:: 15/05/2010

Ireland - Easy TV declines commercial DTT license

Plans to launch a commercial DTT platform have been set-back following the decision by Easy TV to decline the DTT license.

Easy TV, a joint venture between RTE and Liberty Global, is the third company to turn down the DTT commercial license. Previously, a consortium led by Boxer and the OneVision consortium led by Eircom returned the DTT license to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland(BAI). In both cases, an the consortia had been unable to reach agreement with the broadcast network operator RTE NL.

According to Easy TV, it declined the license "due to the significant lapse in time and the altered circumstances since Easy TV's original application in 2008".

It is expected that the BAI will announce a new tender for the DTT commercial license next week.

Despite the difficulties with the commercial DTT platform, free-to-air services are expected to launch this year and reach a 90% population coverage by 31 October 2010. The platform will offer viewers four television programme services. Analogue switch-off is planned for completion in 2012.

Source: Irish Independent