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VIP Member
The Minister for Communications has told the Dáil that the Digital Terrestrial Television service will be up and running in a testing capacity by October.
Eamon Ryan earlier said he had told RTÉ that the full DTT service will be launched on 31 December 2011.
Minister Ryan said it would be a tight schedule but that the necessary set-top boxes were ready to go.
Furthermore, in reference to the recent 'free to air' controversy, Minister Ryan said that he believes it is important that young people can see high-level sports.
He was responding to questions from Labour's Liz McManus, who said the Minister had not given the 'free-to-air' sports issue enough consideration but had probably consulted his son on the issue.
Minster Ryan said he had not asked his son about it, but that he did think it was important that young people can watch such high-level sports and see their heroes and maybe dream of being the next Brian O'Driscoll.
He also said that after designating Heineken Cup matches and RBS Six Nations matches as 'free to air', the issue moves to a process of consultation where submissions are invited by interested parties.
He said it then has to go to the EU and said this was a statutory process enshrined in the Broadcasting Act 2009.
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What is DTT?
Intended to replace the existing analogue services provided by RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 by 2012, the advantages of DTT are numerous. Digital TV is more efficient and versatile than corresponding analogue networks so that more TV channels, interactive and information services, as well as high definition television can be accommodated. It will mean the availability of a faster, better quality television service for Irish consumers, as well as access to a wide-ranging choice of free-to-air programming.
A trial of DTT has been operating since 2006 in Dublin and Co. Louth. This trial uses the same amount of radio spectrum needed to broadcast the 4 national TV channels (RTÉ 1, RTÉ 2, TV3 and TG4) but is offering much more services - the DTT trial is providing 16 TV channels, 16 radio channels, programme guide information and a channel trialling free-to-air high definition content.
Commenting on the potential benefits for Irish consumers, and those in the communications sector, Minister Ryan said, “It is clear that digital is the optimum means of modernising Ireland’s communication and media services. An EU target switch-off date of analogue television services has been set for 2012 and I am confident that this deadline will be met.
The DTT trial has provided an opportunity for key stakeholders to learn about digital television and what it can do. RTÉ is committed to providing a speedy rollout of DTT throughout the country to provide reception of the national broadcast services and is also committed to the development of high definition services over the DTT platform.
The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland will shortly be commencing its process to issue commercial DTT contracts and an attractive range of DTT services will be delivered well ahead of 2012.”