Digital Terrestrial Television Pilot in Ireland

After years of talking the Irish government is finally moving ahead with digital terrestrial television. It's only a pilot so don't expect to be tuning in to a plethora of new Irish channels broadcast on crystal clear digital signals anytime soon.

The DTT pilot is currently in the build phase and is expected to be operational by mid-August 2006. It is planned to continue the pilot over a two-year timeframe, during which time broadcasts will transmit from the Three Rock site in Dublin and the Clermont Carn site in County Louth. The trial provides the opportunity for technical testing of services, both of existing and new broadcast channels and services, while allowing for viewers to experience the new service at user level. Broadcasts will be initially across three multiplexes with the option of adding a fourth multiplex.

Now I wonder if I will be able to "Press Red" to get interactive on such wonderful pieces of television as Nationwide, Late Late Show and Fair City. Up to now the only "interactive" button I've needed for them has been Channel Up/Down. Though that said if they did have interactive feeds of Kathryn Thomas and Lucy Kennedy I'm sure there would be a waiting list to sign up for the trial. :-)