• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Clean Feed

Clean Feed

  • Timeline
  • News
  • Opinion
  • PresWatch
  • Bloopers
  • News+
  • Resources
  • Rewind
  • Showreel
  • Studio A
  • TX
  • Webfax

Encoder changes create additional capacity on Saorview

Posted on 28th May 2023
By Mike Manning
Last updated on 3rd July 2023
Filed under News

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.

VIDEO: a longstanding presence on Saorview – a live test card – returned earlier this month following the encoder changes. It disappeared earlier this year when the remaining capacity at the time was taken up by the addition of Challenge TV. TX DATE: 23rd May 2023. COPYRIGHT: 2RN.

Related

Acknowledgements

Related

FEATURE IMAGE:

PICTURED: Saorview logo. COPYRIGHT: Saorview.

Related

Related

Sidebar

Tags: Saorview

Follow Us on Bluesky

Bluesky is the only social media platform where you'll find regular updates from The TV Room.

You'll find us here.

Pres Café Forum



Join in the discussion about TV presentation and branding.

TV Pres Updates



The latest updates from a number of presentation-related websites.

Latest updates over on: Rewind

BBC One continuity followed by Waterfall interlude (August 1982)

BBC One continuity followed by Waterfall interlude (August 1982)

BBC One continuity followed by Messing About on the River interlude (30th August 1982)

BBC One continuity followed by Messing About on the River interlude (30th August 1982)

About This Site · Contact Us · FAQ · Privacy Policy · Terms and Conditions

Unless otherwise indicated material featured on this site is © 2025 The TV Room.

Established in 1999, The TV Room is not affiliated with any broadcaster, production company or design/marketing/talent agency.

Back to top