Comments on: Ireland to blunder on DTT like ONdigital? http://www.briangreene.com/bhg/2008/ireland-to-blunder-on-dtt-like-ondigital/       & The Great Anti-Theft Movement       Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:23:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Brian Greene http://www.briangreene.com/bhg/2008/ireland-to-blunder-on-dtt-like-ondigital/#comment-27208 Brian Greene Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:05:04 +0000 http://www.briangreene.com/bhg/2008/ireland-to-blunder-on-dtt-like-ondigital/#comment-27208 Hi, Antoin There has been mention of MPEG4 in the tender docs for the 3 commercial mux. It would seem that RTÉ favour MPEG4 and the possibility of HD. This is a good thing and is forward looking. It means that UK hardware (cheap now and mass produced) will not work in the 26 counties. But the suggestion of MPEG4 does not make it a minimum standard and as I read it it is being set as a maximum. If RTÉ applied this logic on MPEG to radio they would run a mile from DAB, but they want DAB so much they're shutting down MW to help fund DAB. Crazy. I wonder though if the spectrum effectiveness are lesser our greater with HD mpeg4 (not standard definition mpeg4) versus mpeg2 standard definition. The RTÉ mpeg4 argument also makes a laugh of the RTÉ DRM argument, RTÉ know they need to innovate and lead DTT MPEG 4 to drive down STB prices on new tech. The same logic applies to DRM which RTÉ now stall in favour of a analogue half power LW with no MW fallback. RTÉ do not have limitless resources, but that is no excuse for the differences in transmission planning between TV & radio, between analogue & digital & between old and new. RTÉ have a clear mandate from Gov. (March 2007) for International TV and (added at the last minute) International Radio. We need a viewers & listeners association that has teeth (and will bite), the suits in RTÉ are playing a numbers game as the only thing they seem to care about is share and competition with the commercial TV & radio companies in Ireland. On reason given for MW shutdown was not many listen to it anymore. Based on this logic RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Philharmonic Choir, Cór na nÓg and the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet should expect the P45 any day. This line of argument I don't support. What is needed on the lawn of Montrose is 12 foot letters reminding the organisation that they are a public service broadcaster not commercial. This means both taking unpopular decisions but also deciding to serve the unpopular. Hi, Antoin
There has been mention of MPEG4 in the tender docs for the 3 commercial mux. It would seem that RTÉ favour MPEG4 and the possibility of HD. This is a good thing and is forward looking. It means that UK hardware (cheap now and mass produced) will not work in the 26 counties. But the suggestion of MPEG4 does not make it a minimum standard and as I read it it is being set as a maximum. If RTÉ applied this logic on MPEG to radio they would run a mile from DAB, but they want DAB so much they’re shutting down MW to help fund DAB. Crazy. I wonder though if the spectrum effectiveness are lesser our greater with HD mpeg4 (not standard definition mpeg4) versus mpeg2 standard definition.

The RTÉ mpeg4 argument also makes a laugh of the RTÉ DRM argument, RTÉ know they need to innovate and lead DTT MPEG 4 to drive down STB prices on new tech. The same logic applies to DRM which RTÉ now stall in favour of a analogue half power LW with no MW fallback.

RTÉ do not have limitless resources, but that is no excuse for the differences in transmission planning between TV & radio, between analogue & digital & between old and new. RTÉ have a clear mandate from Gov. (March 2007) for International TV and (added at the last minute) International Radio. We need a viewers & listeners association that has teeth (and will bite), the suits in RTÉ are playing a numbers game as the only thing they seem to care about is share and competition with the commercial TV & radio companies in Ireland.

On reason given for MW shutdown was not many listen to it anymore. Based on this logic RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Philharmonic Choir, Cór na nÓg and the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet should expect the P45 any day. This line of argument I don’t support. What is needed on the lawn of Montrose is 12 foot letters reminding the organisation that they are a public service broadcaster not commercial. This means both taking unpopular decisions but also deciding to serve the unpopular.

]]> By: Antoin O Lachtnain http://www.briangreene.com/bhg/2008/ireland-to-blunder-on-dtt-like-ondigital/#comment-27207 Antoin O Lachtnain Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:02:14 +0000 http://www.briangreene.com/bhg/2008/ireland-to-blunder-on-dtt-like-ondigital/#comment-27207 I understand that the STB for Ireland is going to be different. I have only been on the outside periphery of this but it seems very unclear what the spec will be. There is a possiblity that it may be mpeg-4 rather than mpeg-2 for instance. I understand that the STB for Ireland is going to be different. I have only been on the outside periphery of this but it seems very unclear what the spec will be. There is a possiblity that it may be mpeg-4 rather than mpeg-2 for instance.

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