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TV and Radio Service in Ireland

Public service broadcasting in Ireland means comprehensive radio and television services that are free to transmit programmes that entertain, educates, inform and cater for all members of the community. These services must also provide news and current affairs programmes, including coverage of proceedings in the Houses of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) and the European Parliament.

Each year, the government provides a grant to RTE (the national broadcasting organisation), which is funded by the television licence fee. RTE has responsibilities to deliver public service programmes in Ireland. The television licence fee is collected by An Post on behalf of the Minister for Department of Communication, Climate Action and the Environment, who has responsibility for broadcasting policy in Ireland.

TV License in Ireland

Every household, business, or institution in Ireland with a television or equipment capable of receiving a television signal (using an aerial, satellite dish, cable or other means) must have a television licence. A television licence is a certificate that states that you have paid the appropriate fee to the government and contributed to the cost of public service broadcasting in Ireland. Your television licence is issued for 1 year in general.

TV Channels in Ireland

There are 72 Radio and TV channels in Ireland. The major stations include:

Free TV channels:

• RTÉ One - main RTÉ national station
• RTÉ Two - secondary RTÉ national station
• TV3 - independent commercial broadcaster
• TG4 - National Irish Language station (formerly TnaG)

Radio Channels in Ireland

• RTÉ (national state broadcaster)
• RTÉ Radio 1 - mainly news and current affairs
  • RTÉ 2fm (formerly Radio 2) -pop and rock music
  • RTÉ Lyric FM - classical music and arts programming
  • RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta - Irish language programmes
• 98FM
• FM104
• Dublin's Q102
• Spin 1038
• Today FM
• Newstalk

Cable TV

The main providers of cable are:

• Virgin Media Ireland is by far the largest cable and MMDS operator, owning all of the state's MMDS licences and almost all of the state's cable TV operators. Virgin Media also offers analogue and digital cable television services in cities and towns throughout the country (with the exception of Cork, where the network is digital-only) as well as MMDS services in rural areas.
• Sky Digital
• NTL
• Crossan CableComm which operates in Longford
• Smyths Cablevision which operates in Cavan
• Casey Cablevision which operates in Dungarvan, County Waterford.

Satellite TV

Direct broadcast satellite service has been available since the late 1980s with the arrival of free-to-air satellite Astra and subscription service Sky Television.

While Sky is the biggest single multichannel television network in Ireland broadcasting digital satellite television services, it is by no means the only satellite broadcasts available. Virgin Media Ireland, Magnet Networks, Eir and Smart Vision, among others, provide similar digital television services to Irish viewers, and most free to air broadcasts available in Europe are available in Ireland via the right receiver (set top box) and a dish pointed at the correct satellite.

Internet in Ireland

Internet is used by at least 77% of the population. There are many different options for accessing the Internet from your home. Options include:

• Dial-up with a computer modem via a telephone line
• Broadband over designated cables
• Wireless connections using Wi-Fi, satellite and mobile phone technology

The option you choose can depend on cost, connection speed, quality of connection and whether a service is available in your area.

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) provides information on Internet services on Comreg's website.

Internet Providers in Ireland

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) regulates Internet service providers. There are a wide variety of them operating in the market, each using different technologies and offering different services to users.

Most providers offer service packages that, in addition to an Internet connection, also include a phone line and interactive TV. The speed and price of the Internet connection depends on the infrastructure available at your address. Commonly the price of a router is included in the contract, however you can choose to buy your own.

You can find a list of the Internet service providers authorised to operate in Ireland on ComReg's independent price guide website, as well as a price guide that will allow you to compare the costs of home phone, broadband, mobile phone and combined packages for your specific usage needs.

Moreover, the Irish government's broadband site provides information on broadband to the general public. This website will allow you to locate a broadband provider for the town where you live.

The main Irish broadband providers are:

• Eircom: Operates the largest fixed-line telecommunications
• BT Ireland: Home Internet and home phone
• Irish Broadband
• Digiweb
• NTL: TV, Internet and Digital phone

WiFi in Dublin

WiFi is offered around the city for free and it is available 24/7 at various hotspots. The free version of the service provides a download speed of 512Kbps and an upload speed of 128Kbps.

A premium service is also available:

• 24-hour rate (use within one month) 3Mbps - €5
• One month (24hrs per day) 3Mbps - €10
• Flat rate (365 days no time limit) 6Mbps €8 per month