A brand new digital TV service which will significantly improve the quality of TV signals throughout Ireland and bring three new TV channels to 1.6m homes free of charge is to launch in June this year.
Saorview is Ireland’s first digital terrestrial TV service and will enable viewers to pick up nine Irish TV stations and 10 radio stations including all the RTE, TV3 and TG4 services.
The launch of the service will mean the end of snowy pictures, particularly in rural areas, with CD-quality sound and pin-sharp pictures guaranteed in 98 per cent of the country.
The nine TV channels including a new children’s TVstation from RTE and a high definition version of RTE Two alongside an expanded TV news service called RTE News Now.
Saorview will also allow viewers of terrestrial TV to record, live pause and series link their favourite shows for the first time.
The service is being run by RTE and is part of a Europe-wide initiative to switch off the old analogue network across the continent and free the airwaves up for new telecoms services.
Communications manager for Saorview Rory Coveney says one of the most exciting parts of the package is the arrival of high definition version of RTE Two.
“It’s not a full HD service but we expect about 40 per cent of the channel to be in HD, for example in September the finals of both the Hurling and Football Championships and the Rugby World Cup and high-end acquisitions like Desperate Housewives, wildlife programmes and movies will be in HD,” he said.
The planned channel line-up also includes 3e, the TV3 channel which is currently only available on cable TV and RTE One + 1, a time-shifted version of RTE One enabling viewers to catch up with programmes one hour after they have been transmitted.
Saorview can be picked up via an ordinary roof-top aerial.
However viewers need to buy a special set-top box to decode the signal which will cost around €100. If the UK experience is a yardstick the price of boxes for digital terrestrial TV will plummet within a year.
RTE, which is operating the services, says Saorview will be available to 97 per cent of the population from the end of May 2011 and eventually rise to 98 per cent. RTE is exploring the possibility of a free satellite TV service next year to reach these areas, largely on the western seaboard.
Viewers who currently get their Irish TV services through an aerial will have to switch to Saorview by the end of 2012 when all analogue services will be switched off completely.
The UK has already started switching off its analogue services but northern Ireland will be one of the last regions to be switched off.
To find out more about Saorview or to find out if it is available in your area, go to www.saorview.ie
10 step guide to Saorview
What do I need to get Saorview?
A set-top box which will cost around €100. Prices are expected to drop as more manufacturers start supplying decoders.
Do I need a new aerial?
Saorview is designed to work with an ordinary UHF aerial. There is no such thing as a digital aerial. However some older aerials may not be suitable but this will be a tiny minority of cases.
Do I need a separate box for every TV?
Yes. But you only need one aerial.
What will the signal be like?
Digital pictures offer inherently better quality picture and sound that standard TV. High Definition television offers pictures generally described as five times better in quality than standard definition.
How do I find out if I can get Saorview now?
To find out if you are covered, go to www.saorview.ie where you will find an interactive map showing who is covered and who isn’t. All you need to do is type in your address to see if you can get it.
Do I need to switch over to Saorview if I have UPC or Sky TV?
No. You will continue to get all the Irish channels on UPC and Sky, but if you want to sample RTE Jr, the kids channel or the News Now channel you might like to pick up a box and have it running one of your TVs
Will it work with freesat?
Yes. But you probably still get your Irish channels through a normal terrestrial aerial. You can now upgrade this to Saorview to get a better quality picture from your aerial.
What will happen terrestrial services at the end of 2012?
They will be switched off. There is no rush to buy Saorview but if you are thinking of upgrading your TV later this year or next you should consider buying one that includes an integrated digital terrestrial TV decoder. This will be marked ‘Saorview approved’.
Can I get my satellite and digital terrestrial service through one box?
Yes. These boxes will be more expensive but might be worth the investment because they will allow you programme all your Irish channels first followed by your favourite UK and international channels.
How many homes get TV through an aerial?
An estimated 600,000 homes get some TV services through an aerial with 335,000 of Irish TV homes receiving TV exclusively through an aerial. One third of these live in Connaught and Ulster, one fifth live in Munster.
