Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has received detailed information from RTÉ networks in respect of the progress being made with digital terrestrial television in County Mayo. SAORVIEW is the name for Ireland's new free-to-air digital TV service and most of the county is already covered by the SAORVIEW service. Despite the majority of the county being already covered by SAORVIEW, many remaining parts will not go live until spring 2011 and some further areas will not even pick up the new service through existing aerials.
The areas that will not pick up the normal coverage will have to rely upon a satellite service which will take even longer to establish.
As a result, special equipment will need to be purchased in order to pick-up the imminent digital TV services.
“The introduction of digital TV is something that will become an increasing concern to the public in 2011,” Deputy Kenny said. “RTÉ have informed me that they will be commencing a new communications campaign in early 2011 informing the public about digital TV. At present, it is intended to switch-off existing TV broadcast methods by the end of 2012 and the public will need to ensure they will be capable of picking-up digital TV coverage before the end of 2012.
“The details of providing coverage to the remaining areas of Mayo after the expansion in spring 2011 are not very specific,” he added. “It may involve the purchase of a new aerial solution or may even have to wait for the SAORSAT (satellite ) solution. The details of either of these solutions are not provided but it has come to my attention that many people are already being caught out by buying televisions with built-in digital receivers. The problem with these TVs is that they are built for the English digital TV system which is different to the Irish system. As a result, they will have to buy a separate digital receiver especially for the Irish SAORVIEW system. The safest approach is to purchase TVs with the SAORVIEW logo.”
