This blog hasn’t been updated in a while so when I get around to will as developments have moved on since.
Oct
16
Okay am tieing a few articles into one here.
1st:
Lisbon passed in Ireland, well Ireland 4 Europe and We Eblong to a lesser extent were the main reason, more volunteers than anyone else handing out leaflets. Better 2nd posters from Fianna Fáil
Context also changed, economic situation was different and we didn’t want to piss of Europe end of day, we need them more now than ever. In the boom we thought we didn’t but in fairness it was such a bad Yes Lisbon 1 Campaign people voted No where they didn’t know. So can’t blaim people when they aren’t informed. Hopefully the politicans won’t make this mistake again a 3rd time. They can see, Niece 1 wasn’t a fluke.
2nd:
Mobile TV in the US takes a leap forward for DTT (Mobile DTT) ratified on October 15th 2009 with retailing of mobile DTT capable devices in 2010:
The US DTT standard and system has designed ATSC A/153 which unlike the European standard doesn’t require a seperate system and now . No doubt it will compete with MediFlo but with broadcaster backing its likely to be the winner. Pity we didn’t adopt that for the DVB-H specification rather than going for separate transmission network ing being required. Of course nowt to stop mobile phone operators to do like in Germany and use DTT handsets. It’ll get DTT in the USA a new market that could well make up for USA’s DTT market weakness compared to digital satellite or cable . See: http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2009/10/16/us-approves-atsc-mobile-tv-standard/
3rd:
UK HD will be well on target for digital aerials (DTT) by mid 2010.
BBC and Arquiva (Arquiva involved in Onevision consortium) are progressing with their transmitter upgrades slightly ahead of ASO regionby region switch off with DVB-T2 and MPEG4. See: http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2009/10/16/bbc-and-ariqva-confirm-hd-build/
Indications seem to point to mid 2010 when compliant boxes are available. It bodes well for Irish DTT benefiting from future proofed pay DTT boxes. That Arquiva are involved again in this UK leading DTT, could only be good for Irish DTT.
4th:
Arquiva and Eircom have increased their stakes recently in One Vision the DTT consortium in talks with the newly established Broadcasting Authority of Ireland that now will regulate RTÉ, TG4 for the 1st time. See: http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2009/09/20/story44482.asp
Sep
06
I will be canvassing with Ireland 4 Europe and other groups for a yes vote, simply because the arguments for if we voted no will not change the Laval judgment for example, on Posting of Workers Directive. What it will do is allow a majority of National Parliaments to send a directive back if another one like this occurs, unlike the current system which doesn’t allow that.
1)Laval Judgement not reversed by No vote.
Let me explain about it- So those reasons such as the Laval Judgement that Cóir appear to mention on their posters, lower wages for imported foreign staff on their home wage levels will not be reversed by a No Vote. Our laws stand here, regardless of imported staff. So voting No does not benefit us, it takes us from the centre of influence for sure.
Some will argued Lisbon copperfastens it. In fact it makes no difference whether you vote yes or no, that judgement stands under existing Treaties under free market rules. This for me makes me feel that No are trying to cod us.
2) We lose our Commissioner by voting No.
Some argued voting No in 2008 made sense. The fact was by voting No we at the moment lose our Commissioner in 2010 rather than 2014 under Lisbon 1.
However, Sinn Féin argued the point then that by voting No we could get a better deal. Well you can pull that one once. And we did get a better deal. The Council of Ministers agreed that we will not lose our Commissioner for 5 years under protocols to the Lisbon 2 Treaty. In that sense it is therefor a different proposal to Lisbon 1. Voting yes keeps us at the Commission table and is better than the Niece situation we are under now and better also than Lisbon 1. The Lisbon 1 proposal was born out of the reasoning that a smaller Commission was more efficient and that smaller members should rotate back when Niece was signed. However since then loss of influence became less sensible to the electorates and encouraged Euroscepticism about loss of influence, So Lisbon 1 delayed its introduction by 5 years. Lisbon 2 kicks it into touch and removes the Niece reduction. If you voted No in 2008 you can vote yes knowing you got a better deal!
3) Claims:
* Lisbon does not open our low tax rates to attack – declarations copperfasten, and have legal effect, and we won’t be losing badly-needed jobs from Lisbon 2 yes, we will by voting No because it questions our commitment to the European team in the minds of multinationals who want to be at the heart of Europe;
* The treaty has no effect on the right of every Irish person to earn even the minimum wage either via yes or no. Laval judgement stands whether we vote yes or no. Not a reason to vote No.
3) Voting No will be good for creating Jobs.
Well not being at the heart of Europe and losing influence cannot instill confidence in multinationals, its why they’re urging a Yes Vote and Not a no Vote.
4) Despite the fact Cóir argued for a No to Niece, they have found evidence that the EU is working better since the new 10 member states joined, in terms of legislation and so forth.
5)Europe brought equality for women against the conservative catholic approach of the time. If people really want us to leave the EU, then voting Yes gives us the democratic tools to do so. As a secular person I do believe that women who become pregnant, who will face the financial burdens should have the right to decide if they are ready for the responsibility. The Born should have precedence. Of course I’m all for waiting periods, and much counselling on the issue and having the structures in place to discourage abortion. Absolutely, I’m against abortion without pre-counselling involving speaking to mums about coping if they decided against abortion but I’m against the blanket disallowance of it as a last option for those who don’t want to have children ad export it. Most women given the right supports will have kids. But structures are necessary to make it a viable option. If the family support is not there, then ultimately it does not do any good to society to raise a child in poverty, an overstressed mum and later a child that is much more likely to grow into a destructive adult. Where supports are there, then absolutely mums can overcome the difficulties and raise a productive member of society.
Its better now than in the religious days, no thanks to the church and its often sending away those who became pregnant out of wedlock. That’s why its important to be weary of conservatism which likes to take away choice and control. Some of these are the same elements arguing for vote no under rebrand.
We can’t always rely on our state to vindicate our rights, so we need Europe to help us do so. Using emotive language about paying the price. We sure will pay the price of voting No again.
5) We lose influence under Lisbon 2 compared to Germany?
This is incorrect because, 55% under qualified majority must agree to the policy representing 65% of the population. That is democratic. Currently it is 74% total weighting. At least 4 states must object.Energy, Asylum and Emigration are 3 new QMV areas but again they are designed to streamline policy and there are enough small member states to block anything we don’t agree with in terms of population.
6) Instead of Council of Ministers having final say over agriculture, Asylum, immigration and the EU Budget, European Parliament will have co-decision powers, making this more democratic. The Irish people can express their will better through their MEPs than before under Lisbon 2. The burden of 6 month EU Presidency is replaced by an elected President of the Council for 2.5 and re-elected for same, meaing total 5 years.
7) Right to life, family and education, taxation and defence wil be bound to the next EU treaty as a protocol. This is an international agreement of the European Council and will become EU law during the next EU accession. This is contrary to what No campaigners say, it will become EU law within the next few years as will the charter.
Sep
01
There’s a useful website from a group involved in ensuring DTT and DTV services in Ireland cater for those with sensory or physical impairments. See: http://www.tvaccess.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44:introduction-dtt&catid=44:introduction-to-digital-terrestrial-television&Itemid=65
Aug
20
O2 has launched a new mobile TV service in Ireland, featuring the choice of two mobile TV packages. The “O2 Lifestyle Pack” offers entertainment, music, and news with channels including RTE News Now, CNN and the Travel Channel, while the “Sky Sports & News Pack” offers live sports and news content on channels including Sky Sports 1, 2 & 3 and Sky News.Two options are offered:
24 hour pass: You can get a 24-hour pass for €1. This lets you watch all the channels in the O2 Lifestyle pack or the Sky Sports & News pack.
Monthly pass: You can get a 30-day pass. This lets you watch the O2 Lifestyle pack for €5 per month, or the Sky Sports & News pack for €6 per month. The monthly pass automatically gives you access every month.
More at: http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=0&id=3495 and http://www.o2online.ie/wps/wcm/connect/O2/Home/Explore+Services/Services/O2+Mobile+internet/O2+TV/
Aug
19
http://www.digitaltelevision.ie/Regional++Reception/aouth+east-UK+analogue+switch+off.htm has been updated by adding a page relating to the DSO in Wales.
It does not mention FTA/Freesat or the possible availability of full-power UK DTT.
As part of the United Kingdom’s plan to roll out digital terrestrial television in their jurisdiction, they will be switching off their analogue transmitter in Preseli, Wales. This will be happening in two stages, commencing 19th August 2009 and concluding on 16th September 2009.
This will not affect the reception of RTE1, RTE2, TV3 and TG4 by any Irish household in any manner and there is no requirement to make any change to continue to receive these Irish channels according to digitaltelevision.ie
This switch off will primarily affect residents along the south east coast of Ireland who have been receiving UK terrestrial television stations through an aerial via over-spill from the transmitters in Wales. It will not affect those people who receive these stations as of a free (satellite) or part of a paid service whether that be via satellite, cable, IPTV (internet protocol television) or MMDS (Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service).
Labour communications spokesperson Liz McManus said she was concerned at the effect the Welsh switch-off would have on viewers.
“RTE has promised us that people would not lose out but they clearly are going to lose out with the disaster in relation to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project,” she said. Ms McManus, who has raised the issue in the Dail, said nobody had been able to give her assurances as to what would happen to those losing the British TV signal.
“A lot of them are elderly people who don’t know this is going to hit them. This is really quite outrageous,” she said to the indo correspondent. ref:http://www.independent.ie/national-news/thousands-lose-free-beeb-in-big–switchoff-1856187.html
She is aware of Freesat but laments that the government isn’t promoting the information wider beyond the website and intends bringing it up in the Dáil in the Autumn. Possibily the Dept/BCI are waiting for clarity that Onevision have signed up with RTÉ NL & the BCI before the whole info campaign begins. While the website has a link, note of Freesat/Sat4free may need to be provided by the Dept in the interest of fair play to viewers really, even if Sat4free doesn’t provide the benefits to the economy here that UPC and Sky do in terms of employment. Otherwise the Dept won’t be thanked by unknowledgeable customers who later find out they didn’t need Sky or UPC to get UK channels.
So what to do? Either go Sky or UPC or if you wanna save money, wait for Freeview HD to come out in December and then seek a combo box see: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055471880 for info on those and newer ones that have Freesat.
The best chance for Irish pay DTT I think is offering combo DTT, Satellite FTA, premium channels via DTT. Make switching easier, but starts a price war. Good for customer.
Jul
02
Sorry not to have updated the blog in a while. Well since I last blogged, Boxer bowed out, threw in the towel and Onevision said yes. Meanwhile, things seemed to go bad for Setanta UK but its looking like Setanta Ireland, who are involved in the Onevision DTT bid will get acquired by likely, Doughty Hanson (TV3 owners), Dermot Desmond and possibly Liberty Global (Parent of UPC (Chorus NTL)) http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2009/06/30/setanta-founders-secure-irish-business/ See: http://www.rte.ie/business/2009/0728/setanta.html
What is urgently needed is Digital Ireland to form made up of stakeholders. This is foreseen in a sense by the Broadcasting Act 2009 which was just passed into law earlier this month. The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland now awaits its transition into the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland which requires a statutory instrument to effect its transfer of assets, addition of powers, dissolution and its new organisational basis. See: http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=9433&&CatID=59
Negotiations with Onevision are reportedly ongoing and should shed some clarity by mid to late August. Policy on digital switchover is being drawn up by a strategy advisory group formed by the department with stakeholders according to the Deparment. I would expect that a once tha all goes well, with contracts signed in September, that the budgeting, channel negotiations and strategy implementation including the equipment purchase plan will be worked on between October and December with a view towards Paddy’s day launch. Setanta Ireland’s new structure is a positive development for Irish DTT, with Dermot Desmond and Setanta’s founders more involved than ever. See: http://www.rte.ie/business/2009/0728/setanta.html
Apr
02
Broadcasting Bill 2008 Report and Final Stages
Broadcasting Bill 2008 amendments went through today, Simon Conveney and Liz McManus appeared to prefer the BAI to become part of ComReg as more cost effective, given the current economic situation, like what they have in the UK with Ofcom, a bigger regulator doing both. Sounds a moot point given convergence apparently which they mentioned also.
But Minister Eamonn Ryan appeared to feel, while he saw merit on that point, that with telecoms being a much financially bigger industry here that broadcasting would be better catered for by a separate broadcast regulator than with a unified regulator where broadcasting might not be as well catered for owing to their lesser importance economically in a unified structure.
My own opinion is that while the 2 new broadcasters HOTV and Irish Film Channel as separate channels does have singularity of focus going for being separate, given the current economic climate, I think that the Irish Film Channel should come under a reconstituted TG4 whereby it becomes an integrated business division of TI4. (Television Ireland 4) with Television Arts 4 (TA4) becoming another new integrated business division and an an Education channel (Television Eolas 4) (TE4) as a further integrated business division.
What I’m suggesting is the expansion of the TG4 studios, use of the expertise in TG4 and making this 2nd public service broadcaster stonger in terms of expertise and infrastructure already existing. You avoid the costs of setting up a new broadcasters through reconstitution while making use of the 4 branding ie TG4, TA4, CT4 all using the T4 brand.
Houses of the Oireachtas TV could become an integrated business division of RTÉ, funded by the Oireachtas ie RTÉ Oireachtas. It would be just cheaper & quicker to get the RTÉ Oireachtas channel up and running rather than it created as a new broadcaster and the costs associated with that. To be honest I’m not so pushed on this one, but I think that it should be done as it was with TG4 whereby for now it be part of RTÉ to be later separated when money allows if the Minister wished to so direct it be separated and established following analysis of how it worked within RTÉ versus how it might work separate of it.
Advertising is to be allowed under some restrictions on the Irish Film Channel, with films not to be interrupted by advertising which is very welcome, the Referendum Commission will get preferential rates and Irish language catered for. The reason for ads is for resource purposes, funding. I don’t love ads at all, but purely to assist it to generate revenue it can then use assist the Irish Film Board in funding costs of running the Irish Film Channel and if surplus revenues from ads after promotion, advertising of the channel and channel running costs (doubt so) then to be used in Irish Film grants alongside its subvention from the Dept of Arts. Most of us don’t like ads but its great that the Minister took on board the economic arguments that limited advertising should be allowed as a funding mechanism to relieve the exchequer of some pressures where it can be, and a good balance is struck by not allowing films be interrupted by ad breaks, given it is to be a dedicated broadcaster associated with the Film Board and not a commercial broadcaster or RTÉ like.
NHS use of Digital TV platforms in the UK for an information service particularly suited to disabled viewers was also mentioned by Simon Conveney and the public benefit of a HSE TV service was also put forward by him which I agree with. There was discussion of disability groups and that they should be included in BAI appointments, obligations on broadcasters etc..
http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp…/document1.htm
http://asx.heanet.ie/oireachtas/dail_audioonly.asx- this one is for live Dáil so you won’t hear the debate on the Broadcasting Bill in the afternoon as that debate is adjourned and the Health Bill is being discussed.
See: http://www.rtenl.com/downloads/ReceivingDTT.pdf for a very good guide on aerial installation for DTT reception. It explains horizontal and vertical polarity with pictures. Very good indeed.
Mar
29
In the past Intel and Microsoft have spoken about convergence. Now telcos are also talking this language at the recent IPTV World Forum in London during March. Broadband TV quotes Christopher Schlaffer of DT: “Telcos are preparing to offer their subscribers a multiscreen experience, linking together the various devices that form their triple play package. Christopher Schläffer, group product and innovation officer, Deutsche Telekom, said although IPTV, Web TV and mobile were currently separate, they would converge together. “Multiscreens is the next phenomena, the experience has to be the same on the TV screen, the PC or the mobile.” Schläffer predicted timeshifting and placeshifting would be commonplace.”
Schläffer’s views were echoed by Francois Seligmann, director IPTV & New Projects, Orange who are creating a converged universe allowing partaking consumers to switch viewing a programme from one device for example coming in from outside to switch on the TV and watch the same programme there. For the whole article see:http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=15907
Also related, Microsoft are planning to have DVB-T2 integrated into the Microsoft Mediacentre.Microsoft is currently testing around 150 units ahead of the candidate release of its new Mediaroom middleware. Thivolet said the receiver, already capable of delivering HD content, would be upgraded to include a DVB-T2 tuner by the middle of 2010. See: http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=15938
Mar
08
On March 5th 2009, Minister Eamonn Ryan announced a framework for the future management of the radio frequency spectrum in Ireland. Radio frequency spectrum means the “airwaves” used by broadcast, media and telecommunications services. A framework document published by Minister Ryan identifies the spectrum that will be released by analogue switch-off and that will inform the debate about how best to use this new digital dividend.Following on from that, the Communications Regulator (Comreg) is to shortly publish a consultation paper inviting submissions on this topic.
Minister Eamonn Ryan commented: “Radio spectrum is one of this country’s greatest natural resources, essential for the operation of our digital, telecommunications, and broadcasting industries. The increase in spectrum generated by the move to digital television will provide us with an unprecedented opportunity to grow and develop our indigenous digital economy.
Ireland is well positioned to capitalise on the emergence of a new global digital economy. By being smart and innovative with this digital dividend, we will create jobs and investment in the development of new technological goods and services”, he noted.
For more see: http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Minister+Ryan+announces+framework+for+use+of+Ireland%E2%80%99s+airwaves.htm
This follows on from the Irish Government Document ‘Building Ireland’s Smart Economy’, which outlines the policy approach towards Ireland’s future, referring to digital TV switchover on pages 19 and 95 at http://193.178.1.117/attached_files/Pdf%20files/Building%20Ireland%E2%80%99s%20Smart%20Economy.pdf referring to its plan advising as Government that:’ We will introduce a new terrestrial digital television service in 2009 and secure a digital dividend in 2012 with the switch off of the analogue transmission service’.
Also Commissioner Reding of the Information Society & Media Directorate of the European Commission late last year on Digital Dividend policy EU wide being pursued spoke on The digital dividend: A unique opportunity for Europe’s wireless economy ComReg Conference “How Ireland can best benefit from its digital dividend” Dublin, 1 October 2008 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/08/476&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=nl
ComReg has launched its consultation on the digital dividend and invites parties interested in its use to make their submissions before May 7th,2009. To download its points of discussion and consideration and submissions format click here: http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/publications/ComReg0915.pdf
Topics covered include:
*the option of clearing the 800 MHz sub-band to accommodate uses other than broadcasting and providing access to it in a timely manner.
*Exploring opportunities for sub-bands other than the 800 MHz sub-band as part of Ireland’s digital dividend
*Considering whether some of the digital dividend could be set aside as an innovation reserve.
The Development of a National Policy Framework for identifying spectrum for the Digital
Dividend is available form the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources
website at:
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Communications/Business+and+Technology/Spectrum+Policies+and+the
+Digital+Dividend.htm and the paper goes into detail regarding fomulation of the strategy, considerations. See:http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/5962FB63-6F77-49F9-BD65-A7B1A76036F2/0/DevelopmentofaNationalPolicyFrameworkforIdentifyingSpectrumfortheDigitalDividend.doc
There is a potential of course with the economic situation, and advertising slump of DTT rollout progress slowing. Final decisions have to be made and the DTT Info Campaign of the DCENR has to be finalised. But hopefully the end target date remains unchanged and stakeholder websites point to Autumn 2009 still. See: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055507504. DTT is in test phase and should not be considered an operational service until launch as standards may change according to broadcaster enquiries and RTE NL. See: http://www.rtenl.ie/DTT.htm
