Cable television company UPC Ireland has finally launched an upgraded "out-of-home" version of its mobile app Horizon Go, which now allows subscribers to its Horizon and Digital+ packages to watch RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3 and 3e live on portable devices via 3G, 4G and wifi networks after they leave their home.
The on-the-go aspect of the streaming service, which includes 44 other channels, was delayed after RTÉ sought improved payments for its content on the service.
The broadcaster issued a High Court injunction against the Liberty Global-owned UPC in July and the case was adjourned as talks continued. The court then heard in November that the dispute had been resolved after mediation, clearing the path for the launch of the service.
RTÉ’s channels are not – yet – included in Sky Go, the satellite company’s on-the-go television service in Ireland.
It has become a festering sore point of late for free-to-air broadcasters that they are not paid for the carriage of their channels on the main internationally owned pay-television platforms.
To shift the balance of power towards Irish broadcasters in this way would require a change to a part of the Broadcasting Act.
The Act says free-to-air broadcasters RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 "must offer" their channels and the platforms in turn "must carry" them in a prominent spot on their electronic programme guides.
