2 Digital
Switchover
10. Northern Ireland is due to switch to digital
television and radio broadcasting in 2012, and will be among the
last of the UK nations to do so. This is largely because of the
difficulties posed by switchover in an area which receives significant
broadcast signals from abroad—in this case from the Republic
of Ireland. Northern Ireland has long differed from most of the
UK in that viewers have had access to the output of Radio Telefis
Eirrean (RTE), TV3 and the Irish Language channel TG4. Negotiations
are under way with the Government of the Republic of Ireland to
ensure that viewers and listeners on both sides of the UK-Irish
border do not suffer any diminution of service once analogue services
are switched off. RTE states:
With regard to digital switchover in Northern Ireland,
it is likely that RTE services in Northern Ireland will be lost
to many viewers in Northern Ireland who will be affected when
the switchover happens in 2012. This will have a significant impact
on the cultural diversity of the television landscape in Northern
Ireland. For this reason RTE is interested to engage with the
UK Government to see if some way of legitimately providing free-to-air
RTE services in Northern Ireland could be considered for the future.[3]
The problem arises because the Republic may switch
to a digital platform different from that which will support broadcasting
services in the UK.
11. Moreover, there is also concern, particularly
for those in the border areas, about potential interference with
television sets and set-top boxes when digital switchover occurs,
owing to the signal from the other jurisdiction. The Government
has also been in negotiation with the Government of the Republic
of Ireland on these technical issues, and we have been reassured
by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that it is, "optimistic
that technical solutions can be found that will address any problems
that might emerge".[4]
We welcome the cross-border co-operation between the two Governments,
and by Ofcom and its counterparts in the Republic, the Broadcasting
Authority of Ireland and ComReg, on both these issues.
12. The evidence we received highlighted the
value placed on services received from the Republic of Ireland's
main public service broadcaster, RTE, and from TG4, which is particularly
valued for its Irish language programmes. The Ofcom Public Service
Broadcasting report states:
Services like those from the Republic of Ireland
of RTE in English and TG4 in Irish have been widely available
free-to-air in Northern Ireland for many years and are generally
regarded as making a valuable contribution to the public service
broadcasting ecology of Northern Ireland, providing an alternative
view of Irish, Northern Irish, UK and international affairs.[5]
Mr Simon, stated:
TG4 is guaranteed in the Belfast Agreement and currently
reaches about 65% of Northern Ireland. After switchover it will
be available to the full switched over percentage of the population
which will be 98%.[6]
We welcome both the guarantee and increased reach
of services from TG4 to viewers in Northern Ireland. As
for RTE, however, the position is not as clear. The Minister also
told us that discussions are ongoing with the Irish Government
about making RTE available digitally after switchover.[7]
We are concerned, however, that continued access to RTE programming
has not yet been guaranteed, although the Minister told us a decision
was expected around Christmas. We
attach fundamental importance to the continuity of service and
we therefore urge the UK Government to ensure that its discussions
with the Government of the Republic of Ireland guarantee that
there is no loss of service or amenity to the people of Northern
Ireland. We ask for definitive assurance on this point before
the end of this Parliament.
3 Ev 101 Back
4
Ev 93 Back
5 5
Ofcom's Second Public Service Broadcasting Review: Putting Viewers
First 21 January 2009 p96 Back
6 6
Q 124 Back
7
Q 124 Back
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