the cost of watching BBC1 and 2 can be folded into the price of the box for instance?
April 9, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
Brian Greene has made a Comment
who said no? it hasn’t happened or not happened yet. the gun & the ‘no’ are being removed from this islands dictionaries! Antoin everyone reading this blog post is at the disadvantage of not reading its first private draft. this was sent to the Green Party. It was a critique of their policies in action. See previous post on this blog re GP DTT FTA post GFA policy dating back to 06/05/2007. Now the GP are in government but greater still the GP have a green minister in the department of communications. DTT is being shaped and the GP policy is being scrutinized live as DTT progresses. People said RTE FTA would not happen, they have advertised the project now on eTenders and Diaspora RTÉ International will be on FreeSat by next March 17th.
You say unless a change in the UK policy. ‘I feel the hand of history…’ the UK Govt. signed the GFA Republic of Ireland voted 98% for it removing claims in Articles 2 agus 3. The GFA has commitments in TV exact wording may be left to interpretation, BBC FreeSpill (aka freesat) on Astra2D and ‘television without frontiers’ says to me that YES is the word. Yes it is possible, Yes it will not be easy, but if GP u-turn on their policy before the STB’s are designed, then we can start saying no now.
April 9, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
Seo Catháin has made a Comment
Yip Brian, I think Antoin is being gloomy about what possibilities there are about UK FTA. Of course BBC/ITV want to monetise rights in another territory. If NI were not part of the UK then it’d be much harder to get, then it would likely be we must PAY for them. But the NI changes the dimension. The GFA/SAA makes a difference. Just look on April 15th 2008,Irish Times about jobs where there’s skills shortage in South so support functions ie accountants etc could go North (Cowen & Robinson). The likes of UTV on Irish DTT calls out for the changing of the TV market to seperateing UK mainland rights from NI rights. UTV have ambitions to be an all-ireland broadcaster. BBC NI could monetise through a link up with RTE with the TV license of both jurisdictions funding it. This could potentially mean a BBC TV channel made up of programmes they have rights to with that going of RTE 1 moving evening RTE 2 programming to RTE 1 and RTE 2 becoming an irish and english language kids channel with Scotlands new Gadhlic Digital Service channel replacing TG4 kids programming subtitled.
The benefits of such far changes to BBC NI? advertising revenue cut, increased NI programming, spectrum efficiencies. The benefits to RTE? Becomes an all-island broadcaster would enhanced funding, more distinctive less reliance on foreign programming, easier TV license/state funding case.
Of course UTV unlikely to be happy with new BBC NI role but then more spectrum for UTV to expand south, simplified programme rights. Likewise for TV3 + 1.5 million more ads.
There are practical solutions
So I think we’re now in a position to get Northern politicians to help with the DCMS since broadcasting isn’t devolved to the regions.
I think UTV will play ball if they can get onto Irish DTT which surely they’ll be able to via request to BCI license (soon BAI-Broadcasting Amendmend Bill 2008).
The BBC/ITV is the problem. If ITV get on Irish DTT then they’ maybe be happy enough what with localising Irish ads particularly CITV such that they’ll prob not charge and 4.5 milllion is attractive extra for CITV. The BBC is the harder one to crack as they don’t do ads. This is one for the Ministers involved. Also there’s an opportunity here to roll out DVB-T2 across the Island now. This could suit NI if you turn Freeview NI and top-Up TV into an all-island brand. Spectrum management would be easier, they have to upgrade to MPEG4 anyhow for HD and space considerations and we’re going with that according to the BCI policy doc. (bci.ie website)
It’d be a win-win make network upgrade financials cheaper. I’m sure since electricity is now one market that with DTT, a single market may be being considered.
Also I see sense in BBC NI becoming a partner in RTE, providing NI programming in return for Irish programming, joint rights purchase of programmes.
I also see the sense in an Irish news channel made up of all Irish broadcasters +(NI) and a UK international news partner and UPC that is islandwide since we’re talking about DTT.
DVB-T2 will be important. I can see Open and Distance Learning (Course TV) T-HE as a good use of RTE regional studios (rental by 3rd level colleges) on the RTE Mux 2 later on a subscription basis.
RTE-BBC NI partnership is radical but it is a solution with benefits for the BBC and freed up spectrum can go to UTV and TV3 in return for increased competition.
April 15, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Owen O'Connor has made a Comment
A simple question from a consumer who just wants to know the bottom line:
I’m buying a Philips hard-disc/dvd recorder - should I get the model which has a DVB tuner (DVDR5520H) in the hope that it will receive future RTE digital broadcasts or should I just settle for the basic model (DVDR3575H -analogue tuner only)?
April 18, 2008 @ 11:17 am
Brian Greene has made a Comment
i would get it with the DVB not in hope but for what freesat is already offering. Diaspora TV will be on Freesat ETA < 11 months
April 18, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
Seo Cathain has made a Comment
It appears Disapora TV is planned to have no advertising! On the face of it sounds nice, but what does it mean? It means the TV license cake getting smaller! I’ve emailed the Minister Ryan to consider changing that. What is needed is an advertiser funded service where all Island of Ireland broadcaster put their Irish content and get the ad break revenue sold by one company. This also applies to a potential Ireland Kidz channel. RTE 2-Cula 4 is ready made and only needs a rebrand. Seems the way to go before the DTT brings in Nickleodean, Paramount Kids etc..
RTE have shown in recent times their willingness to enter partnerships which is very positive. Without ad breaks why would TV3 bother putting on Ireland AM, Sports Tonight, TV3 News. No incentive. As stakeholders along with RTE and TV3 they would have and no EC state aid issues with a public-commercial Ireland One brand. No ads is also unfair to RTE and TG4 as it drains the TV license when instead Freesat could cover costs and provide more funds for Irish made programmes. So its unfair to them also.
Also as in future this channel would be available in the USA and Australian markets such a channel would with localised advertising would provide Irish broadcasters including UTV and BBC NI with monetisation opportunities, exactly needed as they face an increasingly competitive DTT era.
Total opposite of BBC UK foreign approach. Also it robs Irish diaspora of plurality and TV3/UTV of opportunities for monetisation. The approach of public commercial removes any EC complaints also while also giving RTE, TG4 more revenue and an incentive for TV3, Channel 6, City Channel to make more Irish programmes that they can monetise.
Imagine 4 news programmes on Ireland One, twould be comprehensive news from the whole island of Ireland ie outside the NI region.
And RTE and TG4 as contributing the most content and majority stakeholders would get the most revenue. City Channel, TV3, UTV and BBC NI would gain monetisation and presence with the Irish diaspora. sound like a win win to me. Now, all that’s needed is a change of gov policy.
Also take Freeview Ni and Top Up TV Ni into Irish DTT and rollout DVB-T2 and MPEG 4 across the whole island (NI=upgrade). Economics= 6 million combo DTT box strategy and network upgrade instead of 2 seperate upgrades! Spectrum management simplification!
Also begs question of BBC NI becoming a partner in RTE with more spectrum for TV3 and UTV channels with change to Island of Ireland rights seperate from new mainland UK rights. Makes commercial sense doesn’t it, wouldn’t mean loss of programming. Would mean more revenue for BBC NI, more NI programmes, reduced competition from UTV as BBC taken out of main picture and more spectrum. Okay could be politically challenging. But would result in reduction of pressure on NI TV license.
Also would mean ROI and NI would be watching the same channels and that Irish TV would be more distinctive that UK TV covering 6 million rather than 4.5 and 1.5, ie spectrum efficient, operationally more efficient, consumer friendly (cheaper stb’s).
On the freesat box…I agree with Brian. However could be worth waiting for a combined box in the new few months that covers both freesat and Irish DTT. The plan of charging for UK channels makes on sense. So I’d say hold off til September and go for an MPEG 4 box defo as can be sure Freesat will be MPEG4 as will Irish DTT be. Be cheaper going for combined box then rather than 1 box now for sat and one later for DTT.
April 19, 2008 @ 7:41 pm
Brian Greene has made a Comment
Diaspora is not planned to be on DTT. Licence fee may not be the source of Diaspora TV funding. DFA & DoC may have to foot the bill. If it has no adverts it increases the case for funding. All the programmes were paid for and sit in the library or will be simulcast - only extra cost is transmission. Audience will by niche ie. small, advert revenue would also be small, or we would end up seeing Churchill & sheilas wheels type ads and commercial presentations all night long while we should be seeing PSB TV.
Nighttime should be archive and radio/pictures and web cams no slim-quick crap. How about Glenroe re-runs.
Diaspora is not being created to provide opportunities for monetisation for TV3/UTV. They will not be deprived (robbed). If TV3 want to got FTA on an Irish footprint - please let them, their shareholders may reap the gains if they do so, While RTE may welcome partnerships, they are our states public service broadcaster and the backdoor privatisation of RTE is not on. RTENL on the other hand could charge these commercial companies, or they could go to another provider.
To be clear it could be commercial without mixing it with commercial independent TV but I hope it has no or limited adverts like promote ireland (for business tourism arts) adverts from the DFA, good return for DFA investment.
Before anyone says EU state aid rules, think Aer Arann and where the Irish Gov. sticks our pensions loot. I note APTN has been contracted to make videos for the European Commission costing €600K, APTN is to produce and distribute themed videos on the humanitarian aid activities of the EC. So don’t expect pot to call kettle black.
apologies all this comment is Freesat not DTT related but as it is on topic for the blog and I run it :-) its ok, I wont beat myself up.
April 20, 2008 @ 11:03 am
Seo Catháin has made a Comment
The thing about the diaspora TV is its not for us, so ads about sheilas doesn’t matter. Its not intended for us. Why I’m suggesting ads is that DTT will bring further competition and pressures on Irish broadcasters from the UK. Expect the likes of ITV etc if UK FTA is to come in return. This means in order for Irish broadcasters to cope with further erosion of revenue and audience fragmentations on Irish DTT and the lesser Sound and Vision BCI funding Irish DTT needs a little help. Diaspora TV is that vehicle and can be not only an ROI but an Island of Ireland channel showcasing the new dispensation to the USA, UK (Freesat) and other regions as planned for the future.
Surely this would support more programming about Irish diaspora and could go towards home Irish programming on DTT. Wouldn’t this be a better use of opportunity than more of TV license and tax payer money from DFA, DofComms money going on this channel. Here’s an opportunity to reduce reliance and those. No prob them give a little, but let it not rely on these.
Regarding TV3 on satellite. Not economically viable due to rights costs. ITV is a different situation. Rightsholders don’t mind overspill as its a small market but the other way they do mind bigtime. So this is an opportunity for media plurality and avoidance of state aid issues, and support for Irish broadcasters at a time when Irish DTT will bring more competitive/financial pressure than opportunity. Freesat is not for me (though will be able to watch, is for diaspora. Opportunity here to support new Irish programming rather than just archive. That’s reason I suggest allow ads, looking at the economic of TV rather than just ROI viewerside. Course we’d all love no ads, but we’re to small to fund BBC like formala.
April 27, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
Seo Catháin has made a Comment
just to ad you probably know what I mean by rights cost. Most of Tv3 is Uk content with prog rights conflict so would be too expensive to clear. UTV got on other channels because of part of ITV network arrangements I’d reckon. Tv3 doesn’t have that. Proposition to expensive and doesn’t have enough Irish progs to make it viable. Thus on diaspora is next best for all to show full schedule and perhaps enable seperate oireachtas channel on freesat. Let’s face it a few hours of dail is enough on diaspora unless one is really into it ie seperate channel. Same applies to childrens programming.
April 27, 2008 @ 9:00 pm
Seo Catháin has made a Comment
Developments. DTT mux submissions closed 12 noon Friday 2nd May. Place to be Westbury on Grafton St..no q’s apparently just public presentation on 12th, 1:30pm open to public. see: http://www.bci.ie/news_information/press182.html
Will be discussed here no doubt afterwards!!
May 3, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
Brian Greene has made a Comment
roundabout or u-turn???
THAT’s a UPC u-turn as Ray Collins complained that RTE wanted action on the 3 commercial mux. Ray is now joined with RTE in ‘EASY TV’ application
reading Thursday January 17 2008
http://www.independent.ie/business/media/the-death-of-analogue-tv-is-nigh-long-live-digital-1267905.html
In its August letter, RTE expressed an interest in becoming involved in some kind of “joint venture” that would oversee the four commercial MUXs.
The specifics of the commercial venture weren’t detailed, but the very idea of RTE’s involvement was enough to exercise UPC who duly added RTE’s commercial ambitions to their European complaint.
“There are a huge number of commercial stakeholders looking to do something in DTT. RTE have their MUX and they will do the engineering for they whole thing, but they are not needed on the commercial aspects,” says Collins.
…
And UPC’s Collins says his firm is very interested in playing a role in DTT’s roll out, despite the EC complaint. “Let me be very clear on this, we’re not anti-DTT, we’re anti state involvement in commercial business,” he adds. Other names mentioned in DTT talks are Sky and some of the players in Sweden’s thriving DTT market.
8< me thinks; RTE Relays, Cablelink, NTL, UPC -> Easy TV - its a roundabout not a u-turn
May 3, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
Seo Cathain has made a Comment
Freesat launched today Tuesday 6th of May 2008.. See: http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=0&id=2989
It has finally launched! Let the games begin!
May 6, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
Wesley has made a Comment
ITV and the BBC are sitting back waiting for the call to come and join our platform and we’ll make it worth your while. well I say why not just give BBC a MUX for themselves to use and then they can charge ITV for using the remainder after all ITV will always make from adverts. why should they be paid to make money? anway it’ll only be a relay of their current channels, no new content. and then they can’t hold us to ransom and we can get on with getting it up and running.
May 7, 2008 @ 3:35 am
Wesley has made a Comment
also, can I just say, I have a HD JVC tv, with a built in digital tuner and a common interface slot for any future pay tv on DTT that requires a card (like setanta or top up tv). I also fully intend to get a Freesat HD PVR box when they are released in June (currently I use an old sky digibox for Freesat, works fine). Surely this is enough for anyone to have a full free tv service with the option of having pay tv and sports without having to be tied to one provider. as long as setanta, if they are on the DTT platform, provide the same, no annual contract, offering as they do on the British DTT platform
May 7, 2008 @ 4:15 am
Seo Catháin has made a Comment
Well that is a good solution. But problem Wesley is that the bidders aren’t really looking ahead. They’re looking at holding all the muxes, continuing with the status co and making money from a new platform. I think the solution is to give BBC and ITV a mux to relay their channels and let BBC NI and UTV make a few bob from the diaspora channel ads. Of course UTV are already on satellite. That would really help DTT. Then make money on the other two muxes. 2 tiers, basic for €9.99 and either Sky or Setanta Sports for €9.99 or both for €17.99.
Boxers tiers is like Sky’s but adds complexity and people don’t like complexity. Othewise split up the basic tier into kids, news, docs for €2.99 per month each tier.
FTA Uk TV is essential for Pay DTT. I don’t think the DTT consortiums get this. I think its not up to the BCI to resolve that. They’re a regulator. Its up to the winning bidder to do so. They’ll see themesleves failing on the charge and find that they’ll have to go to the BBC and ITV, better do now & lose market share that’s hard to recover than do later.
May 14, 2008 @ 3:06 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 @ 4:27 pm
Seo Cathain has made a Comment
Yip, as we read Michael from the the Boxer bid on at http://www.bci.ie/DTT/boxer/licencea_section5_acquistionofprogmaterial.pdf the plan of BBC Ireland and ITV Ireland will surely have advertising opt-ins. Thus you can argue why should Irish broadcasters be denied it. Okay for RTE-TG4 they already get the TV license and advertising already for Irish programming but instead of TV license increases the allowance of advertising on the channel particularly as this channel would go onto the USA where it would have a market also would support more Irish programming. From what I have read about DTV for my DTT dissertation research, DTT will bring fragmentation of audiences and as much challenge to the market as it will bring opportunities. Any assistance we can give Irish broadcasters then we should, be that also the Irish commercial broadcasting sector and RTE and TG4 alike. Exactly. RTE’s archive channel could be an additional channel to this. That way we can have a boquet of Irish channels. ie Oireachtais TV, Ireland One, RTE 4, Irish Kids Channel.
I suspect that if this suggestion doesn’t get the go ahead that perhaps TV3 will do something similar with City Channels, Channel 6 and itself for the UK market. But for now can’t they work together and then when Irish programming is built up over a few years then they can go their own way on the satellite platform.
PS, Oireachtas TV is now FTA. Am picking up on my usb stick and also when I take the card out of the trial box. You know something, when you email helpfully, people do listen if you have something reasonable to say. Eh, cynics are lazy and well the tabloids…hehe the Irish Sun urging a no vote with an Irish babe on the front…Well we could expect that of a UK paper eh! I wonder on what grounds? Have they even read the changes…so much apparent mistruth by the No side that I did not find in the very readable Institute of International and European Affairs consolidated treaties. Yet another referendum of No-ers scaring people about EU army.
June 12, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
Seo Cathain has made a Comment
On the Irish Film Channel, the issue with ads is that it would take revenue of the the market for commercial broadcasters. Understandable to avoid that. But sponsored films surely is maybe a runner. An opportunity to supplement the grant to the IFB surely can’t be missed. Okay understandable as state board that it should compete with commercial broadcasters for advertising spend. But sponsored films may provide some revenue to at least cover the cost of the channels operating costs and add a little profit to the grant available to Irish Film Sector?
June 12, 2008 @ 8:47 pm
Seo Cathain has made a Comment
Correction. I meant state board should not compete with commercial broadcasters for advertising spend. Also meant the profit from sponsored ads which worked for Bubble Hits would add to the grant the IFB recieves from government that can be added to the grant for the Irish Film Sector thus keeping IFC not for profit. Just thought to correct interpretation of the above post.
June 12, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
declan has made a Comment
I use analogue tv aerial [RTE, TV3, TG4] and FTA sat,[40+channels], if an RTE, TV3 C I card were available with tv licence, access to our channels could be restricted.
If RTE, TV3 were pulled from Sky, demand for Sky would be reduced significantly [BBC,ITV &C4 on freeview] and it would give DTT a greater chance of success. If only 4 channels are available FTA on DTT it could well drive more subscribers into the hands of Sky/NTL, [no analouge alternative]. Channel 6, Setanta and others should be encouraged to join FTA DTT [opportunity for other Irish channels].
RTE etc is a very big plus to Sky in selling its product here, most of the other main channels with the exception of sports channels are free, a fact most people are not aware of,so why should RTE,TV3 pay anything to Sky
June 22, 2008 @ 10:45 pm
Seo Catháin has made a Comment
Yea, Declan. My thought is that they drop off Sky but do a deal on combo DTT-Sat boxes.That would be clever of them. But would that lead to a complaint by Sky to the EC on unfair competitive practise with State-Aid? I don’t think RTE NL is TV license funded though as it gives telecoms, TG4 and TV3 carriage so it might not. Sure would undermine Sky’s Irish offering. Would save Sky transponder costs, but could allow commercial DTT in the sky door unless Sky insist on FTA DTT combo box. Also I expect UK FTA RTE International on FTA sky so that somewhat satisfies Sky even if RTE dropped off. I think since people will buy DTT boxes anyways that why not Sky do a combo & save themselves transponder costs and get commission on commercial DTT. But they’d probably insist on FTA DTT only combo not to undermine their subs. So combo could be good for them and great convience for the customer and free UK terrestrials. I think UPC could be screwed unless they do similar. If they win commercial DTT they’re laughing of course then. Otherwise DTT will kill them off due to no fta cable.
I gather they did deal, that Sky provide free carriage. So ain’t costing them to be on unlike BBC-ITV who have to pay.
July 1, 2008 @ 10:47 am
Seo Catháin has made a Comment
Pricewar begins. Both UPC & Sky have dropped their offering to €20. Sky’s prices could increase in September though says the website. Another two weeks for the DTT decision. Three strong bids. I think Onevision have the edge, given the UK dimension, that Setanta & Arquiva are strong. Boxer have commercial experience, Easy has solid backers, DTT is mutually beneficial for them. In fact DTT may be part of UPCs future as cable gets squeezed out. But I would think, its proposed offering, DSO approach, free channels offer, simple tiering, and most experienced history will give it the edge (Arquiva is over 40 years in the TV market and involved in UK ASO).
Still, I would expect UPC to make a play for Eircom and buy into Onevision should they lose. Alternatively, Communicorp might go after Eircom also and buy in. Boxer are stalling in Swedish subscriber growth for DTT at the mo.
July 4, 2008 @ 3:04 am
tazus has made a Comment
People!! are you living in the 21st century!!?? What’s wrong with you?
you all know very well that the tv license, now days, is another lame excuse, for the government to raise funds from the poor us…yes it made sense in the 1930, 40, 50’s until the 1990… when in this country were just a few people and for a national tv station to run, the people needed to help out( and it made sense ), but now, we are at in the 21st century, battle of the fittest!! hello!! what ever happened with the right to free, uncensored information, the right to access this information freely and at whatever time you want??? we have the right to choose, a freedom of choice, there is not only the national tv station, we have other choices, if the national tv can not manage themselves than good luck and nice knowing you. But don’t ask the people to chip in, when we have so much choice.
tv licensee? a licensee for a TV?? you realize the times we are living now are much different then the time that this law was issued!? is like that law in England where in some particular time of the day, on a particular street in London you could kill a Scott and get away with it. Yeah …That old!!
You do realize that the national tv stations are making their monies from other sides and not the tv license …i.e. commercials…yeah a good example!! if I pay for a a national tv station to survive I expect that I am not going to be cluttered with people that are trying to sell me things that I don’t need.
we should all stop paying this ridiculous tax!!
July 17, 2008 @ 9:15 am