Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 February 2013
241. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when TG4 HD will begin airing on Saorview and Sky; the reason there has not been a public review of TG4 HD and whether TG4 SD will continue to exist on satellite and cable platforms; if he will report on the amount of content TG4 intends to air in HD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7997/13]
View answerThe timing of the launch of TG4 HD on SAORVIEW and Sky and other platforms is a matter for TG4 in commercial negotiations with the various platform providers. The development of a full TG4 HD service is one which may take several years, given the level of investment required to, inter alia, build and equip new HD studios.
The current TG4 HD service on UPC is a trial service only and TG4 will use the lessons learnt from the trial to develop and enhance their plans for a future HD service. In the current UPC trial they are offering primarily acquired HD content and upscaled SD content. I understand from TG4 that they do not plan to offer both a HD and SD service in the longer term and that they plan to provide HD service only, whilst ensuring that TG4 can continue to be viewed by those viewers who do not have a HD television set.
