They might get Channel 105 - I know it's for the 5th terrestrial but it's being included on the Irish DTT tests so in theory that's exactly what it is. Makes me wonder (even more) why the 5th channel is called Ch6???
AIUI many people would consider Setanta as the fifth Irish Television channel, although if someone wants to correct me feel free, as I'm not fully certain of this.
I'm almost certain nwtv is right. Setanta is considered to be the 5th 'terrestrial'.
Regarding RTÉ International - does anybody know whether they will broadcast news bulletins produced just for that channel (i.e. short 20-30 min bulletins with a 50:50 mix of Irish and international news as opposed to 80:20 which we have at the moment) or will it carry all of the bulletins on One? It'll probably carry the ones on One to cut down on costs...
I'd say they'll carry the ones from RTE One and possibly Prime Time, Nationwide, Capital D, Ear to the Ground and TWIP. There's no point in making special international editions - Irish emigrants will want to see EXACTLY what is being broacast back home, not a special International Edition that ignores Ireland as if RTE stood a chance against Sky, CNN, AJE, etc.
Also, even DWTV, TVEi, Russia Today etc on Sky are broadcasting national news with no international editions whatsoever so I don't see how RTE couldn't.
Setanta is considered to be the 5th 'terrestrial'.
How is it terrestrial if it's not available without cable/satellite + a sub? Shouldn't that be Ireland's 5th 'domestic'? Anyway, if they don't brand themselves with a 5 Channel 6 should have used it, just like TV3 used 3 despite being the 4th terrestrial.
Well thats what I was implying SMD - thats why I put terrestial in inverted commas - I know its not a fully fledged terrestrial channel but your description of it as a 'domestic' channel is actually more accurate!
THE START of RTÉ broadcasts in Britain could be just a few months away after it was revealed detailed work on the new service is under way.
Senior RTÉ figures have confirmed a team at the State broadcaster is already working on a proposed schedule of programmes to be beamed into Britain.
And the last barrier to providing RTÉ for the Irish community on this side of the Irish Sea is set to be swept away soon when the government gives the go-ahead for the station to use its present licence fee funding to pay for the move.
That provision is contained in a new Bill to go before the Dáil shortly.
RTÉ spokesperson Peter Feeney said: “We found that present legislation did not allow RTÉ to use the public funding they receive for broadcasting in Britain but a Bill which will be passed in the next few weeks will instruct RTÉ to use this public funding to run the new British station.”
RTÉ is expected to receive almost £130million in public funding this year — an increase from the £122million it received last year. This money is generated from the television licence fees which costs £105 a year. Mr Feeney said: “RTÉ is much more optimistic than in the past about being able to provide a service in Britain.
“To say it could be in place in 12 months wouldn’t be unreasonable.
“We will be able to broadcast programmes which are made in-house as well as programmes we have commissioned but we would not be able to broadcast live transmissions of sports as we would not have the rights to those.”
The British station will be representative of Ireland’s national public service channels — RTÉ One, RTÉ Two and TG4.
RTÉ is currently exploring ways in which it will be broadcast in Britain — whether through the Freeview digital platform, subscription or another method. Mr Feeney said: “Providing a service in Britain is a priority for us and all the decisions for its provision will be taken within the next few months.”
The Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 which provides for the broadcasting of RTÉ outside the island of Ireland is currently making its way through the Seanad and Dáil Éireann.
This process should be completed by the end of February. Once the Bill is passed RTÉ will be legally obliged to provide services to the people of Britain. Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel O’Flynn said: “The Bill providing for RTÉ in Britain is a priority for me and I will be enacting this before the General Election in June.
“After that it will be in RTÉ’s hands to gets things moving.”
EVen though I'm back in Dublin, Do you think it would be shown in america, especially places like NY and Boston with large Irish-Americans and Expat populations.
