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/
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For more further information contact
Press Office
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