Neighbours

People in Northern Ireland can, on Virgin Media and Sky.

When it comes to imports terrestrial rights are (normally) sold seperate for Ireland at present. Cable/satellite rights on the other hand are normally for both UK & Ireland.

Why we get BBC...
People in Ireland have had BBC/ITV/Channel 4 since day 0, more-or-less. To take it off them now would cause a huge backlash and/or the collapse of the cable/sattellite market in Ireland. Availability of the UK channels is the main driver for pay-TV take up in Ireland (less anyone doubt this being the case, Sky's market share in ROI was tiny until the BBC became available).

Why you don't get RTÉ...
The rights holders don't care (that much) that the BBC/ITV/Channel 4 is available to 4 million extra viewers in ROI. In viewing figures terms it is a drop in the ocean (less than 10% extra viewing audience). But if RTÉ were available in the UK, it would mean a potential more than 1200% extra viewers for RTÉ, and the rights holders would be demanding the equivilant increase in the fees RTÉ pays for its rights to US shows. In addition in the long term RTÉ would end up no longer able to purchase seperate Irish terrestrial rights to shows and would have to compete in the UK marketplace, in which it would be outbid for everything by practically everyone except maybe Five.



Here endeth the lesson...

Wasent there talk of an RTE International channel, bit like S4C Digidol ?

I have found the performance earlier on youtube.
Harold and his Brass band..

Simply brilliant. A nice way to end the association with the BBC and the move to Five.

ISTR such talk a couple of years ago, yes but I think they hit something of a financial crisis so the whole idea was dropped.

I'd say it was more in line with BBC Prime than S4C Digidol, where the best of RTÉs outout was to have been shown internationally.

Until 2000ish, there was a channel available in the UK via Sky called Tara TV which RTÉ must have had some involvement in. It showed a mixture of programming from Ireland including Six-One News (and other bulletins from RTÉ1 and Network 2 as I think it was still called then). I must admit I quite liked it - it was very similar to the way BBC Prime started.

God, that's reminded me why I hate brass bands!


P.S. How far behind is Home and Away now - I guess a bit further than Neighbours.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU LIKE?

*Side to camera Harry Hill style* I personally love a good brass band.

All the Neighbours adverts and idents are online at This is Five website

Wonder what the Beeb will say on todays last show!!

Nothing about the move on the afternoon showing.

shame!

Well if there won't be any special announcement at 5:35pm, they could always try this one:

"Bringing down the curtain on 22 years of triumphs, tears and tragedy from sunny Melbourne now on BBC1. But there might be another exit of sorts with those Ramsay Street Neighbours".

Well what exactly did you expect them to say - "Don't forget to tune into Five for your Neighbours fix from Monday". The BBC's best tactic is not to mention it in the hope people tune into BBC1 for it and then can't be bothered to switch to Five.