Encoder changes create additional capacity on Saorview

Ireland’s free-to-air television platform Saorview looks set to grow further following a technical reconfiguration earlier this month.

Extra capacity has been added after encoder changes on the platform’s second multiplex.

This has allowed Saorview to reinstate its information channel. But it also means there’s now sufficient capacity for up to 3 new standard definition channels or 1 new HD channel.

The mux 2 encoder upgrade means 2rn, the operator of Saorview, can now compress some of its channels without reducing picture quality.

This extra compression means services which used to fill up the entire bandwidth of multiplex 2 (~24Mbps) can now do so in ~19.2 Mbps, freeing up ~4.8 Mbps for new services.

Of course, some longtime Saorview viewers may wish that the extra capacity could be used to boost HD resolution of its channels from 1440 x 1080 to 1920 x 1080, or that VM 1 might eventually also go HD on the platform.

Both options might constitute fanciful thinking. Virgin Media and before that TV 3, have not always been complimentary of Saorview and the cost of broadcasting on that platform. And RTÉ has not signalled any planned HD resolution changes.

Saorview became Ireland’s default free-to-air platform after digital switchover in 2012. After a rather stagnant decade, the last 18 months has seen Sky launch two new channels on the platform, Virgin Media add a fourth channel, plus TG4 switching to HD. 

This filled all previously available capacity, but also gave 2rn an incentive to upgrade its encoders.

Freeview of course went through this process in the 2000s when commercial demand incentivised multiplex operators to upgrade encoders and adjust other configuration aspects to create new slots.

There is of course only so much compression that can be done before it does become noticeable and again Freeview did that years ago. 

There’s currently no news on how the extra space will be filled, but viewers shouldn’t be surprised if new services do pop-up on their TV in the future.

Acknowledgements