There's no rights reason why it should be blocked, but Sky is full of these odd anomalies (other examples: RTE One SD is available in NÍ, RTE One HD is not despite RTE Two HD being available. On the other side of the Border, we get BBC Three and Four in SD but not HD - obviously not BBC Three for much longer - though the HD versions are available on other channels. There's even the weirdness of BBC One and Two SD being the NI version but BBC One HD is England!)
In other news, Saorview Connected was announced today, but the much vaunted Saorview/Freesat combo box isn't happening. Yet, anyway.
Do we know if RTE's plans to redevelop its Dublin 4 headquarters have made any progress? I've not heard a thing about 'Project 2025' in the last few years. Has the whole project been canned?
I'm maybe hedging my bets here but there is an interesting bit of news is coming to Saorview from next weekend. Apparently there is a new red button service coming to the platform. The first live event on the service will be a Guinness Pro12 Rugby Match between Connacht Vs Ospreys from 7pm at the Sportsground in Galway.
The reason that this match is on the red button is that the General Election count in Irish will be on TG4 next Saturday at 10am in the morning to 1am at night.
There was a notice on my Saorview combi-box EPG that said the match will be on the Saorview Red button and Virgin/UPC Channel 602. I hope I'm right.
Here is pic from someone else's Saorview EPG to prove it.
That's an interesting one - previously Irish channels have avoided starting red button services like the plague. Virgin Media is particularly problematic to support due to the fact that they have been running four different platforms and the Horizon platform doesn't even appear to support red button at all (which is why BT Sport Extra on Virgin Media is in the form of linear channels on the EPG!) 602 on Virgin Media is Cula 4, if I recall correctly - its just an exact simulcast of TG4 usually, like the TRTÉ channel on 601 is of RTE2.
Sky viewers left in the cold for that one, as it seems neither Welsh channel is covering it. (S4C, which is on the Irish EPG, showing Under 20's Six Nations and no sign on the BBC Two Wales schedule).
So I take it then Cula4 must be a separate stream simulcast rather than accessing the main TG4 stream through a different number on the EPG. Is that continuing to show childrens show whilst TG4 shows election coveage?
Good on TG4 though for making the effort to do it when they could easily have just shoved it online. I guess Pro12 must rate pretty well for them. Do they offer English language commentary as well?
So I take it then Cula4 must be a separate stream simulcast rather than accessing the main TG4 stream through a different number on the EPG. Is that continuing to show childrens show whilst TG4 shows election coveage?
No it lists "Channel Off Air" from 09:00 until 19:00 then "Rugbai Beo" at 19:00. As I say it's normally an exact simulcast of TG4, neither it nor TRTE are separately programmed channels (though RTRjr is).
Quote:
Good on TG4 though for making the effort to do it when they could easily have just shoved it online. I guess Pro12 must rate pretty well for them. Do they offer English language commentary as well?
No, they don't, although obviously interviews and occasional analysis snippets are in English. They have been asked about English commentary ever since they regained the rights almost five years ago and the stock response is no plans (and I get the impression they would regard it as A Bad Thing).
The Saorview Red button will be officially launched on Saturday.
This from the Saorview website.
"
TG4 announces interactive Red Button service
This Saturday, TG4 goes interactive with the first use of the Saorview Red Button feature. The broadcaster will be using the Red Button option on Saorview to broadcast the Guinness Pro 12 Rugby match between Connacht and Opsreys with coverage starting from 7pm. The match will be broadcast live from the Galway Sportsground as part of the station’s Rugbaí Beo series and it will be available via the Red Button on Saorview during TG4’s coverage of the Election 2016 count.
Viewers watching TG4 on a Saorview Approved box or TV will be able to access Rugbaí Beo by pressing the Red Button on the remote control for their Saorview box or TV when the icon appears on screen.
The Red Button feature is built in to all Saorview Approved receivers, and can be used by broadcasters on Saorview that wish to make additional content available.
Saorview Approved products are available from retailers and installers in the Republic of Ireland. Always ask for Saorview Approved products as they are designed to work with the features available from the channels that broadcast on Saorview."