[chinamug]

TV3/Virgin Media have been complaining since the first day they went on air. They never had enough money or some other issue that meant they couldn't compete. They got a lot worse when Granada Sold their shares in the company in 2006, possibly the only company that made money from the station. They do provide some public service content, but about half of what they count as public service is the awful Ireland AM, which has tragic viewing figures most of of the time.

To be fair their News Service is decent since it merged with UTV Ireland. There should be a discussion on how Public Service journalism is funded. But that would also include Radio, Print and Online companies.

If they went HD on Saorview I might have more pity for them, but they only seem to care about viewers inside the pale. (Dublin and the commuter belt around it)

I don't think the endgame is anywhere near New Zealand. The way broadcasting has gone there in the last few years is a warning to all modern small nations how not to regulate your broadcasting industry.

Finally I don't know if Virgin Media realise that they can return the licences if they're finding them so hard to run.