Sky News Ireland Vs News 24

LegacyUser

>You have a point there Richard, cos Sky News has >Irish ads, they would hate to see News 24 for Irish >viewers, since they get 2 million per annum from >Irish advertising.

Is this an estimate by you or a Sky forecast? With the Irish versions of Sky One and Sky News only around since September, there hasn't been enough time for an annual precedence to be set yet. I agree, though - Sky dislike News 24 intensely (probably because it's a far better news channel) and may want to see it off Irish systems. But then again, ITN NC is there as are many others.

I suspect Sky may be content to allow News 24 on Irish systems as long as it can be kept off the lucrative cable operators (which is what Sky News Ireland was designed to exploit in the first place.)

icdg

And if you look back to the press release launching Sky News Ireland (see www.sky.com/corporate), you'll see the words

"Sky News is the only 24 hour news channel to be carried in the basic tier of cable operators in Ireland".

Is this is a statement of fact, or a tacit understanding between Sky, NTL, and Chorus (or IMC as it then was) that NEWS 24 won't be on cable basic tiers in Ireland?

LegacyUser

The figure I quote came from either medialive.ie or the Irish Times a couple of months ago, can't remember which.

I agree with that, but ITN News Channel does'nt have me hanging on and watching it at length. It caters for a different type of news viewer, and is not seen as direct a competition as News 24 would be to Sky News.

Agreed, Sky News Ireland is primarily for Cable, but it has'nt stopped them putting up that version on Sky Digital.

Here's still hoping, the weekend will answer many question I still have <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START --><img src="../www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif" ALT=":)" OLDREF="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

LegacyUser

BBC Choice Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are closing for their own version of BBC2 leaving just BBC Choice England. i'm not sure about Knowledge though. it is closing soon

LegacyUser

Im not sure if ill be 2 bothered if we only get BBC I and 2.I already have those on terrestrial analogue anyway.I was looking forward to news 24,knowledge,choice etc.But,as icdg says,theres still hope.

LegacyUser

i will be delighted with whatever they give us. you have to see my reception at times to believe it plus it will give me 2 regions which will be handy for the different start times on some programmes

LegacyUser

Does anyone have any goss on C4 & C5? Are we gonna get these channels along with BBC? Or are we gonna have to wait another year for them? Would especially like C4 as i cannot receive it at all on terrestrial, the signal is so poor.

LegacyUser

me too as i only get the rubbish S4C

icdg

Unfortunately it is now CONFIRMED that there will be no Choice, Knowledege, or News 24 on Sky in Ireland. For the moment. Nor will C4 or C5, though I suspect C4 will not be far behind BBC.

Choice and Knowledege are both closing down in the Autumn/early 2001 to be replaced by the new BBC3 & BBC4 services. In preparation for this, and to make room for regional BBC (including BBC TWO Northern Ireland for people in the Republic), Choice regional services, including Choice NI, are closing on Friday.

LegacyUser

Quick reply to DamoDMC (been to the site many times, Damien - love the Aussie idents!) before I move on to the other stuff:

>Agreed, Sky News Ireland is primarily for Cable, but >it has'nt stopped them putting up that version on Sky <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >D --><img src="../www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/grin.gif" ALT=" OLDREF="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/grin.gif">D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> igital.

Yes, but I don't blame them for this. There is a certain amount of effort, too, in giving us our own Sky News Active on that transponder. The UK Sky News Active has a different section on the main page asking you to vote with your remote control and then connecting to the phone line. I see this on a UK FTV box, but you should be able to add the UK Sky News (and Sky One if you want to avoid Penalli Pen or Laptop Junior ads!) via Other Channels - see satellite sites for its frequency - Sky should be in the clear and last I checked Sky One UK was available via Irish cards.) Also on Active, I wish they wouldn't constantly refer to the service being available to "UK digital viewers" when we can receive it, too! I know this is because Sky News is broadcast throughout South Africa, parts of Asia and Australia (where it also has its own version), but is it so much harder to say "UK and Irish digital viewers or "viewers in the UK and Ireland" or simply "Sky Digital viewers" !!! This has come up many times on uk.media.tv.sky - anyone care enough to join me in complaining about this?! I'll pass on the contact details!

Anyway, back on track...

Good news then on the arrival of BBC ONE tomorrow and TWO later in April. Still, it's a pity News 24, Knowledge and Choice won't be there. A pity, too, that Choice is focusing on one region until the changeover to BBC3. Newsline Extra was handy as were some of the other non-BBC ONE NI programmes. Nice, too, to be able to see the output from the other English regions - Scotland's Newsline equivalent ditches the BBC News style theme and opts for rock music and a gnashing thistle!

News 24 is *far* superior to Sky News and its presentation stronger than ITN NC. Certainly, I have it on in the background most of the time when I'm working and find its constant updating (rather than the same stuff each hour) to be its strongest point. Its downtime (the second half hour) during the night is much better than Sky's as well. It was one of the main reasons I sought out a UK FTV card and box back when I first got Sky Digital - so agrieved was I by the whole lack of UK terrestrials and BBC digital channels.

Incidentally, we will have overnight digital BBC News 24 via BBC ONE, I suppose which is a help. But surely since it's OK to show it overnight, there is not so much of a rights issue with it 24 hours a day. And don't the BBC own all the rights to News 24 anyway?! (This assumes - and I hope - we don't get a "sometime" BBC ONE service with certain programmes blocked.)

I hope C4 and C5 follow suit on this, especially now that C4 is regional on Sky Digital (I get "North" - as in England North - as I have a UK card, but surely C4's NI advertising would benefit from increased viewers in the Republic. C5 could do with a nice audience boost as well and I'm sure the issue of rights would be overcome by increased revenue.

All in all, fair play to tbe Beeb for making themselves available. I really did not expect the BBC to make the first move on this at all. And I did expect ITV appearance (whenever that may be) to be the turning point - UTV clearly will want as much of an audience in the south as possible and will fight to ensure it's available in ROI.

Sky clearly do now realise how big a selling point the UK terrestrial channels are here. I hope they give this a lot of promotion here as it is the one thing which will convert those sticking with cable for UK channels. The day they (legally!) give us C4, C5 and the other BBC digital channels will be a great one.

LegacyUser

BBC One turned on at 6am and the first thing i looked at was BBC digital text. it makes Sky text look like a granny with a zimmer frame. very impressive. i've only spent 5 minutes looking at it so what the content is like i dont know. but nice to see BBC One has arrived. hopefully it hearlds the start of Channel 4 etc. making its way to Sky Digital in Ireland

LegacyUser

At last BBC1 on DSat. I am also impressed with the digital text. My faith in rumours on forums has been restored

LegacyUser

So - before I get SkyDigital - has anyone come across blacked-out programmes yet?

I wonder will the likes of Live Football be blacked out.

LegacyUser

A good question Richard. Mind you, on test on Saturday, the full NI vs Czech Rep. game was on.....
Liverpool games are often carried on Netwrk 2, RTÉ 1 now show Eastender and Neighbours, best have a look at 5:30 to see for certain.

LegacyUser

Dohie, thanks for the kind words, I must update the site and add IDCG to the links page <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START --><img src="../www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif" ALT=":o" OLDREF="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> that I dont have it!! Sorry Ronan!.

A quick reply, I'll expand further later in the day...
The original Sky News for the UK is available via the "add channels" option, but I wish you could add them onto the EPG. <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.lyngsat.com/&quot; OLDREF="">www.lyngsat.com/</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> has the list of freqs.

I will soon want a BBC Card, if News 24 is not going to appear for a while. My Aunt from Newry is coming down on Sunday....... <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START --><img src="../www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif" ALT=":)" OLDREF="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

I agree with you, fair play to the Beeb for getting this far.

LegacyUser

All I have to say on the Subject is Fair play to the BEEB at least they done something about this, plus their Digital Text Service is a hell of a lot better than Sky's attempt ! Its more than our own National Service is doing and we are paying £ 70 a year licence Fee for a service that most of us can't even receive without cable or MMDS ! Its the same old story CIVIL SERVANTS, They can't even tie their own shoe laces without there mothers help !

LegacyUser

>My Aunt from Newry is coming down on Sunday.......

She'll have fun - Tell her not to go via Dundalk - it seems to be harder to get there than it does to get into NI. Via Portadown and Monaghan might be a better bet.

To be honest, it depends - the extra journey might be worse than the delays...

As for SkyDigital - I'll have to convince the others in the house that losing UTV and Channel 4 is worth it. SHouldn't be that hard.

LegacyUser

Regarding programmes being "Blocked", This afternoon I was able to watch Doctors and neighbours without any trouble. Both these programmes are almost broadcast the same time as RTE. Especially neighbours which is about 5 minutes ahead on RTE1 as BBC1.
Looking forward to Grandstand and match of the day on saturday to see if they will be "Blocked" or not.

LegacyUser

Eastenders hasn't been blocked either

LegacyUser

"Especially neighbours which is about 5 minutes ahead on RTE1 as BBC1."

Although in fairness, the afternoon showing goes out 15 minutes earlier on BBC ONE compared to RTÉ. Maybe it's a compromise!

Based on today, I really do not expect there to be any blockings.

Incidentally, it's worth pointing out that Irish cards carrying 214 will not work in a box other than that which it was "married" to. Natuarally, there is no 214 added to the UK EPG. My UK box brings up 214 when the card is inserted but gives the "This is the wrong card for this set top box" message. Same with my UK FTV card in an Irish box. 507 will appear but not decrypt.

DamoDMC - if you're still desperate for News 24 (and I can't recommend it highly enough - the daytime stuff is also more UK oriented while the overnight material shown on BBC ONE is actually a News 24 simulcast with BBC World where the focus is on world affairs and the lead-in jingles are somewhat different) you can order one by using a UK address (which has a paid up licence) - your aunt may be happy to help - by calling 08702 438000 and giving your (i.e. her) details and your box serial number. They send the card to her, she sends it to you, you call (block your number) and have it authorised. You may need to leave it in overnight. This will work if you want the UK FTVs on an Irish box, but there is the added hassle of having to swap cards. Alternatively, pick up a UK box cheaply (and dish, or use a splitter on your current dish) if you can and authorise the FTV card for that. If you'd like the option of BBC England (or Scotland or Wales) rather than NI, you may want to use a relative living there.

But all that said, I still have hopes the other BBC channels (and C4 and C5) will make their appearance before long. Now all we'll need is this new Pace/NDS box which allows the viewing of more than one channel at a time!