This blog hears that UPC -- the company which owns NTL and Chorus -- has set an Autumn date for the launch of a HDTV service. But is anyone interested?
Figures from Sky, which has been selling SkyHD for close to two years, are hard to get. But I'd say they're tiny (under 5 per cent of its 513,000 subscribers). Is this because of the massive price-tag on HD (€450 installation plus €15 extra per month)? Or is that there's hardly anything available on HD, with the main Irish and British broadcasters showing no inclination to change this?
It seems that most people's image association with HD is films that cost €37.99 in HMV. And this, despite the fact that 90 per cent of the tellies sold in Ireland now are HD-compatible.
So far, HD is a flop in Ireland.
It's quite simply non-existent in Ireland.
While it's available to anyone who can get Sky, the cost-barrier to entry is far too high for the relatively limited HD package you receive in return.
I don't doubt that HD will become practical and popular in Ireland but it's going to take some time. Longer than it should too, I'd imagine.
Posted by: Adam | January 30, 2008 at 11:05 PM
Two problems:
1 - The hardware is damn expensive. You buy it from Sky, so if there are any issues YOU have to pay to get it fixed. Sky won't fix it for free.
2 - The choice of channels currently available is pathetic.
Posted by: Michele Neylon | February 15, 2008 at 12:23 AM
Got some more info here...
Posted by: Into Tech - are you into technology? | October 21, 2008 at 12:31 PM
I have a 40" HDTV which I am currently using as a PC monitor and a tv capture card with support for DVB-T (Digital Terrestrial) TV. Neither of which look like they will ever get used for their purpose! if only HD channels from around the world could be streamed via the internet, what a choice there would be!
Posted by: Eoghan Hogan | July 17, 2009 at 01:15 PM