TG4 launches new online service to give Irish programmes a global reach

IRISH-LANGUAGE station TG4 is to unveil its new online broadcasting service next week, bringing television “as Gaeilge” to a global audience.

The new platform offers a live and catch-up service to international as well as domestic viewers, and is due for official launch on April 2nd. “The big problem with having a live channel online is that you’re going to hit some content that you don’t have the rights to show online, like movies or any of our English-language content,” explained Peadar Ó Flatharta, webmaster with TG4.

“In the live stream, you have gaps and you have to display a graphic saying that you can’t show the content in certain locations. But with the new system, we’re going to fill the gaps with other content, so you’ll always get a live stream of TG4. It’ll find programmes in the archive and replace the content seamlessly.”

TG4 has offered a catch-up service since 2003. This third version of the service is powered by TeliaSonera International Carrier’s Media Distribution Service.

“The main reason we changed was to improve the quality of the streams and to give a broad line of streams,” said Mr Ó Flatharta . “In our previous service, the two streams were 250Kbit/sec and 400Kbit/sec. This one can go from 250 up to 1200, which is high quality.” The system uses adaptive streaming to ensure the viewer gets the best stream depending on their broadband line.

Although the service itself has been up and running for a couple of weeks, its official unveiling will come in conjunction with Gradam Ceoil, an Irish-language awards ceremony this weekend.

The channel is already planning new additions such as interactive subtitles that give the viewer some control, social interaction with viewers and “time shift” programming, which will ensure that primetime programmes will be shown at a similar time regardless of where the viewer is located in the world.

TeliaSonera’s vice president and head of product and business management Anna Mossberg said the work with TG4 gave it an entry point to the Irish market in this field. TeliaSonera has some operations in Ireland as a carrier.