Sky News Ireland to launch 10 May

Well, Northern Ireland already has a seperate EPG, with BBC ONE NI, BBC TWO NI, and UTV occupying EPG #101-103. So its not that much bother from Sky's point of view, if they were to decide to do it. And Sky News Belfast office is involved in Sky News Ireland, with Gary Honeyford to be contributing to the service.

I'm not sure they will though, as UK ads would possibly (though not always) be more relevant to Northern Ireland. (I say not always, as there are some areas in which the ROI adverts would be more relevant though. And most products sold in NI are available in ROI now anyways. Most UK high street retailers operate in ROI these days).

Indeed, something that Mastercard and Pampers would be well advised to notice. 1850 numbers do not work in Northern Ireland (that's the only number on the Mastercard ads on UTV) and indeed Pampers appear to be only giving away vouchers in Euros. This subject does make me cross...

Looking at the Pampers.ie site, it seems to allow registration from mothers in most countries - the same as Pampers.co.uk. In fact, it's the same registration form except the default location setting is Ireland.

The difference is that the Irish site gives € 8 worth of coupons if you register, which if you work out the exchange rate, offers better value than the £4 worth of coupons you get for registering on the UK site.

So perhaps it's business sense on Procter & Gamble's part to get parents a better deal on their products and therefore nab their custom, so they advertise their coupons offer in Euro, via the Irish site, on UTV.

What is more irritating is that you get Pampers ads on UTV with both UK and Irish voiceovers!

The fact that we get re-voiced adverts is also a complete pain in the arse. Though if I was a VO artist in Dublin I would doubtless not be complaining (and am I right in thinking there are only about 6 of them who ever get any work?!?!).

In this age of multi-channel TV I see any particular ad in it's original UK voiced-form far more often than I see it with an Oirish VO, which just makes it look cheap and wrong as they often replace celebrity VO's with unknowns.

Funny enough, UTV began running British ads with Irish voiceovers in the early 1990s - after Brum Henderson left and just before it stopped calling itself Ulster Television...

Another irritance in terms of RoI ads getting prominence over UK ads is when those bastions of journalism the Mail on Sunday and Ireland on Sunday run the same promotion in the same week, UTV more often than not runs with the Ireland on Sunday campaign.

And don't get me started on Southern Tayto crisps advertising on UTV...

Anyone see the RTE guide ads on UTV tonight during Emmerdale!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've seen RTE Guide advertisements on UTV before, usually around Christmas.

I also remember around 2000 RTE even advertised their summer sports coverage on UTV!