Setanta Ireland and Setanta Golf have been added to the digital terrestrial television pilot currently underway in Ireland. The additions bring the number of available TV and radio channels in the pilot, being operated by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, to 29.
“The EU has requested that all Member States complete this transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting by 2012. However I believe that Ireland must move much quicker than that,” said communications minister Tony Killeen. “I expect the development of a national public service and commercial deployment of digital terrestrial TV services in mid 2008, to ensure that Ireland doesn’t get left behind in the coming broadcasting revolution.”
The trial has been running in Dublin and Louth since August 2006 and is scheduled to end in August 2008. There are 16 standard definition TV channels, 1 high definition TV channel and 12 radio channels available.
