Ireland pushes back commercial DTT plan

Ireland is not expected to see the launch of a commercial digital terrestrial television (DTT) service until 2013.

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has ruled out introducing a commercial pay-TV service over DTT until analogue television services are switched off in 2012. This comes as the country has struggled to launch a service after two consortia including Sweden’s Boxer and Irish telco Eircom pulled out.

“The Authority now considers that it will not be feasible to introduce commercial DTT as originally intended until after analogue switch off at the earliest. The position will be reviewed towards the end of 2011 and the authority may seek expressions of interest in the provision of commercial DTT at that point. A competition could potentially be held during 2012 with a view to commercial DTT being operational in 2013,” it noted.