Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 979: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extra television channels that will become available on the DTT pilot scheme in March 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1547/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Pilot in Ireland was launched on 16 August 2006. It is planned that this pilot will continue over a two-year timeframe, during which time DTT broadcasts will transmit from the Three Rock site in Dublin and the Clermont Carn site in County Louth.

Phase 1 of the pilot comprises a "soft trial" and is expected to run until March 2007. This phase is being used to test the stability of the network and the technologies involved at a network and user level.

Content on the pilot has initially been provided by the RTÉ 1, RTÉ2, TV3 and TG4 TV channels, and RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2 FM, RTÉ Lyric FM, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and Today FM radio channels.

Phase 2 of the pilot will involve a closed public trial which is due to commence in March 2007. During this phase, set top boxes will be distributed to up to 1000 selected trial participants. Content is expected to be provided by successful applicants to the selection process for Multiplex Programme Content Managers, which was run jointly by my Department and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.

The successful applicants to the process were: Channel 6 Television Limited, Chellomedia Services Limited, Communicorp Group Limited, Magnet Networks, eircom & RTÉ, Sky Ireland, and USP Ireland Limited. It is expected that content on the public trial will include some UK mainstream channels, local or niche content and a range of Irish radio stations.