asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether RTE Relays have indicated their intention of discontinuing 405-line piped television broadcasts from BBC and HTV prior to the cessation of 405-line broadcasting by those stations; and, if so, whether he considers such action would be a fair and reasonable discharge of their contract with house-holders.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Piped Television Broadcasts.
38.
Under the licences issued by my Department cable companies are obliged to relay RTE television programmes and are given permission to relay other programmes specified in a schedule to the licence. It is, however, a matter for the company concerned to decide what other programmes they will relay.
I am aware that RTE Relays have decided to discontinue relay of all 405-line programmes on their cable systems. I have no doubt that they had regard to their contractual obligations before they made this decision.
The question I put to the Minister was whether he would consider such action a fair and reasonable discharge of their contract. The Minister has not quite answered that question.
The answer is "Yes".
Does the Minister consider it fair?
Yes.
Would the Minister agree that the company concerned certainly gave the people with whom they entered into contracts to believe that they would provide 405-line broadcasts of BBC and HTV and did not give them to believe that they would cease retransmitting these broadcasts prior to the conclusion of such broadcasts from the stations concerned?
RTE Relays have advised their subscribers, as I think other cable companies have too, that cessation of relay of 405-line programmes will enable them to provide improved 625-line pictures, which is, of course, what interests most viewers. The Deputy had a question down to me not long ago about improving reception in north Dublin. I am satisfied that this step is among steps which enable generally improved reception.
Are we to take it that as far as the Minister is concerned, because he believes this step will improve reception of the 625-line broadcasts, that it does not really matter that those who are on 405-line broadcasts will cease to receive them long before it is necessary for them to cease receiving them?
It is a question of the greatest good and the greatest number. The numbers are rather convincing. It is estimated that there are only about 15,000 405-line sets still in use in the Dublin area as compared with a total of about 193,000 sets. All of the 405-line sets must now be 12 years old since it is understood that manufacture of 405-line only sets ceased here about 1963. Of course, it is quite evident that 405-line has to be phased out. That is now happening to the considerable advantage of most viewers.
Will the Minister accept the bulk of those having 405-line sets are in the poorer sections of the community and are probably elderly?
There may be elderly people among them but I think most of the poorer viewers have rented sets, none of which would now have 405-line reception.
Is the Minister aware that an Irish manufacturer, up to a couple of years ago, was manufacturing sets which receive both line systems and that those sets are by no means obsolete?
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.