FAQs

Here’s a list of FAQs which we hope will answer your query.

Where can I find UTV Ireland?
UTV Ireland is available on all key platforms in the Republic of Ireland.

Sky 116
Virgin Media 110
eVision 108
Saorview Channel 6*
*For viewers with Saorview boxes, some boxes and TV sets need retuning. See www.saorview.ie for details. If you have a combi-box, that’s a Saorview box with satellite too, you should also retune the Saorview tuner. You don’t need to go to the satellite side of your box.

All service providers have helplines to call if you are having difficulty getting UTV Ireland.

Why has Virgin Media replaced UTV with UTV Ireland?
We are delighted that Virgin Media has allocated Channel 110 to UTV Ireland given the new channel is designed for an Irish audience.

UTV Ireland has more programmes made for the Irish audience. For example, Ireland Live – a new news service instead of ITV News or UTV Live from Northern Ireland. Ireland Live news and current affairs programmes at 6.30pm and 10pm every weeknight will cover breaking news from both home and abroad, with a strong regional focus.

Where a news story is relevant for both the Ireland Live and UTV Live audience it will appear on both programmes, this is already happening. There will also be content that will only run on UTV Ireland and not on UTV. Some content may have to be time-shifted to give the audience a better chance to see the programming or to assist in scheduling decisions in the Irish marketplace.

Why are some programmes on UTV but not on UTV Ireland?
UTV in Northern Ireland is an affiliate of ITV1. This means that all programmes made for ITV’s main channel are available to UTV.

UTV Ireland is a stand alone channel and does not automatically have these rights. Programmes made by ITV Studios, such as Emmerdale or Coronation Street are all available – exclusive and in most cases simulcast – on UTV Ireland.

Some programming such as Broadchurch, which is not made by ITV was already sold to other broadcasters in Ireland. UTV Ireland has no access to this content at the moment. Where this happens, UTV Ireland will show programmes of a similar style.

Why is UTV Ireland showing some old series when UTV is showing new series of the same programme?
Some series such as Foyle’s War or Benidorm have not been licenced before in the Republic of Ireland so to ensure the audience is up to date with plots and storylines in the new series we will be showing those episodes first. We will be showing the new series in the very near future once the series have caught up.
UTV Ireland appears to show a large number of repeats – why is this?
UTV Ireland shows no more repeats than most other channels. We aim to allow viewers a chance to catch up on programmes they may have missed, so we may repeat a programme at 11pm one day that was first broadcast at 9pm a few days earlier. However, almost all UTV peaktime content is first run and exclusive to UTV Ireland.
How do I find out if a particular programme is showing on UTV Ireland?
Please check our TV guide which provides a 7 day schedule for all UTV Ireland programming.

We cannot reply to individual programming queries as all schedule information is available to our viewers via TV listings.

The latest news releases about UTV Ireland programmes can be found here.

Will UTV Ireland have live sport?
Ireland Live News will cover sport news in detail. However because of the cycle of sports rights, at launch, UTV Ireland will not have any live sport. We will look at rights packages as they become available and decide if they are a good fit for the new channel.
Why can’t I enter competitions in ITV programmes broadcast on UTV Ireland?
UTV Ireland is simulcasting many live ITV Studios programmes such as Lorraine and This Morning. Many of these programmes contain competitions. As yet – due to compliance reasons – we are unable to offer these competitions to our viewers (sorry), however in February we will be offering alternative competitions in these programmes solely for UTV Ireland viewers.
How can I advertise with UTV Ireland?
For further information, check out www.utvirelandsales.ie or call a member of the team on 00 353 1 819 8709.
How can I follow UTV Ireland on social media?
You can follow UTV Ireland on Twitter and Facebook.
How can I find out about job vacancies at UTV Ireland?
Current vacancies are listed here.
How do I contact UTV Ireland news?
You can email the UTV Ireland newsteam on news@utv.ie
How can I contact a member of the UTV Ireland staff?
Please email them directly via firstname.secondname@utv.ie , e.g. mary.smith@utv.ie.
Where can I send a programme idea for UTV Ireland?
All commissioning submissions should be sent to commissioning@utv.ie.
Does UTV Ireland have a HD service?
UTV Ireland is in HD for viewers with HD platform providers. For SAORVIEW viewers, UTV Ireland is only available in SD however, we are working towards providing a HD service.
What programmes are on UTV Ireland?
We have the best of entertainment, accessible and relevant news and current affairs and domestic programming that reflect a modern Ireland. You can find more information here.
Are subtitles available on the channel?
We are committed to providing subtitles on approximately 50% of our programming from launch. This is broadly in line with other commercial public service broadcasters in Ireland. Key programmes like Coronation Street, Emmerdale, entertainment and drama series will all have subtitles. Most Irish made programmes will be subtitled such as Rare Breed but we do not yet have live subtitling in place for news.
Is UTV Northern Ireland still available to viewers in the Republic of Ireland?
UTV Ireland is our new channel for viewers in the Republic of Ireland. If you currently receive UTV via Freeview overspill you may continue to receive it.
Does UTV Ireland have a player service?
Yes. The UTV Player is UTV Ireland’s online video catch-up service. It allows viewers to watch a wide range of UTV Ireland programming, from soaps to news, for a minimum of 24 hours after broadcast, although many programmes will remain available for up to 30 days. It also lets you live stream the channel.

The UTV Player is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, completely free of charge, on your PC/laptop. We also have a UTV Ireland app for iOS and Android tablets and smart phones.
What do I need in order to use the UTV Player?
To use the service, you need a computer or laptop with a supported browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome or Safari) and / or an up-to-date operating system and active broadband internet connection. The UTV Player app is available to download on recent iOS and Android mobile devices or tablets. Find out more here.
Can I watch UTV Ireland programmes live via the UTV Player?
Absolutely. You can watch UTV Ireland as it goes to air by using our simulcast service. Just click the ‘Live’ button in the top navigation bar to access the live stream.

We endeavour to live stream as many programmes as possible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, completely free of charge. However, a small number of programmes cannot be streamed online due to broadcast rights.

The simulcast service is not available to visitors outside Ireland due to broadcast rights.

Please note you will be shown some adverts before your stream starts.

Can I watch the UTV Player on my mobile/tablet?
Yes. You need to download the UTV Player app to use the service on your iOS or Android device. Find out more here.
I’m trying to use the UTV Player. I can see ads, but videos don’t play on my PC/laptop. Why is this?
Videos will fail to play on your PC or laptop if Port 1935 is closed or inaccessible. Sometimes, user firewalls/proxy servers/anti-spyware applications may block Port 1935. Try these options if Port 1935 is blocked by:

Your software firewall: Check the settings of the firewall installed on your system to allow the inbound and outbound traffic for your browser on Port 1935.
Your hardware firewall: If a hardware device, like router firewall, has blocked 1935 port access, adjust the settings to unblock the port. You may need to get in touch with your Internet Service Provider. Server Accessing Internet through a proxy server may also block Port 1935. Ask your network administrator to open it for your system.
Port blocking software: A port blocking software may also block Port 1935. In this case, you can open it using the software settings.
You may have to restart your computer to apply the above changes in the firewall/proxy server settings.

I can’t see the player controls (including volume bar, pause button, fast forward and rewind functionality) when accessing the UTV Player on my PC/laptop. Why?
If you are using an ad blocker when accessing the UTV Player, you need to turn it off to allow us to deliver a better VOD experience, including player controls.
I downloaded the Android app and content is not playing.
Please update your app and use the latest available version of the UTV Player.
I’ve opened the UTV Player app on my iPhone/iPad but all I see is a green screen, why is this?
If your internet connection is not strong enough or temporarily drops when opening the UTV Player app, content may fail to load on the page. If it’s the case, please download an up-to-date version of the app as we’ve made some changes to improve performance on slower connection.

Is the UTV Player a regulated service?
UTV Ireland’s video-on-demand services are regulated by the ODAS Code of Conduct for media service providers of on-demand audiovisual media services.

The Code deals with the provision of on-demand audiovisual media services in Ireland. It sets out the minimum standards required of service providers, provides for a complaints mechanism for citizens and complies with European directives.

See the BAI’s website for more information about the ODAS Code of Conduct.

If you are unhappy about a programme on the UTV Player, please get in touch via the feedback form available on our Contact Us page.

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