RTE Reception

Should point out that both RTE ONE and RTE NETWORK TWO had idents spelling out the full words in 1995 - this was introduced alongside the new RTE corporate logo (replacing the blocky St Bridget's Cross logo). This was two years before BBC1 and BBC2 became BBC ONE and BBC TWO (although no doubt the 1980s BBC "TWO" logo will now be pointed out!).

The last time before that that RTE1 and RTE2 had similar idents was 1987, when the blocky logo was introduced. In fact, IIRC the idents were near identical for both (though nobody seems to have a capture of the RTE2 version!).

PS Well done Mike on the RTE ONE captures on your site - There are at least five of those idents I have yet to see (in fact, I only ever see Nelsons Pillar/Spike, Pedal cycles/Motorbikes, and the newspaper/RTE gallary idents).

I'm sure I have the 1987 RTE 1 and RTE 2 idents on Betamax - somewhere. I'm certain I only have the versions that had the ===25=== banner along the bottom though. Problem is, those tapes were put away in storage under the stairs at my parents' place for years. The tapes now seem to leave lots of particles on the heads of the machine...and make viewing almost impossible.

My current situation with RTE ONE and N2 is somewhat unfortunate. I rely on Clermont Carn for my pictures. Living on the outskirts of Belfast, the picture quality (with booster) isn't that great. TV Three and TG 4 are a disaster. I've had to clean the images up - which leaves them a little soft and lacking in detail. The sooner we get RTE on DSAT in N. Ireland, the better (incidentally, any news on that??)

I agree that, yet again, they tend to use the same three or four idents in primetime. There's much more variation during daytime. Problem is, they tend to burn the '888' caption on to a small number of symbols - as they did with the last set...and most of their subtitled programming appears post 4pm.

Now - one would have thought with the '888' now appearing at the start of the programmes *after* the ident, that they'd drop it from the idents altogether.

However, the '888' at the start of programmes appears *with* the channel logo DOG...and they don't want the DOG on news programmes. Don't think they've programmed the DOG hardware with the ability to show '888' without the station logo yet. So, although they face a dilemma for subtitled news programmes, they have no excuse for continuing with '888' on idents for other programming.

Incidentally, did you notice how the DOG eventually disappeared from the Primetime current affairs programme soon after it started on Tuesday?

Also...don't reckon they can make the DOGs more transparent. The same hardware is used to display the programme classification and '888' at the start of programmes. I'm sure they can't alter the intensity of the white automatically when the '888' and prog classifications disappear.

The equipment they're using does seem somewhat unimpressive. The quality of the output is quite rough.

Well the only ident they ever seem to use prior to news nowadays is the newspaper/gallary ident. So the solution is to burn the 888 only onto that, and use that prior to every news programme (which seems to be the case anyway...)

Its about time RTE, in line with everyone else, changed "888" to "Subtitles".

The only reason they don't want the DOG on news programmes is that it would clash with the big "RTE NEWS" DOG they have on those!

As for RTE on Sky Digital in NI... alas no news. Negotiations continue (I hope!).

Sorry to dig up an old thread but its relevant to what I'm going to post!

Today RTE has changed the trailer format on N2 - the N2 DOG has been replaced by an "RTE N2" DOG (just like the one seen during programmes, but at the bottom instead of the top of the screen, and slightly out of proportion). The voiceover on trailers now says "..., on RTE Network Two". I rather suspect CAs have been given instructions to mention RTE in every junction too. Idents and pres haven't otherwise changed, though I rather suspect we will see the RTE logo appear on the idents in a matter of days or weeks.

This weeks RTE Guide also lists N2 programmes as "RTE Network 2", (and all the radio station listings are also prefaced by "RTE", even though I doubt the jingles have changed).

Looks like someone at RTE has decided that its time to brand everything "RTE" again!

Ronan - don't apologise!! Always very pleasant to see a worthwhile thread unearthed!!

Yes - noticed a promo on Tuesday night specifically mention 'RTE Network 2'. The announcer continued to use 'Network 2' though...and many other trails still referred to 'Network 2' as well.

Check out test page 708 on Aertel. Some of the designs are dreadful. But you get the message!! Maybe they'll re-introduce 'RTE' into Aertel's header row too.

In other news...

...did you catch Julian Simmons on N2's 'The Panel' on Tuesday night? Not often he does interviews - and bit of an uncomfortable one in this case I thought. Apparently he's up for Irish TV Personality. What?!?!?!

Irish TV Personality - oh dear god...

Well it could be worse, they could have Pat Kenny...

Someone in RTE seems to have woken up their branding machine - RTE Interactive has been rebranded RTE.ie while they were at it. I now think a name change back to RTE TWO a distinct possiblity...

Actually Ronan...I've just spotted one of those 'RTE Network 2' promos. The logo they use is so wide that they can't use the grey and coloured animating graphics on the end board at all. So, it's just all white text at the end of the trail. Yuk!!

Hopefully, the graphics dept will swiftly rework the animations...

This strikes me as a last minute decision by the men in suits. Presentation and graphics definitely don't appear to have been consulted...if this dog's dinner is anything to go by. No pun intended BTW!!

It really does just look like plain old 'RTE 2' when displayed like that.

Is there any way that we can receive the two RTE channels here in the UK? Why aren't that available on sky digital?

fanoftv:
"Is there any way that we can receive the two RTE channels here in the UK? Why aren't that available on sky digital?"

There have been rumours for years about the RTE and SkyDigital situation.

As far as I remember, after the TARA channel (which RTE held a substantial stake in) closed down in early 2002, it was rumoured that RTE would be made available to viewers across the UK, or that only viewers in Northern Ireland would be able to watch RTE on the two channels (213 and 214) that BBC ONE and BBC TWO are transmitted on via the Irish SkyDigital platform.

Then, with RTE's financial problems in the past few years, it was reported that any decision on RTE extending their channels, along with TG4 and possibly TV3, would be made in the long term.

There was also some issues over blanking out the signals during GAA matches, or for series where one of the UK terrestrial broadcasters had rights to.

Basically, no plans for RTE on SkyDigital unless anyone else knows different.

Ronan:
"Should point out that both RTE ONE and RTE NETWORK TWO had idents spelling out the full words in 1995 - this was introduced alongside the new RTE corporate logo (replacing the blocky St Bridget's Cross logo)"

Those were fantastic idents; really fresh, they looked stunning and gave RTE a fantastic corporate look.

"PS Well done Mike on the RTE ONE captures on your site - There are at least five of those idents I have yet to see (in fact, I only ever see Nelsons Pillar/Spike, Pedal cycles/Motorbikes, and the newspaper/RTE gallary idents)."

And may I add well done to Mike on the detailed and informative pages about the history of RTE logos/idents

Mike:
"My current situation with RTE ONE and N2 is somewhat unfortunate. I rely on Clermont Carn for my pictures. Living on the outskirts of Belfast, the picture quality (with booster) isn't that great. TV Three and TG 4 are a disaster."

The RTE reception from the fourth floor of the Art College in York Street is crystal clear. Still can't get RTE from the bottom of a hill near Lurgan though, although we could one night due to atmospheric conditions!

"The sooner we get RTE on DSAT in N. Ireland, the better"

I wouldn't hold my breath on that.

"I agree that, yet again, they tend to use the same three or four idents in primetime."

More than UTV, anyway

Are there places in the UK where analogue/digital N. Ireland/Eire television signals are reliably available? How far do the signals go into the UK?