The Swedish DTT player Boxer has withdrawn from the operation of the three Irish commercial multiplexes citing “difficulties in getting acceptable distribution on the network operator RTENL and the sharply deteriorating economic situation in Ireland.”
Boxer, which recently commenced operations in Denmark, has told the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland that it had also failed to reach agreement with RTÉ Networks Limited, the operator of the public multiplex.
The BCI has now approached One Vision, the second placed consortium, asking whether it remains interested in pursuing contract negotiations with the regulator.
“Obviously the Commission is disappointed that this most recent development in relation to the commercial DTT multiplex contracts has occurred, and we are cognisant of the significant endeavours of all the parties involved to date, BCI chairperson Conor Maguire said in a statement. “However the BCI is committed to pursuing its policy objectives with regard to digital terrestrial television and will continue its work in this regard.”
Boxer becomes the second Irish DTT operator to hand back its licence. Plans by former RTE Executive Peter Brannigan to launch a service under the It’s TV brand collapsed in 2002.