You are in --> ICDG --> -News Centre --> 27th January 2000

Digico split into two companies

Major changes to the previous plans for Republic of Ireland digital terrestrial television services have been confirmed by Culture Minister Sile deValera TD. Effectively, the previous creation of a joint venture company for DTT - Digico - has been scrapped in favour of a system much more like that in the UK. The following is a summary of the changes as published in the Irish Independent of 23/2/00 and confirmed by the minister later that day:

• The plans for the 40% joint venture between RTE and the private sector, Digico, have been scrapped.

• RTE's transmitter network will be sold off to the highest bidder.

• The BCI (the new name for the IRTC) will either auction or hold a competition to decide who will operate the commercial multiplexes (Muxes A, B, C, and D)

• RTE's only involvement in DTT will be as operator of Mux 1. TV3 and TG4 will still operate mux 2.

The new scheme is meant to speed up the progress of the Broadcasting Bill, which is at Committee Stage in the Dail. However given the lenght of time it will take to sell off the network, licence the multiplex operator, fend off the inevitable court cases, and put in place the transmitter network, it will be 2002-3 before DTT gets started here. Good news for NTL and Irish Multichannel (due to launch its first DCab services next month) but bad news for those not in a cable or MMDS area. What happens now to RTE's WINDS service or Digico EPG developments is anyones guess. Maybe RTE will think about developing programmes and new channels instead of new technology now...

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