Irish language channel TG4 becomes the third HD channel on the Saorview digital terrestrial television platform.
Technical changes were completed yesterday, allowing Saorview users to seamlessly switch from SD to HD broadcasting. It’s the first time TG4’s HD service has become available on a free-to-air TV platform.
TG4 HD promises to provide a better viewer experience, in particular for sports and live events, films, high-end entertainment and documentary programming. The channel has been available on Saorview in standard definition on the service since it was established in 2011. TG4 HD first launched in 2012, initially for cable subscribers, before going live on other subscription TV platforms.
All Saorview receivers are HD compatible. This meant there was no need to run both HD and SD services side-by-side, as is commonplace on other TV platforms. No retune was required.
Saorview’s three HD channels are RTÉ One, RTÉ 2 and TG4.
The switch to HD was also announced through TG4’s official Twitter account.
▶ TG4 HD on Saorview: Technical details
HD broadcasting on Saorview means a resolution of 1440×1080. This is less than full HD, but more than the minimum 720 line standard to qualify as HD.
With the exception of Sky News and RTÉ News, SD broadcasts on Saorview are currently using a resolution of 544×576. The news channels have a resolution of 704×576.
The conversion of TG4 into a high definition channel means the 2rn HD testcard on channel 51 has closed. This is in order to provide sufficient bandwidth for the TG4 HD channel.
Following the addition of Sky News at the end of 2021 and Virgin Media Four this year, there is currently no further capacity for additional TV channels on either of the two multiplexes that make up Saorview.
Irish government ‘supplementary allocation’ funds TG4 HD
TG4 Director General Alan Esslemont confirmed the upgrade was possible thanks to an additional payment, or supplementary allocation, from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.
Commenting on the move, he said:
“I would like to thank Minister Martin and her officials in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media for their supplementary allocation to provide TG4 in HD on Saorview. Provision of HD services for public service media on a free to air platform such as Saorview is essential as HD has become established norm in broadcasting. Audiences now expect high quality across all platforms and TG4 viewers will now enjoy excellent pictures and increased engagement in high-quality content that TG4 continues to deliver to its audiences.”
Saorview’s Business Development Manager, Jim Higgins said
“We are pleased to note the availability of TG4 in High Definition on Ireland’s free-to-air digital TV platform, and we expect to see a good reaction from our audience to this welcome development.”
TG4 HD terrestrial availability in Northern Ireland
Viewers in Northern Ireland able to receive overspill signals from the Republic of Ireland will also benefit. Most viewers with Freeview HD receivers see the HD channel in place of the old SD service, without any intervention. Irish channels from Saorview are usually assigned channel numbers in the 800s on Freeview devices.
However, the TG4 signal delivered from transmitters within Northern Ireland, and broadcast on channel 53 where coverage is available, remains standard definition only.
by Iain Hatton