Northern Ireland

RTÉ 'exploring' ways to improve limited digital radio coverage

A map showing RTÉ's limited digital radio coverage across the north. Picture from RTÉ
A map showing RTÉ's limited digital radio coverage across the north. Picture from RTÉ A map showing RTÉ's limited digital radio coverage across the north. Picture from RTÉ

RTÉ has said it is "currently exploring" ways to improve its digital radio coverage in the north, with only a small percentage of people able to access its stations.

Although the reception of television services improved greatly following the digital switchover in 2012 - with around 90% of homes in the north now able to access RTÉ channels via Freeview - there has been no similar progress on radio.

Under the Good Friday Agreement, moves were put in place to extend transmission of TG4, the Irish language TV station.

But a map of RTÉ's current digital radio reach only shows limited coverage across parts of south Armagh, south Down, east Tyrone and Derry, via a transmitter at Claremont Cairn in the Cooley Mountains in Co Louth.

A spokeswoman for the broadcaster said: "RTÉ has stated that it will not proceed any further with national digital radio roll-out until the regulatory structures and roll-out plans are in place for Ireland’s commercial radio broadcasters.

"RTÉ Radio and its partners in both the commercial and regulatory industry in the UK and Ireland are currently exploring ways in which it can advance the platform from its current position.

"This ongoing project includes the carriage of RTÉ Radio services in territories regulated by the United Kingdom regulator OFCOM."

There was anger in 2014 when RTÉ planned to scrap its longwave 252 service, the only frequency on which many listeners in Britain and the north can receive a clear signal for Radio 1.

After a campaign and an intervention by the Irish Catholic bishops, the switch-off was postponed until May this year and then again until June 2019.

RTÉ had initially defended the decision, claiming the money it would save annually would help meet other running costs while pointing out that Radio 1 is available on digital platforms.