Irish commercial broadcaster TV3 has reacted angrily to the approval of five new channels planned by public broadcaster RTE.
The high definition variant of RTE Two, RTE News Now, children’s channel RTEjr and the time-shifted RTE One+1 will make their debut on the new Saorview DTT platform. Radio stations RTE Radio 1, RTE 2fm, RTE lyric fm, RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta, RTE Choice, RTE Pulse, RTE 2XM, RTE Gold, RTE Chill, RTEJnr, and Radio 1 Extra will also be made available.
TV3 said the launches extended the power of one of Europe’s most dominant public broadcasters at a time when the commercial sector was already under pressure. At issue is that RTE still carries advertising with TV3 warning that the decision, announced just two days before the country’s General Election could result in job losses.
