RTÉ gets go-ahead for five new digital channels

RTÉ HAS received approval to start broadcasting five new digital channels, including a 24-hour news channel and a children’s channel, from next May.

The new channels, RTÉ Two High Definition Select, RTÉ Aertel Digital, RTÉjr, RTÉ Plus and RTÉ News Now will be added to the current terrestrial channels and all will become available in digital format through Saorview.

As part of the conditions of approval, the new children’s channel and the news channel will not be allowed to carry advertisements.

It is not yet known whether cable service providers such as UPC and Sky will carry the additional channels. The new digital service could cost 340,000 households, which currently use aerials to receive terrestrial TV signals, up to €600 in set-up costs, depending on which package they choose.

The new €70 million digital service, Saorview, will replace the current analogue service, which will be switched off in late 2012.

Viewers who receive terrestrial channels through cable or satellite will not need to make any changes. They will continue to receive the existing terrestrial channels after the digital switchover but there is no guarantee they will receive the five new channels.

A spokesman for RTÉ said yesterday service providers had yet to negotiate with it about whether they would provide the additional channels and what they might cost.

The analogue service will be switched off in late 2012 at which point people using aerials to receive signals will no longer be able to access the terrestrial channels.

Provided they have suitable aerials, they will be able to receive the digital service, including the new stations, if they purchase a Saorview set-top box, currently retailing at €100, to decode the signals or they can buy an integrated digital TV costing between €180 and €430 depending on size.

If aerials are not suitable, they may need to be adjusted, at a cost of up to €60, or replaced, at a cost of up to €160 before a set-top box or new “idTV” can be used.

Minister for Communications Pat Carey, who announced the approval yesterday, said the additional five channels would give increased choice to TV viewers throughout Ireland over all platforms. He also said the closure of the analogue service was on track.

Mary Curtis, RTÉ’s director of digital switchover, said the Minister’s announcement was great news for Irish television viewers and would provide a significant increase in choice. A public information campaign will begin in mid-March to explain how people could make the switch, she said.

The announcement has been criticised by TV3, however. In a statement last night, the station called on the incoming government to rescind the decision immediately.

“These newly approved channels will extend RTÉ’s dominance in media when it is already the most dominant state broadcaster in Europe,” the statement said.

“This decision extends RTÉ’s reach and will be at the direct cost of jobs and investment across all Irish media.” It questioned the timing of the announcement, saying it raised “very serious questions”.