Communications Minister Eamon Ryan today announced that Ireland’s first trial of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) will end as of Friday, 1st August 2008. The Minister announced the results of the trial, the technology chosen for digital television in Ireland and a timeline for national rollout.
The trial, which has been in operation since August 2006 was operated by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources provided DTT to 1,000 participants, industry stakeholders and private households, in counties Louth and Dublin.
The trial was used to test a range of different technologies, including older technology currently used in the UK and the latest DTT technologies which can provide more television channels and high definition channels. The trial also tested new services such as a digital teletext service developed by RTÉ, a high definition TV service, and accessibility services, specifically audio description. As well as testing technologies, the aim of the trial was to identify issues associated with national rollout of digital television and help provide solutions to these issues.
Survey – key findings:
82% of those involved in the trial would recommend digital television to a friend, citing reception and picture quality as the main reasons for so doing and 84% were satisfied with the overall service.
92% of participants in the trial reported satisfaction with the sound quality of digital television, 90% found the picture quality high and 88% found the technology easy to use.
Technology chosen
As a result of the trial, Ireland will follow countries like France, Sweden, Norway and Estonia in adopting the latest digital television technology – MPEG 4 - which is capable of offering high definition services and more content. This means that Ireland will not be adopting the standard currently used in the UK. Commenting on this decision Minister Ryan said that “The new technology is a better option as it offers more scope for future expansion – more space for content, and high definition services. Furthermore, most of the UK receiver equipment tested as part of the trial did not work properly or at all on the Irish DTT network.
Under the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007, RTÉ is responsible for developing the national DTT service to provide access to the Irish TV channels, free to air. Explaining the decision to use the MPEG4 technology, Cathal Goan, RTÉ’s Director General said –“MPEG 4 is the technology of choice for DTT as it allows space for more content and for high definition channels. We want to ensure that our viewers get the best value for money in the switch to digital television – more channels, more services and better quality pictures.’
RTÉ networks limited has started to build this network and initial services are due to commence in autumn 2009. In the meantime, Mr. Goan has indicated that RTÉNL will provide a DTT network at Three Rock and Clermont Carn to test and develop new services, from 4th August 2008.
With the conclusion of the trial, the decision on technology and the announcement by the BCI of the winners to provide commercial digital television, Minister Ryan said that “we have reached the end of the beginning of the digital terrestrial television process. Now we move to national rollout”.
“For digital television to succeed as a replacement for the analogue services it needs to be accessible to all. It must be simple to set up and user friendly, offer more high quality services and channels and the receiver equipment must be affordable and easy to obtain. My Department will be working to ensure manufacturers and retailers work in tandem with RTÉ and the new BCI licensee to ensure that a range of digital television receivers are available in advance of the autumn 2009 launch date.”
Commenting on the potential benefits for Irish consumers, and those in the communications sector from the advent of digital television Minister Ryan said, “This trial has provided an opportunity for all of us to learn about digital television and what it can do. I am pleased at the approach being taken by RTÉ in ensuring that viewers reap the benefits of digital television and I am also pleased at the successful completion of the BCI competition. There is now a good framework in place for developing a successful digital television network in Ireland. There is still work to be done, however. The lessons learnt from this trial should be further developed in the roll out of national digital television services.’
Finally the Minister expressed his appreciation to all those who had participated in the trial – the trial participants, the content providers and those directly involved in the operation of the pilot - BT, NEC, RTÉ, RTÉNL, NCBI, NDA, CEDA, Amárach Research and Mason Analysys. The Minister said, ‘Everyone associated with the trial has helped pioneer a technology which is new to Ireland.’
National rollout and Government information campaign
“Central to the success of national rollout will be a public information campaign by the Department explaining digital television to the nation. My Department will begin this national information campaign in March 2009, in advance of the autumn 2009 launch date. Analogue switch-off must be complete by 2012.
We have a tight timeframe but I am confident that with all players working together and with public buy-in that digital television in Ireland will offer new and exciting content and technology to the Irish viewer”, concluded Minister Ryan.
Notes to Editor :
DTT Trial:
The public trial was managed by Amárach Research and 500 set top boxes were issued to 500 households randomly selected in the Dublin and Louth areas. An additional 500 set top boxes were issued to industry stakeholders and other interested parties.
The trial incorporated a stakeholder group with membership which included BT Ireland, RTÉ, TV3, TG4, UPC, British Sky Broadcasting Ltd, Communicorp Group Limited, Eircom, Channel 6 Broadcasting Ltd, Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Ltd, Digital Audio Productions, UPC Ireland, Today fm, 98fm, Phantom 105.2, Capital Radio Productions Limited, BT Ireland, RTÉNL, The Consumer Electronics Distributors Association (CEDA), the BCI and The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).
The DCENR trial used the same amount of radio spectrum required to broadcast the four national analogue TV channels (RTÉ 1, RTE2, TV3 and TG4). However DTT can offer much more services than analogue TV - the DTT trial is providing 17 TV channels, 16 radio channels, a channel testing HD content, programme guide information, and a new digital teletext (digital Aertel) service.
BT Communications (Ireland) were contracted to provide a multiplexing and distribution service to the DTT Pilot. Multiplexing is the technical service in which television signals are compressed for higher quality reception and more efficient use of broadcast spectrum. NEC (UK) Limited have supplied and installed the transmission and combining systems required for the DTT Pilot. RTÉNL provided the transmission sites and assisted the Minister and his Department in the development and operation of the pilot project. Amárach Research organised and managed the public trial and Mason Analysys project managed the DTT trial. RTE, the NCBI and the NDA organised a trial of audio description services, RTE developed a digital teletext service and BT, RTE, TV3 and TG4 developed the HD trial.
Further information on DTT, the trial and user reactions to the trial is published on the Departments website http://www.digitaltelevision.ie/
Rollout of DTT:
DTT is intended to replace the existing analogue services provided by RTÉ, TV3 and TG4, by the year 2012. DTT services are likely to commence on a phased basis between autumn 2009 and autumn 2012.
When DTT services are available TV viewers will have greater choice in how to receive TV services:
- Buy a set top box and use this in conjunction with our existing television – just like the current situation with those using MMDS, digital cable or satellite,
or
- Buy an MPEG 4 digital television
or
- Pay a subscription to a commercial TV service provider:
Commercial TV service providers currently exist and offer services to 70% of TV viewers over cable, MMDS, IPTV or satellite.
The new commercial DTT service is expected to launch in 2009.
The analogue free to air services currently providing RTÉ, TG4 and TV3 will continue to operate until they are switched off. This will not be before 2012.
Technology:
The technology testing on the trial has lead to the conclusion that Ireland will develop a national DTT network which uses the latest DTT technologies available. In particular Ireland will use the MPEG 4 compression system. This will mean that the Irish DTT network can offer more content (8-10 TV channels per multiplex instead of 4-6) and can also offer high definition Irish programming, when this becomes available. Ireland will thus follow other countries in Europe such as France, Sweden, Estonia and Norway in becoming one of the first in Europe to take advantage of these new technologies.
This means that the current generation of UK receivers will not work in Ireland.
Manufacturers and retailers are urged to work with RTÉ to ensure the availability of a range of DTT receivers in advance of the autumn 2009 launch date. For DTT to succeed as a replacement for the analogue services it needs to be accessible to all. Receivers need to range from the cheap and basic through video recorders to digital TV sets. Just as importantly, DTT receivers for the Irish market should be clearly marked to show that they work on the Irish DTT service.
General information on Digital TV
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 better quality television service for Irish consumers, as well as access to a wider-ranging choice of free-to-air programming.
The development of national DTT services is underway – RTÉNL has initiated the development of a national network and a consortium comprising a Swedish company – Boxer, Communicorp and BT Ireland has won a competition organised by the BCI, the Broadcasting Regulator, to offer commercial DTT services throughout Ireland.
The content on the national DTT service operated by RTÉ will be free to air. This will comprise the national Irish Channels plus some new TV channels.
Further details on the DTT Pilot and DTT can be found at the following address:
http://www.digitaltelevision.ie/
-Ends-
D’fhógair an tAire Ó Riain Deireadh leis an Triail um Theilifís Digiteach Trastíre
Foilsiú Torthaí na Trialach; Teicneolaíocht MPEG4 Roghnaithe do Mhargadh na hÉireann; Eis-rothlú Náisiúnta le Tosú i bhFómhar na Bliana 2009
Baile Átha Cliath, 31ú Iúil 2008
D’fhógair an tAire um Chumarsáid Éamonn Ó Riain inniu go dtiocfaidh an chéad triail de theilifís digiteach trastíre (TDT) chun críche ar an 1ú Lúnasa 2008. D’fhógair an tAire torthaí na trialach, an teicneolaíocht a roghnaíodh le haghaidh teilifíse digití in Éirinn agus amchlár don eis-rothlú náisiúnta.
Faoin triail, a bhí ar siúil ó Lúnasa 2006 anuas arna riaradh ag an Roinn Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha, soláthraíodh TDT do 1000 rannpháirtithe, páirtithe leasmhara tionsclacha agus teaghlaigh príobháideacha, sna contaetha Lú agus Átha Cliath.
Baineadh úsáid as an triail chun réimse teicneolaíochtaí éagsúla a thástáil, sean-teicneolaíocht atá in úsáid san RA agus na teicneolaíochtaí TDT is déanaí ar féidir leo níos mó bealaí teilifíse a sholáthair agus bealaí ard-ghéire (AG) san áireamh. Ina theannta sin tástáladh seirbhísí nua, ar nós seirbhís teilithéacs digiteach arna fhorbairt ag RTÉ, seirbhís teilifíse ard-ghéire agus seirbhísí d’fhonn inrochtaine, clos-tráchtaireacht ach go háirithe, faoin triail. Chomh maith leis na teicneolaíochtaí a thástáil ba é cuspóir na trialach na fadhbanna a bhaineann le heis-rothlú náisiúnta na teilifíse digití a aithint agus cabhrú le réitigh a sholáthair orthu.
An tSuirbhé – na príomh-thorthaí:
Do mholfadh 82% díobh siúd a ghlac páirt san triail teilifís digiteach do chara agus cáilíocht an ghlactha agus an phictiúir á luadh acu mar príomh-fháthanna lena dhéanamh agus bhí 84% sásta leis an tseirbhís in iomlán.
Dúirt 92% des na rannpháirtithe go rabhadar sásta le cáilíocht na fuaime ar theilifís digiteach; fuair 90% go raibh ard-chaighdeán ar an bpictiúr; agus fuair 88% gurbh fhurasta an teicneolaíocht a úsáid.
An teicneolaíocht a roghnaíodh:
De bharr na trialach leanfaidh Éire nós na Fraince, na Sualainne, na hIorua agus na hEastóine agus tíortha dá leithéid leis an teicneolaíocht teilifíse digití is déanaí – MPEG 4 – a ghlacadh, teicneolaíocht ar féidir léi seirbhísí ard-ghéire agus níos mó ábhar a thairiscint. Ciallaíonn seo nach mbeidh Éire ag glacadh chuici an chaighdeáin atá in úsáid san RA faoi láthair. Ag caint faoin cinneadh seo dúirt an tAire: “Is rogha níos fearr an teicneolaíocht nua mar go bhfuil raon níos leithne ar fáil dúinn le haghaidh fairsingiú san todhchaí – slí sa bhreis le haghaidh ábhair agus seirbhísí ard-ghéire. Thairis sin fuarthas nár oibrigh formhór na bhfearas glactha ón RA a thástáladh san triail i gceart nó in aon chor ar ghréasán TDT na hÉireann.”
Faoi réir an Achta Craolachán (Leasú) 2007 tá cúram ar RTÉ an tseirbhís náisiúnta TDT a fhorbairt chun rochtain a chur ar fáil ar bhealaí teilifíse saor chun aeir na hÉireann. Ag míniú dó cinneadh RTÉ an teicneolaíocht MPEG 4 a úsáid, dúirt Ard-cheannasaí RTÉ, Cathal Goan: “Is é MPEG 4 rogha na dteicneolaíochtaí le haghaidh TDT mar go soláthraíonn sé slí le haghaidh ábhar sa bhreis agus do bhealaí ard-ghéire. Teastaíonn uainn féachaint chuige go bhfaigheann an lucht féachana againn luach airgid den scoth leis an mhalairt chuig theilifís digiteach – níos mó bealaí, níos mó seirbhísí agus pictiúir ar chaighdeán níos fearr.”
Tá curtha chuige cheana ag gnólacht Gréasáin RTÉ Teoranta (RTÉNL) leis an gréasán seo a thógáil agus tá na seirbhísí le tosú i bhfómhar 2009. Idir an dá linn thug an tUasal Goan le fios go soláthróidh RTÉNL gréasán TDT ag Three Rock agus ag Clermont Carn chun seirbhísí nua a thástáil agus a fhorbairt ón 4ú Lúnasa 2008 amach.
Le deireadh na trialach, leis an gcinneadh déanta faoin teicneolaíocht agus le fógairt ó Choimisiún Craolachán na hÉireann (BCI) den bhuaiteoir um theilifís digiteach tráchtála a sholáthair, arsa an tAire Ó Riain: “Tá deireadh an túis sroichte againn i bpróiseas na teilifíse digití trastíre. Ar aghaidh linn anois chun é d’eis-rothlú ar fud na tíre.”
“Chun go n-éirí leis an teilifís digiteach mar mhalairt ar an tseirbhís analógach caithfidh go mbí sí inrochtana do chách. Caithfear í a bheith éasca a chur ar siúil agus so-láimhsithe, níos mó seirbhísí ard-chaighdeáin agus bealaí á thairiscint aici agus glacadóirí a bheith ar a n-acmhainn don phobal agus fáil orthu go héasca. Beidh an Roinn agamsa ag obair chun a chinntiú de go mbeidh déantóirí agus lucht miondíola ag obair ar scáth a chéile le RTÉ agus sealbhóir an cheadúnais nua ón mBCI chun raon glacadóirí teilifíse digití a bheith ar fáil roimh dáta an tseolta i bhfómhar 2009.”
Thagair an tAire dos na buntáistí a bhí in ann do thomhaltóirí na hÉireann agus do lucht na hearnála cumarsáide as ré na teilifíse digití agus dúirt: “Thug an triail seo deis dúinn go léir foghlaim faoin teilifís digiteach agus a cumas. Is cúis áthais dom an cur chuige ag RTÉ chun a chinntiú go mbainfidh lucht féachana leas na teilifíse digití agus is cúis áthais dom freisin go bhfuil toradh ar an gcomórtas ag BCI. Ach fós tá obair romhainn. Déanfar forbairt sa bhreis ar a bhfuil foghlamtha ón triail seo agus na seirbhísí náisiúnta teilifíse digití á n-eis-rothlú.”
Eis-rothlú ar fud na tíre agus feachtas eolais an Rialtais:
“Is é feachtas eolais poiblí na Roinne chun teilifís digiteach a mhíniú do mhuintir na tíre a bheidh mar croí-lár an eis-rothluithe rathúil. Tosnóidh an Roinn agamsa ar an bhfeachtas eolais náisiúnta seo i Márta 2009 go maith roimh an tseoladh sa bhfómhar. Caithfear an múchadh analógach a chríochnú faoi 2012.
“Tá sceideal ama cúng ann ach, le comhoibriú na bpáirtithe go léir agus an pobal tugtha di, táim cinnte go bhfearfaidh an teilifís digiteach in Éirinn ábhar agus teicneolaíocht atá nua spleodrach araon do lucht féachana na hÉireann,” arsa an tAire Ó Riain mar fhocal scoir.
Nótaí don eagarthóir:
Triail na TDT:
Bhí an triail poiblí faoi stiúir an gnólachta Amárach Research agus dáileadh 500 boscaí barr-theilifíseáin ar 500 teaghlach a roghnaíodh go fánach sna ceantracha Átha Cliath agus Lú. Dáileadh 500 boscaí barr-theilifíseáin sa bhreis ar rannpháirtithe tionscail agus ar pháirtithe leasmhara eile.
Páirteach san triail bhí grúpa de rannpháirtithe ar a raibh BT Ireland, RTÉ, TV3, TG4, UPC, British Sky Broadcasting Ltd, Communicorp Group Limited, Eircom, Channel 6 Broadcasting Ltd, Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Ltd, Digital Audio Productions, Today fm, 98fm, Phantom 105.2, Capital Radio Productions Limited, RTÉNL, Cumann na nDáltóirí d’Earraí Leictreonacha do Thomhaltóirí (CEDA), Coimisiún Craolacháin na hÉireann, agus an Coimisiún um Rialáil Cumarsáide.
Bhain an triail seo de chuid an Roinn Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha úsáid as an leithead céanna den speictream raidió agus a bhíonn ag teastáil leis na ceithre bhealach náisiúnta analógacha (RTÉ 1, RTÉ 2, TV3 agus TG4). Tig le TDT seirbhísí a sholáthair go mór sa bhreis ar theilifís analógach – faoin triail TDT bhí 17 mbealach teilifíse, 16 bhealach raidió, bealach ag tástáil ábhar ard-ghéire, eolas um threoir na gclár agus seirbhís teilithéacs digiteach nua (Aertel digiteach)
Bhí gnólacht BT Communications (Ireland) faoi chonradh seirbhís ilphléacsuithe agus dáilte a sholáthair don treoir-TDT. Ciallaíonn ilphléacsú seirbhís teicniúil ina dhéantar comharthaí teilifíse a chomhbhrú chun go mbeidh glacadh na gcomharthaí ar cháilíocht níos airde ach go n-úsáidfear an speictream craolacháin ar mhodh atá níos feidhmiúlaí. Sholáthair NEC (UK) Limited na córais a bhí ag teastáil don chraoladh agus do chur le chéile na gcomharthaí san treoir-TDT. Chuir RTÉNL na hionaid craolacháin ar fáil agus chabhraigh leis an Aire agus lena Roinn chun an treoir-thionscadal a fhorbairt agus a chur i ngníomh. Amárach Research a riar agus a threoraigh an triail poiblí agus Mason Analysys a rinne bainistíocht ar an triail TDT. D’eagraigh RTÉ, Comhairle Daoine Dall na hÉireann, agus an tÚdarás Náisiúnta Míchumais triail ar sheirbhísí clos-thráchtaireachta, d’fhorbair RTÉ seirbhís teilithéacs digiteach agus bhí an triail ard-ghéire á heagrú ag BT, RTÉ, TV3 agus TG4.
Tá eolas breise faoi TDT, faoin triail agus faoi fhreagairt na n-úsáideoirí don triail le fáil ar líon-ionad na Roinne ar http://www.digitaltelevision.ie/
Eisrothlú na TDT:
Tá i gceist TDT a chur in áit na seirbhísí analógacha reatha ó RTÉ, TV3 agus TG4 faoin bhliain 2012. Is dóichí go dtosóidh seirbhísí TDT céim ar chéim idir Fómhar na 2009 agus Fómhar na 2012,
Nuair a bheidh seirbhísí TDT ar fáil beidh rogha níos leithne ag lucht féachana teilifíse faoi chonas a ghlacfaidh siad seirbhísí teilifíse:
- Bosca barr-theilifíseáin a cheannach agus é d’úsáid i dteannta an teilifíseáin reatha – mar atá ann faoi láthair dóibh siúd atá ag baint leas as Seirbhís Dáilte Ilbhealachach Ilionadach (MMDS), seirbhís digiteach ar chábla nó satailít;
nó
- Teilifíseán in oiriúint do MPEG 4 a cheannach;
nó
- Síntiús a íoc le soláthraí tráchtála de sheirbhísí teilifíse.
Tá soláthraithe tráchtála de sheirbhísí teilifíse ann faoi láthair agus iad ag tairiscint seirbhísí do 70% de lucht féachana teilifíse bíodh ar chábla, ar MMDS, teilifís ar Phrótacal an Idirlín (IPTV) nó ar shatailít.
Meastar go mbeidh an tseirbhís nua TDT ullamh le seoladh i 2009.
Leanfar des na seirbhísí analógacha atá ag soláthair RTÉ, TG4 agus TV3 saor chun aeir faoi láthair go dtí go múchfar iad. Ní tharlóidh sin roimh 2012.
An Teicneolaíocht
Is é toradh an triail teicneolaíochta go bhforbróidh Éire gréasán náisiúnta TDT a bhaineann úsáid as na teicneolaíochtaí TDT is déanaí atá ar fáil. Úsáidfear an córas comhbhrú MPEG 4 ach go háirithe in Éirinn. Ciallaítear leis seo go mbeidh ábhar sa bhreis á thairiscint ag gréasán TDT na hÉireann (8-10 mbealach in aghaidh an ilphléacsóra in áit 4-6) gur féidir leis cláir ard-ghéire Éireannacha a thairiscint nuair is ann dóibh. Mar sin leanfaidh Éire tíortha eile san Eoraip ar nós na Fraince, na Siúlainne, na hEastóine agus na hIorua chun bheith i measc ceannródaithe na hEorpa ag baint leas as na teicneolaíochtaí nua seo.
Ciallaíonn seo nach n-oibreoidh glacadóirí na glúine reatha san RA in Éirinn.
Tá déantóirí agus lucht miondíola á n-áitiú chun oibriú le RTÉ d’fhonn féachaint chuige go mbeidh raon iomlán de ghlacadóirí TDT ar fáil roimh dáta an tseolta i bhFómhar 2009. Chun go n-éireoidh le TDT mar mhalairt ar sheirbhísí analógacha caithfear go mbí sí inrochtana don uile dhuine. Caithfear raon cuimsitheach a bheith ann ós na glacadóirí saora is bunúsaí, tríd amhairc-thaifeadáin amach go dtí teilifíseáin digiteacha. Díreach chomh tábhachtach céanna ba chóir glacadóirí a cheaptar do mhargadh na hÉireann a mharcáil go soiléir go n-oibreoidh siad ar an tseirbhís TDT in Éirinn.
Eolas ginearálta faon teilifís digiteach:
Tá teilifís digiteach níos feidhmiúlaí agus níos ilúsáidí ná na gréasáin analógacha sa bhrí gur féidir freastail ar níos mó bealaí teilifíse, ar sheirbhísí idirghníomhacha agus ar sheirbhísí eolais agus ar theilifís ard-ghéire freisin. Ciallaíonn sé go mbeidh seirbhísí den scoth ar fáil do thomhaltóirí na hÉireann maraon le fáil ar rogha níos leithne de chláir saor chun aeir.
Tá forbairt na seirbhísí náisiúnta TDT faoi lántseol: tá forbairt ghréasáin náisiúnta seolta ag RTÉNL agus bhuaigh cuibhreannas de Boxer (gnólacht Siúlannach), Communicorp agus BT Ireland comórtas a reáchtáil BCI chun seirbhísí tráchtála TDT a thairiscint ar fud na hÉireann.
Beidh ábhar na seirbhíse náisiúnta arna oibriú ag RTÉ saor chun aeir. Uirthi siúd gheofar seirbhísí náisiúnta na hÉireann agus roinnt bhealaí teilifíse nua.
Tá breis eolais faoin treoir-TDT agus faoi TDT le fáil ag an seoladh a leanas:
http://www.digitaltelevision.ie/