RTÉ Network Limited

RTÉ Transmission Network Limited
Type Network Transmission
Predecessor Division of RTÉ
Founded 2002
Headquarters

Dublin, Ireland

Nationwide
Area served Ireland
Parent Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Website http://www.rtenl.ie

RTÉ Transmission Network Limited (RTÉNL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raidió Teilifís Éireann which runs Ireland's principal terrestrial television and radio broadcast signal transmission networks. They operate 10 main sites, and over 100 smaller relays and transposers, which carry either television, radio, or both. In 2002 it became an incorporated company and subsidiary of RTÉ, it was previously a division within RTÉ.

Contents

Carried content

Four television channels - RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3 and TG4 - are carried from all main sites; with TV3 being dropped from all bar two relays. Either all three or four stations are on UHF, or RTÉ One and Two are on VHF and TV3 and TG4 on UHF.

Four FM radio stations are carried, although not all on every transmitter or auxiliary rely, RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ lyric fm and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. DAB transmitters add the World Radio Network to this. Longwave and Mediumwave radio transmitters carry Radio 1 Europe only.

Today FM is also carried on most main sites as well as many auxiliaries, and many Independent Local Radio stations use the local RTÉNL transmission site, as well as most sites carrying mobile telecoms kit for at least one of Ireland's four mobile telephone providers.

Digital upgrades

Television: Saorview, Saorsat

RTENL are current constructing a digital terrestrial television network. As of December 2009, it has been rolled out to all core television sites and 4 relay sites, providing approximately 80% coverage. Broadcasting will be done via DVB-T, using MPEG-4 video compression and MPEG 1 Layer II audio compression and will be operational to 90% of the Republic of Ireland by October 31, 2010. Saorsat will cover the remaining 2-7% not covered by DTT due to terrain issues using narrowband Ka satellite from June 2011. For more on these see Saorview article

RTÉ themselves will control one multiplex (or mux) on the new Digital terrestrial television service. The other 3 muxes will be controlled and operated by a commercial multiplex operator to be determined by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The RTÉ NL mux will be the Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) mux. Broadcasting will be done via DVB-T, using MPEG-4 video compression and MPEG 1 Layer II audio compression. RTÉ's mux currently carries their TV stations including RTÉ News Now, TV3, TG4, and a complete complement of RTÉ's analogue radio stations.

Radio

RTENL have slowly deployed a DAB network which covers the north-east of Ireland along with two regional cities, from 4 main and one relay transmitter. Currently only RTÉ are licenced to operate a DAB multiplex but in the past, a private multiplex has operated on two transmitters on a trial licence. DAB in Ireland carries details of the channels carried.

The Clarkestown LW transmitter is equipped for, and has been used to carry Digital Radio Mondiale transmissions in the past, but there are no public plans to continue this.

Transmission sites

Main sites

Auxiliary transmitters

Bolded entries will carry full digital terrestrial television service

External links

Services
Departments
Subsidiaries
Management
Performing Groups
Online