ConsumerValue: TV and Telecoms
6. TV services
There are many options available to meet your TV viewing requirements. The following guide outlines some of the main ones, and tips on working out which package suits you and is best value.
Some options will depend on whether the service is available in your area, and the type of home you have.
For example, if you live in an apartment block there may be restrictions on putting up your own satellite dish and on the cable operator you may choose. So check the conditions of your lease or house rules carefully to see what is permitted in your complex.
Decide what channels you want to watch - and how often
Be realistic - if you like watching movie or documentary channels but rarely have the time to actually view them, consider whether it is worthwhile signing up to a contract for 12 months or longer. Some packages are very expensive and may cost over €1,000 a year.
If you have an existing satellite or cable subscription, make a written or mental note of the channels you watch most often during a month. Then compare this with the range of channels you are paying for, to see if you are watching enough to justify the expense.
Find the cost per year
Multiply the per month cost of your existing or potential TV package by 12 to see the true cost per year.
Take into account whether any introductory offers are only valid for a short time in the contract period.
Aerial only?
Using just an aerial (also known as analogue service) is the simplest and cheapest way to receive television. The only running cost is your TV licence, which must by law be paid annually if you have TV in your home.
You should be able to get Irish terrestrial channels including RTÉ 1, RTÉ 2, TG4 and TV3 and - depending on what part of the country you live in - some UK channels too.
Bear in mind that the analogue service will be replaced with Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in the next few years.
Testing is currently under way and no date for analogue switch off has been set. The new DTT service will have the same channels as, and probably a lot more than, analogue. But you will need a set-top box or a TV with an inbuilt digital receiver.
Apart from that one-off cost, your annual outgoings will still be just your TV licence fee.
Satellite dishes
Buying your own satellite dish and receiver for a one-off fee gives you access to a number of free-to-air European and UK channels.
Bear in mind that RTÉ, TG4 and TV3 are not currently available by satellite, so you will have to switch back and forth from your satellite to aerial to get these.
Also you won't be able to pick up "premium" channels such as sports or movies, and many of the best-known satellite channels are not free.
Cable / MMDS or satellite subscription
Depending on the area and type of home you live in, several other services may be available, including cable, satellite and/or MMDS.
MMDS (Multipoint Microwave Distribution System) provides channels via a special aerial and set-top box. It is used in areas where laying cables is impractical and population density would make the investment uneconomical.
In general, you sign up for a satellite, cable or MMDS service for a minimum period, usually a year, and this includes the relevant receiving equipment (satellite receiver, set-top box).
A wide range of packages is available, from basic to premium. Some of these can be expensive, so do some homework about what you want to watch and how often, to see if it justifies the expense.
If more than one of these services is available, compare options across packages to see which suits your needs and pocket best.
Whichever you choose, always check:
- The period of the contract that you are signing up to
- The nature of any introductory offers
- Whether you can downgrade the channels that you have chosen at a future date and at what cost
Bundling
Nowadays you could make considerable savings by "bundling" your TV package with other telecommunications services such as broadband and/or landline. Make sure you know exactly what you are signing up to and for how long.
Remember too that no matter what type of service, once you have a TV in your home you have to pay a TV licence.
Learn more
Compare digital packages at Uchoose.ie
Read about the Competition Authority's guidelines for consumers and businesses on the provision of pay TV in apartment developments
Learn more about Digital Terrestrial Television