Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007 - Background

Background

DTT was expected to be up and running in 2002 but with the collapse of ITV Digital, IT's TV was unable to get funding necessary to cover its fees and rollout the network that was envisaged as RTÉ holding a minority stake in the transmission network of IT's TV. RTÉ DTTV tests were carried out between 1998 and 2001 using Three Rock transmitter on channel 26, but these stopped along with the pilot Digital Audio Broadcasting pilot around this time. One applicant was announced by the Commission for Communications Regulation's (ComReg) predecessor, Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation. RTÉ broadcasts RTÉ, Network 2 (Now RTÉ 2), TV3 and TG4 with two other channels being used on occasion. Tara TV was carried by RTÉ on one of the spare channels.

No EPG information was carried but a wireless return path (DVB-TRC) was tested meaning that no phone-line would be needed for the digibox for subscription services. This is now deemed unnecessary expense to have, though TG4 express an interest in its incorporation into rollout.

RTÉ also ran a transmitter on Band 3 at Three Rock on Channel D for VHF tests and intended to have a 2 way channel allow the vierwers home aerial to send a signal back to the DTTV transmitter rather than the phone line being needed.

Thirteen transmitters are the backbone of 92% network coverage. These are Kippure, Mount Leinster, Mullaghanish, Spur Hill, Maghera, Woodcock Hill, Truskmmore, Hollywell Hill, Moville, Cairn Hill, Three Rock, Clermont Carn and lastly Kilduff. Other in-fill transmitters are also used to cover remoter areas of the countries in which to provide coverage

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Test has been running since August 2006 and ran until August 2008. The pilot is open to 1,000 users chosen by a research company of 500 from around the Three Rock Transmitter in Dublin and 500 from Clermont Carn upgraded transmitter in County Louth. BT Ireland got the broadcast contract and NEC UK supply the transmission equipment.

Four multiplexes are being tested for use. 1 is for O2 Ireland and 3 Ireland called the DVB Multiplex uses Channel 26 to provide scrambled or encrypted channels only available to the DVB-Handheld enabled phone users.

As far as the Departmental approach to Irish DTT goes, an Introductory Brief of the 15th of June 2007 was given to the new Communications Minister, Eamon Ryan TD and is available under the Freedom of Information, with sensitive parts, blacked out as is common practice in such requests. In page 4 under a paragraph on DTT the pilot is described as underway, but puts forward the view that continued progress is required on both it and formal arrangements in the coming months would be needed to ensure the analogue system is replaced nationwide called "analogue switchoff".

In page 7 it is outlined that Communications deals with Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Postal Sectors, divided into Broadcasting Policy, Communications (Business and Technology), Communications (Regulatory and Postal) and Communications (Development) Divisions within the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources.

Two further paragraphs are not available. In page 8 the Broadcasting Expenditure for the period is €259.537 million with €0.705 for programme administration. Broadcasting Policy and is responsible for the legislative and regulatory framework for broadcasting in the Republic of Ireland. It has corporate governance responsibility for RTÉ Group, TG4, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission. ComReg comes under the Communications (Regulatory and Postal) division of the Department. The agencies of those above are set out in page 21. In particular ComReg has a remit that covers TV services and from mobile phone networks.