Is channel 3e available?

zbluebirdz · 17-12-2009 12:02am #1

Is channel 3e available over the air?

Or via NTL & Sky subscriptions?

Kristopherus · 17-12-2009 12:20am

Only on satellite afaik. Channel 105 on Irish EPG.

TVDX · 17-12-2009 7:08am

It's on cable as well.

craoltoir · 17-12-2009 9:25am

Only available by subscribing to commercial platform (cable or satellite).

rushnaldo · 17-12-2009 1:28pm

I have Sky and im in Donegal yet when I put on channel 105 3e it tells me to ring a number to subscribe for 2 euro extra a month??

Mossy Monk · 17-12-2009 1:54pm

You need to be subscribed to the variey package to receive 3e

craoltoir · 17-12-2009 1:58pm

People may differ, but I would'nt regard unavailability of 3e as a loss!

rushnaldo · 17-12-2009 2:09pm

Yeah it seems pretty abysmal alright but I want to watch the Everton game tonight on it as Seamie Coleman is starting for Everton

17-12-2009 2:15pm

I think it is live on FIVE

Satdog · 17-12-2009 2:22pm

169 wrote: »

I think it is live on FIVE

Copy that.

http://www.tvguide.co.uk/detail.asp?id=54737979

rushnaldo · 17-12-2009 2:30pm

Thanks guys. That'll do lovely

scath · 17-12-2009 7:38pm

get the impression from all that that, 3e is going to be a subscription channel unlike TV3. But it would make more sense for it to be FTA I would think. Anyways I guess its hard to tell. I would like to see it FTA on DTT of course on the RTE Mux. I wonder why its not on the DTT tests? I suppose 3e hasn't a terrestrial license although i thought the changes made to the 3e BAI license meant that the channel would automatically gain TV3's license. I wonder is it programme rights for bought programming that they'd have to pay more for or what it is. Is it that TV3 would have to pay RTÉ for the space on it, whereas with TV3, its obliged to, or what is the situation? Presumably RTÉ are paying RTÉ NL to broadcast RTÉ News Now. I guess an email to TV3 directly would clarify the issue.

L1011 · 17-12-2009 9:53pm

3e's licenced as a PSB channel now, which would mean TV3 can, if they want to, request carriage on the RTE mux.

scath · 18-12-2009 8:52am

That's what I thought. I sent them an email along with afew other ideas. Let's see the response.

craoltoir · 18-12-2009 9:09am

Channels to be carried on the Public Service Mux are determined by the legislation:

At present the must-carry channels are RTE (1 & 2), TV3, TG4 and, if and when they become available, an Irish Film Channel (Irish European and World Films)and the Oireachtas Channel. The Minister may designate by order that other Public Service channels must be carried

The 2009 broadcasting act can be viewed on the BAI website.The relevant article is 77.

scath · 18-12-2009 2:56pm

craoltoir wrote: »

Channels to be carried on the Public Service Mux are determined by the legislation:

At present the must-carry channels are RTE (1 & 2), TV3, TG4 and, if and when they become available, an Irish Film Channel (Irish European and World Films)and the Oireachtas Channel. The Minister may designate by order that other Public Service channels must be carried

The 2009 broadcasting act can be viewed on the BAI website.The relevant article is 77.

Craoltóir, by virtue of the changes made to the BCI license by TV3 with the BCI's approval, 3e could now be regarded as must-carry.

On 29 July 2009 the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland announced that the 3e licence would be licensed under Section 34, rather than Sections 36 and 41, of the Broadcasting Act 2001. http://www.iftn.ie/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4282379&tpl=archnewshome&force=1This means that 3e is no longer a separate cable and satellite service rather it will be covered by the main terms and conditions of the existing TV3 contract given their experience with being on a lower EPG with Sky and what affect that had on its success.

Therefore it could be argued under Article 77, that like RTÉ2, 3e could be regarded as a must carry channel, and that designation isn't required. Given that the change is recent it probably would be for TV3 to request that the BAI activated without necessity for the Minister to so designate 3e as a public service broadcaster as 3e inherits must carry rights from TV3 as a sister channel under the license change. Its only for TV3 to request that the BAI formally designate it to activate its change to a public service channel must carry status. That would mean it going on RTÉ's mux. However perhaps 3e are holding back from that, preferring to have it on the One Vision muxes but I don't think that is wisest, as 3e should probably seek to go in after TV3 and before TG4.

givecredit · 18-12-2009 6:50pm

Maybe 3e have only rights to tv programs on a pay channel basis and need to sort out affairs with right holders first?

Mossy Monk · 18-12-2009 7:22pm

Perhaps. But I wouldn't be bothered about 3e not being on DTT until the service launches properly.

scath · 19-12-2009 1:03am

givecredit wrote: »

Maybe 3e have only rights to tv programs on a pay channel basis and need to sort out affairs with right holders first?

Yea but it would be a good addition to the tests to show 6 channels and would make the tests even more meaningfull. I what what the status of the Houses of the Oireachtas Channel. I haven't received a reply to that enquiry yet. But I would think it should be a priority more than the Irish Film Channel because its cheaper to cover. I would suspect the best way for the Irish Film Channel to succeed is for RTÉ and TV3 to get involved with co-productions with the Irish Film Channel so that the Irish Film Channel gets first airing and then RTÉ or TV3 or indeed TG4 gets to show it at a later date.

I am thinking that that is the issue really Mossy. They may well be in negotiations with rights holders for 2010, preferring to leave things as they are in the meantime. That would be might inkling. However it would seem to make sense for them to pay the extra and clear the rights for 2010 and get visibility on DTT anyhow. Perhaps they have a subscription outlook for 3e but it wouldn't seem sensible to be, given Film 4's experience.

I wounder what solution they came to on the programme rights in the DTT era? I do believe that Northern Ireland rights should be removed from the UK mainland rights and joined with the ROI rights and sold on an island of Ireland basis with joint bids the order of the day to avoid an issues.

icdg · 19-12-2009 2:06pm

scath wrote: »

Craoltóir, by virtue of the changes made to the BCI license by TV3 with the BCI's approval, 3e could now be regarded as must-carry.

On 29 July 2009 the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland announced that the 3e licence would be licensed under Section 34, rather than Sections 36 and 41, of the Broadcasting Act 2001. http://www.iftn.ie/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4282379&tpl=archnewshome&force=1This means that 3e is no longer a separate cable and satellite service rather it will be covered by the main terms and conditions of the existing TV3 contract given their experience with being on a lower EPG with Sky and what affect that had on its success.

Therefore it could be argued under Article 77, that like RTÉ2, 3e could be regarded as a must carry channel, and that designation isn't required. Given that the change is recent it probably would be for TV3 to request that the BAI activated without necessity for the Minister to so designate 3e as a public service broadcaster as 3e inherits must carry rights from TV3 as a sister channel under the license change. Its only for TV3 to request that the BAI formally designate it to activate its change to a public service channel must carry status. That would mean it going on RTÉ's mux. However perhaps 3e are holding back from that, preferring to have it on the One Vision muxes but I don't think that is wisest, as 3e should probably seek to go in after TV3 and before TG4.

I'd be very hesitant to regard TV3 as a must carry. Whatever about TV3's campaign to have it regarded as a public service channel (lobbying for a higher EPG slot on Sky, lobbying TV listings magazines and newspapers to include it with terrestrial channels, the news bulitten, and the licencing move) the long and short of it is that 3e was, is, and remains a pay-television channel. It is only available by subscription to a pay-TV platform. Whether than changes if and when DTT launches is immaterial to the present situation and I would argue 3e should not be given any sort of must-carry status (indeed it does not enjoy must carry status on any platform at present) unless it carries significant public service obligations. Showing one news bulliten a day and repeating Xpose ad infinum does not a PSB make.

Throwing RTÉ2 into the hat is a red herring, RTÉ2 is part of RTÉ's public service remit, screens ten hours or so of childrens programming each day including Irish made shows - it is the only broadcaster of Irish made children's programming in the English langauge - and shows coverage of Irish sports. RTÉ2 is much more a public service broadcaster than 3e - never mind TV3 - will ever be.

Sponge Bob · 19-12-2009 2:12pm

scath wrote: »

3e could now be regarded as must-carry.

Absolutely not, TV3 refuse to provide a universal service on their main channel. Until they take up the capacity that has been quarantined nationally for their main channel since about 1997 they are not entitled to clog up our public service muxes for a service that they themselves refuse to provide to 20% of the viewing public who are served by analogue relays.

The bulk of the TV3 public service 'obligation' is now discharged on their behalf and at no cost to the taxpayer or to RTÉ by ITV Freesat.

scath · 19-12-2009 11:14pm

I wasn't arguing for it to be must carry for those reasons. I take the points about the programming and the good Channel 6 programming that was ditched when they took it over. But just as an Irish channel I would like to see it on Irish DTT and if they made some more programming for 3e then I would think it should be on the RTÉ Mux. I'm not comparing it with RTÉ2 as you both make good points on it. I was only thinking from the more than 1 channel point of view. I know what you mean about the analogue coverage. Valid point.

Sponge Bob · 20-12-2009 12:49am

Thanks Scath, I dont feel that a shower who happily left Rupert to supply 20% of the population to pay for their inferior low bitrate subscription satellite service should be cut a break of any sort

3 mbits and locked down hard since the summer, even for champions league football.

RTE and TG4 will burst to 6mbits to provide the same service. At least it looks OK .

L1011 · 20-12-2009 2:09pm

TV3 doing to constant bitrate was around the time DW was taken off the transponder and a whole load of Sky Interactive guff was put on instead, right? Odd enough decision, TV3 must be being made pay for the BW now!

Antenna · 20-12-2009 3:47pm

its not just on SKY
TV3's picture definition on 100% rock-solid analogue reception is noticeably inferior to RTE's.
(and the transmitter isn't fed from satellite either, before anyone suggests so.) I have heard a joe-soap (who wouldn't be that fussy about quality) say to me that a human face (newsreader etc) looks "plastic-like" on TV3 due to the poor definition.

Is channel 3e available?

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