With most UK based channels available in the Republic of Ireland, how does this affect the Irish TV rights, especially for US and Australian shows.
For example, C4 have the UK rights to Desperate Housewives - while I think RTE have the Irish rights. Do C4 screen something different in Ireland (I imagine they don't!)
For example, C4 have the UK rights to Desperate Housewives - while I think RTE have the Irish rights. Do C4 screen something different in Ireland (I imagine they don't!)
Nope, everything you see, we see.
RTE2 used to have things (like Friends) slightly ahead of C4, but I'm not so sure if that happens much anymore.
I have heard that when Five acquired the rights to Home and Away, and it was off Uk screens for a year, RTE were unable to broadcast the show on their digital platform (to avoid viewers outside the ROI from seeing it before Five showed it). Is there any truth in this?
I have heard that when Five acquired the rights to Home and Away, and it was off Uk screens for a year, RTE were unable to broadcast the show on their digital platform (to avoid viewers outside the ROI from seeing it before Five showed it). Is there any truth in this?
You're confusing the issue a little. RTÉ has always had overspill into Northern Ireland and conversely the NI/UK channels into the Republic of Ireland. When NTL started offering RTÉ ONE and TWO on cable in Belfast, Channel 5 complained because this was not overspill, it was intentional coverage of the territory (UK). They prevented RTÉ from being shown on cable in NI at the times Home and Away was shown.
Now that satellite is the most popular means of delivery of digital services, everything is (technically) available everywhere. RTÉ is encrypted and is only available with a Sky subscription in the RoI. BBC ONE NI and BBC TWO NI are on the Sky EPG in the RoI but the other BBC channels are not. As they are free-to-air they are available via "Other Channels".
UTV is almost universally available on analogue/cable in the RoI (though they have no transmitters south of the border). They are not, however, available to satellite subscribers there as they do not officially own the rights to show ITV programmes - TV3, part owned by Granada, own the RoI rights for a large amount of this material.
Channel 4 and Channel 5 object to RTÉ being made available in NI as they have paid for the rights for many programmes for this territory, and TV3 object to UTV being made available in the RoI. There is no agreement in sight on these issues that I am aware of.
Channel 4 and Channel 5 object to RTÉ being made available in NI as they have paid for the rights for many programmes for this territory...
This is an argument that I really have bugger all time for. Let us take the tiny viewership that Ch 4 and Five have in N. Ireland. Then take away the number of households who can receive RTE TV on analogue anyway.
I'd certainly take RTE ONE and RTE TWO over Ch 4 and Five.
Channel 4 and Channel 5 object to RTÉ being made available in NI as they have paid for the rights for many programmes for this territory...
This is an argument that I really have bugger all time for. Let us take the tiny viewership that Ch 4 and Five have in N. Ireland. Then take away the number of households who can receive RTE TV on analogue anyway.
I'd certainly take RTE ONE and RTE TWO over Ch 4 and Five.
