Digital Broadcasting

RTÉ's Digital Radio Services Now Available to over 85% of the population via UPC. Read more...

Digital Broadcasting

In the last decade, digital radio has evolved across the world, creating not just a new, efficient platform on which to broadcast existing radio services but heralding the growth of many new services into the bargain.

This relatively new method of broadcasting involves the conversion of analogue signals into a digital format. The principal methods in use at present around the world are:
Internet Live Audio Streaming
Podcasting
Digital Satellite Downlink
Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)
Digital Radio Mondiale.

RTÉ believes that DAB represents the future of terrestrial radio in Ireland. RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ lyric fm and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta are currently going out on the DAB multiplex 12C in Dublin and the North east. The services were launched on Thursday, November 30th.

RTÉ, as Ireland's Public Service Broadcaster, is leading the development of the future of radio in Ireland. RTÉ is committed to engaging with the wider radio industry to achieve a national roll-out of DAB and is working to involve all stakeholders - policy makers, regulators, commercial broadcasters and retailers - in the development of the future of radio on this island.

The advantages of digital radio include:
More choice for the listener - DAB is capable of bringing a wide variety of content to our increasingly diverse audiences & new communities.

Easy to use - DAB digital radios have push button controls and an information display, showing the channel playing on the screen. The radio shows a simple list of available stations, so there is no need to "twiddle" with controls to tune in. Some have pause and rewind and soon listeners will be able to programme digital radios to record favourite shows.

Clear sound, free of hiss.

Compatible with FM - Most DAB radios also receive FM. Listeners can tune into all the usual FM stations on their DAB radios. By the way, like FM, once you have brought your radio the service is free - there's no log-in, subscription or contract.

More efficient use of the spectrum - more stations fit on the dial.

DAB broadcasts can only be heard on DAB receivers. There are now as many as 300 such radio receivers available. A limited amount can be bought in retail outlets in Ireland. A wider range can be found through online outlets. They can be bought for as little as €70. Most receivers come with dual fm/dab settings so you can move from analogue to digital with the press of a button. DAB is already on air in nearly 40 countries and available to almost 475 million people worldwide.

The added value of this recent technology for radio listeners is the provision of new services alongside the existing fm stations. RTÉ is actively developing the provision of such services in 2007 which will make buying a digital radio a far more attractive proposition. So as well as picking up the four RTÉ radio stations, alongside a selection of some of the leading commercial stations, a Dab radio listener may be able to get as many as 16 new digital services in the coming year.

But DAB is just one of a range of platforms on which you will find programmes from the RTÉ Radio network...

Internet Live Audio Streaming:
We broadcast our four channels 24 hours a day on the Internet. To receive us you need a computer equipped with a sound card, the Real Player software package and a reliable Internet connection. Select the desired 'listen live' at the top of this page. There is also some technical advice on the 'How to Listen' link.

This service is particularly suited to those who have no other means of receiving RTÉ Radio, especially those overseas.

Internet Podcasting:
This system allows you to download files in MP3 format from our website and later play them on various platforms, including Windows Media player and MP3 players.

To get a list of the available programmes please visit main site. (Please note this system is best suited to broadband, because of the large files the download will take a long time on a dial-up connection).


RTÉ Radio on Satellite:
The four radio services RTÉ Radio 1, 2 FM, Lyric FM and Raidió na Gaeltachta, are now carried in stereo on the Sky Astra Digital satellite, 24 hours a day.

RTÉ Radio 1 is on the Eurobird 1 and Hotbird satellites which serve most of Europe and the Canary Islands.

You need a satellite dish and a digital TV receiver to use those services.

Full information is available here.


Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB):
RTÉ is at the starting block of a new revolution in radio. DAB services have been operating for almost a decade in Britain with the BBC providing new programming as well as existing services. Commercial radio too plays a major role in the roll-out of DAB in the UK. To date, more than four million radio receivers have been sold, and the figure is expected to continue to increase.

DAB offers many advantages including a large range of additional programming, and quality clear reception without the necessity for receiver tuning changes.

For more information, visit RTÉ Digital Radio

On 1st January 2006, the 80th anniversary of RTÉ, we began a three month trial DAB service in Dublin and the North east operating on Multiplex 12 C.

We are getting many technical enquiries from people who have DAB receivers in Britain wondering if they can receive RTÉ on DAB.

We have examined the provision of RTÉ DAB in Northern Ireland, but this is not technically feasible at present. Due to the short range coverage of terrestrial VHF transmissions, together with regulatory considerations, it is unlikely that an RTÉ DAB service will reach mainland Britain for the foreseeable future. Equally there are no plans to provide digital broadcasts of BBC radio services in the Republic.

To find out more about the BBC's digital radio services, visit www.bbc.co.uk/digital/radio/index.shtml

Some technical details of DAB transmission are available on WorldDAB Site

DAB is a free to air service which provides alternative ways listening to radio.


Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM):
Plans and tests are in progress in various parts of the world to provide long range digital programming, at speech quality mono, using the LW, MW and SW bands.

When this service becomes available it will offer many advantages over the present analogue broadcasting systems, especially from the point of view of interference which limits listening enjoyment, particularly at night. MW and LW services are likely to provide a very good quality service. The SW services may be somewhat less stable due to the extreme fading that is a feature of shortwave propagation. Also it may take some time to harmonise the international regulatory considerations worldwide. Engineering tests are ongoing on all those systems.

At present there is no widely available public broadcasting service on the air.

It is also anticipated that DRM will be provided free to air, to replace some of the services presently available on the MW and LW bands.