Three in four TV viewers are now watching TV on a computer device or mobile phone. With analogue TV being switched off, will we ever need to buy a TV again?
Technology has moved so fast in the last few years, it is now possible to get TV without a set at all - you can get it on your mobile phone, laptop or tablet device such as an iPad or Kindle.
Gone are the days when the only way to get TV was to have a TV and an aerial.
But at the end of the day, most of us still want a TV in the living room and there are many ways of receiving and watching your favourite programmes.
You can still receive your television signal from an aerial, but you can also subscribe to a digital service using an aerial, satellite dish or cable TV connection.
And bearing in mind that TV services are being switched to digital before the end of next year, how will that impact on you?
Tina Leonard is here, on Today with Pat Kenny to talk us through the options.
Free TV without a TV set
It is no longer unthinkable to live without a TV set. That’s because if you have broadband you can access TV on your laptop, smartphone or tablet such as the iPad.
In fact according to research published by iReach last May, one in five of us regularly watch programmes on a laptop or PC, and this rises to 58% for people aged 18 to 25.
In general - almost three in four viewers - 71% - watch occasionally on devices other than the TV.
Almost one in ten had even watched TV in their bathroom via a portable device.
Although three quarters believe they will still own a TV set in ten years.
Anyone who watches clips on You Tube, or uses Facebook and Twitter to comment on TV programmes as they watch them, will know that the future is about versatile media consumption with television existing across every digital platform alongside other media.
Watching on your computer
RTE and Channel 4
You can watch television programmes after they have been broadcast via RTE Player on the RTE website and also Channel 4’s programmes on Channel 4 On Demand (C4oD).
BBC and ITV
In Ireland you cannot watch programmes on playback from the BBC or ITV, although if you have an iPad you can download the BBC iplayer application. You can also subscribe to the player for its archive of programmes for just under £10 a month.
Aertv.ie - 11 channels for free
To get your programmes as they are broadcast aertv.ie (previously magnetwebtv.ie) that launched last week is very simple to use and free.
You get 11 channels (all Irish/Saorview (free-to-air) channels plus France 24, Russia Today and the Oireachtas. It is free and you don’t even need to register. Magnet broadband users can subscribe for €3.99 per month for an extra 16 channels (total 27).
Music on Muzutv.ie
If you want to watch music videos you can go online to You Tube or try out the Irish site muzutv.ie, which is a free music video site.
For TV programmes from the US there is also a host of sites, but be careful as some offer movie downloads which is illegal. On a legal site like blinkx.com you can watch videos about celebrity news, TV and entertainment.
Sky News on your phone or tablet
And don’t forget TV content on Apps, for example you can access Sky’s 24 hr news coverage via their App.
Do I need a TV licence still?
Note: Currently you only need a TV licence if you have a TV set so won’t have to pay it if you watch online. However, the government has been talking about bringing in a universal household charge to replace the current system and bring in TV watching on other devices into the fold.
Digital TV - analogue will be switched off in 2012
Given that in just over a year analogue TV will have been switched off across Europe and have been replaced by digital TV, whatever method you choose to receive TV on your TV set you also have to consider what you may need to do to receive Irish free-to-air television.
The switchover is prescribed by European law, with the deadline given as the end of 2012, but is also national policy. It is still free-to-air television, you’re just receiving it by different method and it will be a better quality signal, i.e. no interference and a better picture and sound. It allows for a more efficient use of the radio spectrum, freeing up use for broadband, TV and other communication services and also TV equipment manufacturers are concentrating on development of digital TVs and receivers; this is international.
Saorview - Ireland's new digital TV service
RTE is absorbing the costs and is tasked with the responsibility of rolling out the service. Saorview is the name of the service and is owned and managed by RTE.
The new digital service will provide an expanded range of Irish TV channels, plus a full range of RTE Radio digital stations, an improved version of Aertel and access to an electronic programme guide. In other words you will be getting more.
Already 92% of the country is digital ready, so bear that in mind if you’re buying a new TV set or service now.
The following takes into account what you will have to do (if anything) to ensure you receive the digital service.
Getting TV via your TV set
Subscribe
The majority of Irish households - around 1 million - pay a monthly fee to receive a host of channels in addition to the free Irish channels.
For the basic package you’ll pay €23 with UPC and €25 with Sky. You won’t need to do anything with regard to the digital switchover.
Get free-to-air satellite
About 162,000 households receive their TV this way and it’s because you can get all the channels without paying a monthly subscription fee.
You can buy a satellite dish and also a freesat/freeview box and also use an aerial to get the free Irish channels. But you will still need to buy a Saorview set-top box to decode the digital signal via the aerial.
But, if you moving to this method now you can buy a combination freesat / Saorview set-top box (approx €100) for use with your dish and aerial, or buy a combination box (over €300) for use without a dish or aerial.
What if I just have an aerial?
Over 600,000 households get TV through their aerial and these are the people who will definitely need to upgrade when analogue signals are switched off at the end of 2012.
In order to keep watching Irish TV this way in 2013 you will need to buy a Saorview set top box to receive the new digital service.
Saorview boxes - how much do they cost?
The prices have already come down and range from €50 to €60 or you can get ones with record functions that are priced up to €100. Once you buy that there is no further payment, as before.
Will I need a new aerial for digital TV?
Some views will need a new aerial but your local TV shop will have all the information you need. You can also go on to saorview.ie for help.
Or phone the Saorview helpline on 1890 222 012.
Alternatively go to Aertel page 650 for advice.
If you are using an aerial only and currently don’t receive TV3 or TG4 you may have an old VHF aerial and you’ll need a UHF TV aerial (approx €150).
If you receive the RTE and TG4 but not TV3 then your aerial may be pointing in the wrong direction and will need to be moved to point towards the best transmission site for your area.
Remember each television set will need to decode the signal coming from the aerial, which means that each TV will require a set top box.
Who is most likely to have to change aerials?
The majority of people using aerial only are over 55 in rural areas. If you have an elderly friend or relative, perhaps living alone, make sure they are all set.
Will a UK box work in Ireland?
If you are planning on buying a new TV now buy an integrated digital television (iDTV) that is Mpeg 4 compatible. These have a built in decoder so you won’t need to buy a set top box.
Be aware that UK ‘freeview’ boxes and iDTVs will not decode the Saorview service.
How will I know if the box is Saorview compatible?
Saorview has a list of approved products on their website at www.saorview.ie and look out for the Saorview logo. This guarantees that they are 100% compatible with the Saorview service.
Beware door-to-door callers trying to sell you something relating to the digital switchover that you may not need.
More info
Saorview website.
