Digital Radio in theRepublic of Ireland is broadcast on a number ofdigital terrestrial,cable andinternet platforms. Until 31 March 2021, official broadcasts of the full complement of radio services ofRaidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) using thedigital audio broadcasting standard were also available in the state.[1] From April 2021 until the summer of 2024, unlicensed, low-powered DABmultiplexes operated in a small number of locations.
All of RTÉ's digital radio services, and the private radio service Radio Maria Ireland, are available onSaorview.
GenericDVB receivers generally need mains power, but are typically cheaper than DAB radios. Many portable DAB radio sets have1⁄10th to1⁄50th of the running time of an AM/FM set, typically giving only 6 hours use. There are also in-dash DVB Terrestrial receivers for cars, though it is illegal for the driver to watch the TV channels.
A number of public and private radio services from Ireland are available nationwide on bothSaorsat andSky where 99% of geographic coverage is possible.
A number of public and private radio services are available across the state from broadband internet and mobile phone networks receivable onsmartphones,Internet radio devices andsmart speakers.
Digital Audio Broadcasting inIreland is due to be trialled for 12 months beginning Spring 2025 byFáilte DAB.[2]
Both Wireless Ireland and Bauer Media Audio Ireland have announced plans to operate services on the platform.[3]
Prior to this, a number of national multiplexes in the republic have ceased transmissions. A small number ofunlicensed low-powered, small-scale DAB multiplexes did run in the state after the cessation of the RTÉ DAB multiplex, but they all ceased during the summer of 2024. Areas near the border ofNorthern Ireland can receive overspill reception of UK national, Northern Ireland local and small scale multiplexes.
The first national public service multiplex operated on Block 12C (227.360 MHz) by RTÉ from just five transmitters:Three Rock, Co. Dublin;Kippure, Co. Wicklow;Clermont Carn, Co. Louth;Spur Hill, Cork; and Woodcock Hill, Limerick. Hence the service was only available in parts of Ireland. Its line-up has varied considerably since its launch on 1 January 2006. All stations were provided byRTÉ. It carried the following stations:[4]
It was proposed to close the RTÉ DAB service as well as the Digital only RTÉ radio channels as part of the November 2019 cost saving plan. This proposed closure was set to take place in April 2020 but was delayed pending review through the outcome of a commissioned report.
In March 2021, RTÉ announced that it is to cease transmission of its radio services on the Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) network on 31 March 2021.[1] A report commissioned by the broadcaster found that just 0.5% of adults in Ireland listen to radio via DAB while 77% of adults in Ireland listen on FM.[1]
No longer operating since November 2008, this multiplex launched in mid-March 2007 and operated from Three Rock Mountain and Clermont Carn on Block 12A (223.936 MHz). It carried ten services: four stations supplied byCommunicorp, two by Digital Audio Productions, two byUTV Radio, and two privately held. As of July 2008, it consisted of:[4]
Radio stations licensed by theBroadcasting Commission of Ireland ceased broadcasting on Ireland's second digital radio multiplex (Mux 2) on Sunday, 30 November 2008. The stations were broadcasting on Mux 2 as part of a digital radio trial. RTÉ continues to broadcast on the RTÉ multiplex.ComReg and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland are currently[when?] exploring regulatory frameworks for digital radio multiplex licensing and broadcast licences.[5]
DB Digital Broadcasting launched a national multiplex in some areas of Ireland in July 2012.[4][6] Plans to expand to Limerick were dropped in 2014.[6] The multiplex closed on 30 June 2017 due to a lack of enthusiasm for DAB from the commercial sector and after its licence from ComReg expired.[7] The operator was[when?] attempting to relaunch a national service after the announcement of the closure of the first national multiplex.[8]
DAB was launched to the public on 30 November 2006, with a number of trials taking place in 1998, 2001 and 2006. Before April 2021, 52%[9] of Ireland's population — mainly in CountiesCork andLimerick and the North East – could receive permanent DAB services. Geographic coverage on a portable or car radio was much less.[10] The service began to be marketed in May 2007 by a collective of commercial broadcasters, digitalradio.ie; and receivers to this day are still sold by most major electronics retailers.
Since 2010, a number of privately run trial broadcasts have been made.
Fáilte DAB were granted a licence by ComReg to commence a one year DAB+ trial starting in Spring 2025 for a multiplex that will cover six transmitter sites across the eastern part of the republic with the view to expand nationally during the trial period.[11]
DAB and DAB+ trials were begun in April 2010 in the South-East area of Ireland on channel 9B (204.64 MHz) by Total Broadcast Consultants Ltd, a broadcast engineering company. The company initially obtained a 1-year test and trial licence from ComReg to perform tests from sites, initially just in Waterford City. But from mid May, the trial multiplex was expanded to cover much of the South East of Ireland via a high site in the Blackstairs Mountains, providing coverage in Co. Wexford, Co. Carlow, Co. Kilkenny and East Co. Waterford. In March 2011, a 1-year extension was granted. This was the first DAB multiplex in Ireland to be operated by an independent/private organisation (RTÉ NL operating previous multiplexes), and the first known broadcasts of DAB+ content in Ireland. In addition to all local and regional radio stations, it was carrying several stations previously unavailable in the region. Past trial participants have included Christmas FM, Zenith Classic Rock & Raidió Rí-Rá.
A test service inDublin served parts of the city on Channels 5A and 5B carrying both RTÉ and Independent local radio services from both Dublin and Cork.
A small scale DAB trial launched in August 2018 in Cork City, Ireland on channel 11A (216.928 MHz). It was operated by Viamux Ltd (éirdab), a DAB/DAB+ digital radio solutions company. éirdab has a 1-year test and trial licence fromComreg to perform tests from a site in Cork City. éirdab has invited all local and regional radio stations to join the multiplex. It also carried stations previously unavailable to listeners in the area. Stations include:
A small number ofunlicensed independent DAB multiplexes were available in a few locations until the summer of 2024.[4]
The FreeDAB network carried a number of low-powered multiplexes in Cork, Dublin, the north and north east of Ireland and Sligo. The broadcaster was raided by theGarda in 2020[12] and resumed broadcasting in Cork, Dublin, Sligo, Waterford, Dundalk, Limerick. These transmissions have ceased.
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