What is Digital Television?
TV is presently undergoing a transition from analogue broadcasting to digital broadcasting. This is probably the biggest change in TV since the transition from black and white television to colour. Modern computers are digital devices which process information in the form of data elements and digital broadcasting is essentially the broadcasting of TV or radio programme content as a stream of data. The ability to transmit TV content in the form of data instead of pictures and sound means that more information can be transmitted over a digital network than an analogue network. As a result a digital broadcasting network can be used to provide more versatile services such as more TV channels, radio channels, digital quality pictures and sound, high definition pictures, enhanced teletext, electronic programme guides and even interactive services.
Digital television is commonly available in Ireland over commercial re-broadcasting services - cable, MMDS or satellite. Other technologies such as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) are also starting to emerge.
Currently, in Ireland, the Irish TV channels – RTÉ 1, RTÉ 2, TV3 and TG4 are transmitted on a free-to-air basis, over an analogue network operated by RTÉ Transmissions Network Limited (RTÉ NL). This analogue network is becoming obsolete and will be replaced by a new digital television platform –Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in the next few years. The development of a national DTT network will allow these channels to be provided over a digital network.
In March 2011 SAORVIEW was launched nationally. Further information on SAORVIEW is available on the following website – http://www.saorview.ie/ . This website provides citizens with information on DTT coverage, Saorview approved receivers, channels and services and also information on how to receive DTT.
DTT will play an important part in ensuring the future of broadcasting in Ireland, as it is the only digital platform offering continued availability of free-to-air (FTA) TV services to the population of Ireland under Irish regulation. Both satellite and cable services are subscription based. Additionally satellite is not regulated in Ireland so services cannot be guaranteed and cable does not provide universal coverage.
Analogue Switch Off
2012 is the deadline which has been set by the European Union for switching off the analogue terrestrial public service TV networks throughout Europe and in Ireland the analogue TV network used by RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 will switch off on 24th October 2012.
Providing for National DTT - Legislation
Legislation for the provision and development of DTT services in Ireland was enacted under the Broadcasting Act 2001 and updated in the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007. Both these Acts have now been superseded by the Broadcasting Act 2009.
A copy of the 2009 Act is available by following this link.
Several Statutory Instruments have also been enacted to aid the delivery of digital TV:
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources signed an Order under the Broadcasting Act, 2009, requiring RTÉ to ensure that their free to air digital television (DTT) service is operational and available to 90% of the population by 31st October 2010.
This order, Statutory Instrument 85 of 2010, the RTÉ (National Television Multiplex) Order 2010, is available at the following link.
Memorandum of Understanding - Coordination of digital switchover with Northern Ireland
On 1st February 2010 the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. This MOU provides for North-South co-operation on the transition to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and analogue switch off. The MOU is available by following this link.