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– Introduction
– The Plan
– Multiplexes
- Internet/Interactive Service
– Chances of Sucess

Introduction
In early 1999 the Irish government announced that it had decided to introduce Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), that is digital TV via roof-top aerial, in the Republic of Ireland. A new Broadcasting Bill would be law by the end of the year and the service would start in September 2000. Switch off of UHF would take place in 2010.

So has it happened? This is Ireland after all. The Bill was stuck in committee stage in the Dail for over a year, only becoming law on 14th March 2001. And expect at least 12 months from the sale of DTTN to the launch of the DTT network. When will we get DTT? Probably by the end of 2002.

The Plan

The ODTR will be in charge of planning the technical specifics of DTT while the IRTC (renamed the Broadcating Commission of Ireland-BCI) will license programme services. The BCI is now allowed to licence Irish TV services other than TV3, on an unlimited basis - a "Digital Service Programme Contract" will cover DTT services originating in Ireland, other than those of RTE, TV3, and TnaG. There will be two companies involved in Digital Terrestrial Television. One will be a transmission operator which will own the physical transmitter network. This company (previously reffered to as Digico, now called Digital Television Transmission Network Limited) will be 28% owned by RTE, 72% by a private investor, and will be like a "wholesaler" of digital TV - customers will not deal with it directly. Instead the Minster for Arts, Culture, and the Gaeltacht will appoint a single privately-owned company to provide Digital TV to the consumers. The identity of this company should be known by Summer 2001 (pending the inevitable court challenge). RTE itself will operate Multiplex 1 and TV3 and TnaG will run Mux 2 as a joint venture. The DTT Franchisee will be responsible for the content on Multiplexes A, B, C, and D.

As in the UK there will be six multiplexes (1,2, A, B, C, D). Unlike the Northern service, only five channels (as opposed to eight) will be allowed in each multiplex. This allows for a maximum of 30 channels (instead of 50 in the UK). 10% of each Multiplex will be allowed for data services, such as Digital Teletext.

There may also be further multiplexes for local services which may be text-based.

Channels that might be carried, and at what price?
Note: in the summaries, definites are in normal, probables in italic.

1. RTE DIGITAL: RTE's new digital TV business unit is headed by Gerry Reynolds. Currently it is recuiting senior staff and planning for three new channels - Ireland Today, the Digital News, Sport, and Information Service, Eolais, the Knoweldge Channel (ACE), and Zap@TV, the fast-paced Youth Channel. RTE INTERACTIVE is planning interactive features for each of the three channels, including a digital version of AERTEL.
2. BCI Main TV Programme Contractor (TV3)and Telifis na Gaelige: Each recieves 2.5 channels including their existing services TV3 & TG4.
A. DTT Francisee (Northern Channels) The Broadcasting Act 2001 provides that the Minister for Culture may designated a multiplex for the sole purpose of the transmission of free to air services available to all persons in Northern Ireland. The intention is that there is reciprocal arrangements in Northern Ireland and that the channels would be free to air.
BUT since this doesn't seem likely when there's no space ONdigital: A small charge (between £10-£40) may be levied to cover copyright fee + smart card costs, or the £8 copyright charge may be paid out of the licence fee. UTV doesn’t want people to have to pay for its service, and may pay the copyright charge itself.
B. DTT Francisee (Pay TV) Some satellite channels may be carried here.
C. DTT Francisee (Premium) RTE has talked about running some pay-tv channels itself, but in the end, I predict this mux will be used for Sky Movies and Sky Sports service.
D. DTT Francisee (ITV Select) Pay Per View movies and events on this mux. Its' very likely to be ITV Select, given that analogue Sky Box Office and Front Row will both be shut down by the time DTT goes on air.

Internet/Interactive Service
RTE and some industry analysts have been talking about Irish DTT as "the E-Commerce Company for All". And using the 10% data service capacity on Mux B, C, and D, they plan to run a limited-access internet or interactive service. This will consist of special sites adapted to TV, as NTL and Telewest are doing so in the UK, or with the Open Interactive service on SkyDigital.
The innovative thing about the Irish DTT service though, is that RTE have invented (or rather, will be first to deploy – they’re getting a Euro-grant) something called WINDS (Wireless Interactive Network for Digital Services). What this means is that the "back channel" for sending signals back to Digico will not be via-telephone, as with practically all the current British systems, but over the terrestrial airwaves! Working on mobile phone technology, each Irish DTT Set-Top Box(STB) will contain a micro-transmitter which will send information back to the Irish DTT operator. This will allow for the purchase of goods over the airwaves, no need for a telephone! RTE are also talking about interactive televoting using the service. RTE Network (now DTTN) have been conducting trials of this system for many years now. DTTN, who will own the DTT infrastructure, will inheirt these. Even if the DTT Franchisee does not see fit to use the technology (although it appears it'sTV will use it, should they win the licence), this doesn't stop RTE (or TV3&TG4) using it.

Infomation all about WINDS - or Witness as it is now known - can be found at www.rte.ie/about/witness/index.htm

How long to role out, and will it be a sucess?
A year after the company’s formation, about 65% of the population will be able to receive Irish DTT services given the right set-top box. As with ITV Digital , there will not be full coverage of the population of every single multiplex (in general the higher the multiplex, the greater the likelihood ). Complete roll out will be achieved by 2005, with 2010 the switch off .
Until recently I thought DTT would be a complete failure in Dublin. Then NTL announced that they were in serious trouble. DTT may still be a failure, but it depends on whether or not NTL get their act together - a delay of up to a year in DCab is now entirely possible. This may lead to DTT having in fact more success in Dublin than it otherwise might have had.
The battleground will be rural Ireland, and it is here that Irish DTT will have its greatest success. MMDS is horribly expensive in some areas (over £200 a year in some areas) and has only about a 25% take-up. If Irish DTT can significantly undercut analogue MMDS, never mind the digital version, then Irish DTT will win the war for multichannel viewers.
Let Battle Commence...