UPC in exclusive deal with RTÉ to host new digital TV channels

24 Feb 2012

UPC has reached a deal with RTÉ to be the only pay-TV provider to be carrying RTÉ’s new digital channels, including RTÉ HD, RTÉ +1, RTÉ Junior and later in the summer RTÉ News Now.

UPC Ireland chief executive Dana Strong told Siliconrepublic.com that UPC will begin broadcasting the new RTÉ channels in April on its cable TV network.

She added that a new RTÉ News Now channel will be added in June.

“We reached agreement with RTÉ this week and see this as a great expansion of service for customers.”

RTÉ launched the new channels as part of its €70m digital terrestrial TV (DTT) rollout.

On 24 October this year, analogue TV will be switched off and viewers across Ireland will only be able to access TV via DTT-enabled TVs and set-top boxes or via pay TV networks like UPC (cable), Magnet (fibre) and Sky (satellite).

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com