Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if TV3 and TG4 are paying RTÉ NL in respect to their services on Saorview, the digital terrestrial television service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11814/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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It is the responsibility of my Department, in conjunction with RTÉ, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), ComReg and other stakeholders to progress the digital switch-over process so that it meets the 2012 timeline for analogue switch off.

Accordingly, I imposed, by order, a requirement on RTÉ to make its public service DTT multiplex available to 90% of the population from 31st October 2010. On 29th October, RTÉ launched the DTT service (called Saorview) to over 90% of the population on a pilot basis. RTE considered that a pilot phase was essential to provide for the roll out of the network nationally, test new content and to allow for technical testing. In addition they considered that this period could be used to develop additional content and services and to ensure the availability of a variety of Saorview approved receivers, prior to the national launch. Because of the nature of this pilot phase it was considered appropriate that broadcasters should not be charged for DTT services during this period.

The pilot network is available to the public and currently broadcasts RTÉ 1, RTÉ 2, TG4, TV3, 3e and 2 test services - RTÉ News Now service and an RTÉ digital teletext service. RTÉ is proposing a full national launch in the second quarter of 2011. Further information on the RTÉ DTT service is available on www.saorview.ie.