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14/02/2002
Plug pulled on UTV transmission to Republic of Ireland
BSkyB have ended the transmissions of UTV programmes to the Republic of Ireland.
UTV, which BSkyB had been broadcasting as part of an ITV Digital network package of programmes, claimed to have been "inundated" with phone calls after the channel was blocked.
A spokesperson for UTV said that they were "disappointed" by the decision: "This decision was taken by ITV without our agreement. Obviously, we are very disappointed that this has happened. We, like Sky, very much want UTV to be available for satellite viewers in the Republic.
The spokesperson continued: "Despite this ITV network decision, we will continue to work with them to make UTV available on satellite as quickly as possible, so viewers throughout Ireland can enjoy the same choice of viewing on satellite that they currently enjoy via cable and terrestrial TV."
However, ITV Digital rejected this view and said that the viewers in the Republic should not have been watching UTV in the first instance, as the company did not hold a licence to broadcast there.
According to ITV Digital, channel frequencies for the UK's 16 broadcasters were published widely in the press and some subscribers had been manually tuning into the otherwise free-to-air channels, which ordinarily should not have been available to them.
ITV Digital said that the company had always intended to block viewers in the Republic who had been picking up the transmissions since ITV Digital's move onto the digital satellite service provided by BSkyB in November.
(GMcG)
UTV, which BSkyB had been broadcasting as part of an ITV Digital network package of programmes, claimed to have been "inundated" with phone calls after the channel was blocked.
A spokesperson for UTV said that they were "disappointed" by the decision: "This decision was taken by ITV without our agreement. Obviously, we are very disappointed that this has happened. We, like Sky, very much want UTV to be available for satellite viewers in the Republic.
The spokesperson continued: "Despite this ITV network decision, we will continue to work with them to make UTV available on satellite as quickly as possible, so viewers throughout Ireland can enjoy the same choice of viewing on satellite that they currently enjoy via cable and terrestrial TV."
However, ITV Digital rejected this view and said that the viewers in the Republic should not have been watching UTV in the first instance, as the company did not hold a licence to broadcast there.
According to ITV Digital, channel frequencies for the UK's 16 broadcasters were published widely in the press and some subscribers had been manually tuning into the otherwise free-to-air channels, which ordinarily should not have been available to them.
ITV Digital said that the company had always intended to block viewers in the Republic who had been picking up the transmissions since ITV Digital's move onto the digital satellite service provided by BSkyB in November.
(GMcG)
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News operations at Ulster Television are to be saved from widespread cut-backs by the national broadcaster ITV. Neither UTV or its Scottish equivalent, STV are to be hit by the £40m cost-savings initiated by ITV. Both UTV and STV are independent companies and are not affected by the decision.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
