Written answers

Tuesday, 27 April 2010

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Broadcasting Services

12:00 pm

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on digital terrestrial television here; when he expects the signing of the contract with a consortium (details supplied); the concerns he may have if the delays in implementing DTT continues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16629/10]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to facilitate the roll-out of commercial digital terrestrial television services should a consortium (details supplied) fail to reach agreement with RTE and the regulator. [16623/10]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 67 together.

Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 provides for RTÉ to develop a "free-to-view" digital broadcasting service as a replacement for the national analogue TV service currently offering access to RTÉ 1, RTÉ2, TV3 and TG4 and for the subsequent closure of the national analogue TV service. The Act also provides opportunities for the development of a commercial digital terrestrial television (DTT) service in Ireland. In this regard, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), an independent regulatory authority, is required to provide for the development of commercial DTT services.

The BAI's predecessor, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), initiated a competition for a commercial DTT service provider. The highest placed consortium withdrew from the process in April of last year. As a result negotiations commenced with the next placed bidder, OneVision. These negotiations are still ongoing. As I have stated in this House in reply to previous questions on this matter, I am not prepared to speculate or hypothesise on the outcome of what is a commercial licensing process. This is a matter for the BAI. I have repeatedly made it very clear to the Authority that I would like to see this process concluded as soon as possible so that clarity and certainty with regard to commercial DTT can be provided to broadcasters and viewers alike.

My priority, in accordance with national policy, is to provide for the closure, in 2012, of the analogue "free-to-view" broadcasting service. The European Commission has set 2012 as the timeline for analogue switch off throughout Europe and the EU Council of Ministers has asked Member States to complete switch over by 2012 in so far as possible. It is my intention that this switch off will be no later than quarter four 2012. RTÉ is aware of this and is supportive of the quarter four 2012 deadline. In this regard, and in the continuing absence of commercial DTT, I have recently signed an Order, Statutory Instrument 85 of 2010, under section 129 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 requiring RTÉ to launch a "free-to-view" DTT service to approximately 90% of the population by 31st October 2010. The 2009 Act also requires RTÉ to provide the full national "free-to-view" digital service, capable of carrying RTÉ 1, RTÉ 2, TG4 and TV3, by the end of 2011 or such date as I may specify. In this regard I have informed RTÉ that the date for the provision of a national service is 31st December 2011.

From a broadcaster perspective, the development of DTT services provides more for TV viewers in terms of choice and services. The RTÉ multiplex has sufficient space for 8-10 TV channels, radio channels and electronic programme guides and the legislation provides for RTÉ to exploit space on the multiplex for commercial purposes. A second RTÉ multiplex, provided for under the 2009 Act, provides for RTÉ to roll out high definition (HD) services which will also be made available to TV viewers in Ireland on a "free-to-view" basis. More significantly, there are considerable economic benefits for Ireland resulting from the switch off of the analogue broadcast services and the consequent release and reuse of this valuable spectrum, which is known as the digital dividend. The digital dividend is a clear enabler of economic and social growth. By extrapolating from a recent European study, the value of the digital dividend to Ireland is expected to be between €2 billion and €10 billion, over 15 years. In this regard, it is vital for Ireland's economic health that this spectrum is released as early as possible.

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