RTE On Freeview

Viewers in Northern Ireland will be able to watch RTE TV channels on Freeview following digital TV switchover, the government has confirmed.

Three channels - RTE One, Two and TG4 - will be available.

Freeview delivery of the channels will be supplemented by overspill coverage from Saorview, its equivalent in the Republic.

Digital switchover is to be completed in Northern Ireland on October 24 this year.

Minister of State for Northern Ireland Hugo Swire said:"This announcement is the culmination of a great deal of work involving the UK and Irish governments, the broadcasters themselves and the regulatory bodies.

"I'm pleased to welcome this important practical step, which will increase the coverage of RTE1 and 2 and importantly of TG4 following digital switchover later this year."

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said: "I'm delighted that the digital future for TG4, RTE One and RTE Two in Northern Ireland is now strengthened and secure.

"Today's announcement is good news for viewers and continues our delivery on commitments set out in the Good Friday agreement."

Irish Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte added: "This announcement means that from Analogue Switch-off on 24 October, over 90% of viewers in Northern Ireland will be able to receive TG4 and the two primary RTE channels in digital.

"It is a hugely positive result in terms of practical cooperation resulting from the Good Friday Agreement."

May 30 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

Click here to comment on this story

Attack On Eurovision Foiled

Azerbaijan said it has arrested 40 people suspected of having plotted a "terrorist" attack on last week's Eurovision Song Contest in Baku.

The Azeri National Security Ministry says the plotters had planned to attack the event's venue - the Baku Crystal Hall - and several hotels on the eve of the competition.

The news was deliberately held back to prevent alarm among visitors, it said.

There has been no independent confirmation of the alleged plot.

The suspects had "obtained Eurovision tickets with the aim of (committing) a terrorist act at the Baku Crystal Hall", the official statement said. Among the hotels named as targets were Hilton Baku and the JW Marriott Hotel.

They allegedly had links to neighbouring Dagestan, a mainly Muslim republic in the Russian North Caucasus plagued by Islamist insurgent attacks.

The suspects were found possessing guns and explosives, the ministry said.

Saturday's pop competition, watched by millions of TV viewers worldwide, was won by Swedish singer Loreen.

Twenty-six countries took part in the final in Baku, in front of a live audience of some 20,000.

May 30 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

Click here to comment on this story

KFC Ad Generated Most Complaints

A Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial featuring call centre workers singing with their mouths full is the most complained-about UK campaign of all time, the official watchdog has revealed.

The 2005 television ad drew a record 1,671 complaints, with the majority objecting that it could encourage bad manners among children, said the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

The complaints were all rejected, with the ASA ruling that although it was "not to everyone's taste", it was unlikely to change children's behaviour or undermine parental authority.

The Auction World television shopping channel attracted 1,360 complaints in 2004 - the second-highest amount ever - from viewers who objected to poor customer service, misleading guide prices and delivery delays. The ASA passed the complaints to Ofcom which issued a fine and revoked the channel's broadcasting licence.

The third most unpopular ad was for bookmaker Paddy Power in 2010 which drew 1,313 complaints for showing a cat being kicked across a pitch by a blind football player. Viewers objected that the ad was offensive to blind people and could encourage animal cruelty but the ASA rejected the complaints on the grounds that it was unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence or condone cruelty.

The regulator has revealed the 10 most unpopular ads of all time to celebrate its 50-year anniversary, saying it had dealt with around 431,000 complaints in that time.

An commercial for the Christian Party in 2009 carrying the strap line "There definitely is a God. So join the Christian Party and enjoy your life" drew 1,204 complaints that it was offensive to atheists and could not be substantiated.

The complaints were not upheld because political party ads are beyond the ASA's remit, although it would not have been banned because it was a statement of opinion rather than fact, the watchdog said.

The British Safety Council produced the fifth most complained-about ad in 1995 featuring the Pope wearing a hard hat with the strap line "The Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt always wear a condom." The ASA agreed with 1,192 complainants that it was offensive to Roman Catholics even though it was intended to raise awareness for National Condom Week and promote safer sex.

ASA chairman Lord Smith of Finsbury said: "Our top 10 most complained-about ads of all time certainly reveal what gets the public talking, but even more important is the less glamorous day-to-day action we take to protect consumers from misleading advertising. Our commitment for the next 50 years will be the same as for the last: to keep UK ads legal, decent, honest and truthful. We're up for the task."

May 30 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

Click here to comment on this story

YouView Trial

Members of the public have sat down to watch YouView for the first time.

The next generation of Freeview box for online television and catch-up is now being tested in 350 homes.

YouView, formerly known as Project Canvas, is a collaboration between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel Five, TalkTalk, BT and Arqiva to build a set-top box that pipes Freeview channels and online catchup from the Internet to your television.

If the trial is extended in the next two months, those thousands of people will get to watch the London 2012 Olympics, no less.

The YouView set-top boxes will have at least 320GB of storage, two tuners, HDMI and Wi-Fi inside them. They are expected to cost about £200, but will be cheaper through a broadband provider.

May 30 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

Click here to comment on this story

                                                                                                    Next       Previous