List of Free to Air Channels in Ireland and How to Get Them

What Are Free-to-Air Channels?

Free-to-air channels are a type of television broadcast that can be seen without a subscription. They are publicly available and can be viewed by anyone who is within the coverage area. They are regulated by the government and do not require a subscription fee.

Free-to-air channels are often considered an alternative to cable because they provide viewers with more freedom of choice when it comes to programming and content.

The term ‘free-to-air’ is used to describe the method of transmission and reception, while ‘free-to-air channel’ usually refers to a television channel that is not subscription-based.

Free-to-air channels are not just TV channels. They can also be radio or online streaming services. In this detailed guide, we’ll be going over a full list of free-to-air channels in Ireland and how to get them.

Best Free-to-Air TV Channels in Ireland

Ireland has a number of free-to-air television channels that provide a wide range of programming from news and current affairs to entertainment. But not all of them offer something unique and valuable. The best free-to-air Irish TV channels will offer something that is exclusive, entertaining, and relevant for its audience.

If you are looking for the best free-to-air Irish tv channels in Ireland, It all depends on what you’re looking for. For example, if you like watching movies or sports then you’ll want to check out RTÉ One or TG4. If you want to watch some quality sports channels then tune into Astra’s own Virgin Media One or Virgin Media Two.

List of TV Channels on Saorview

Saorview 1 features mostly news programming from RTÉ News & Current Affairs such as RTÉ Prime Time and Liveline with Marian Finucane. It also has documentaries from RTÉ One including Ireland’s Great War and Ireland’s Great Hunger: The Famine Years.

The current list of free-to-air tv channels on Saorview: 

• RTÉ One
• RTÉ Two HD
• TV3
• TG4
• RTÉ News Now
• 3e
• RTÉjr
• RTÉ One + 1
• UTV Ireland
• RTÉ Digital Aertel

Where to Find Free to Air Irish TV Channels in Ireland And How To Get Them?

Free-to Air Irish TV Channels in Ireland can be difficult to find for someone who doesn’t know about the different channels available. This is because there are so many different channels available.

Free-to-air Irish TV Channels in Ireland can be found on the following platforms: Freeview (DTT), Virgin Media (TV), and Digital Terrestrial TV (Saorview)

There are primarily two ways to get access to free-to-air channels in Ireland:

• Free-to-air satellite TV
• Free to Air Digital Terrestrial TV (Saorview)

Free-To-Air Satellite TV:

Free-to-air satellite TV refers to satellite TV that is not encrypted and can be received free of charge. It is the most affordable way of watching TV and it is popular in countries where cable or satellite services are not available.

Receiving free-to-air satellite TV is easy and it can be received in any location on Earth as long as there is an unobstructed view of the sky. The first step is to find a location with a clear view of the sky and then you need to buy an antenna that will receive the signal from your location. When you have your dish antenna, you can just plug it in and start watching your favourite shows on any device near it.

One way of receiving free-to-air satellite TV is by using a DVB-T2 dongle which is available for purchase at most electronics stores. Another way of receiving free-to-air satellite TV is by using a DVB-T2 receiver that can be connected via a USB port on your computer.

Free-to-air satellite TV has been around for decades and has been a way for people to watch their favorite shows without paying a monthly fee. The only downside is that you need an antenna to receive it and this can be expensive.

However, with the increasing popularity of streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, many people are now looking for ways to watch their favorite shows without paying cable or satellite subscription fees.

Free to Air Digital Terrestrial TV (Saorview)

Digital terrestrial TV is a broadcasting technology service created by the Irish state broadcaster, RTÉ. It is a free-to-air platform that allows viewers to watch live TV on their television sets and mobile devices. It’s the first digital platform in Ireland and the UK. And it operates on a frequency of UHF Band III. It was launched in Ireland in 2009 and by 2010, it had been rolled out to all the countries.

One of the key benefits of Saorview is that it provides access to free-to-air channels for those who don’t have cable or satellite subscriptions. In addition, Saorview offers a range of HD channels with high-definition picture quality as well as interactive features like catch-up services, on-demand content, and more.

In recent years, Saorview has seen increased competition from other providers such Virgin Media who have both started offering DTT services in Ireland

Saorview also significantly outperforms outdated analogue TV technology. It not only enhances the coverage but also the quality of TV reception. The days of fuzzy or frosty TV images are a thing of the past thanks to the solid digital TV signal. A 7-day EPG is another benefit of set-top boxes or TVs that can receive the Saorview broadcast. Additionally, all Free-to-air networks in Ireland will eventually be available in HD (High Definition). Many of the Saorview channels are currently broadcasting in HD.

Final thoughts

Things are rapidly changing in the television industry and not as many people are tuning in as they used to in the past. It is not likely that free-to-air TV will be around for much longer. This is because of the changing technology and availability of content online as more people are increasingly going online to watch their favourite shows and movies, it’s very likely that free-to-air TV will eventually be phased out completely from Ireland’s television landscape.

Find more exciting guides and articles about free-to-air channels and more in our blog!