Five more channels for Ireland's Freeview

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Extra HD TV is among up to six new TV channels that could be joining Saorview, Ireland's nascent free digital terrestrial TV service.

But Irish state broadcaster RTE, which operates Saorview, has been criticised for the fees it's charging rival broadcasters to join.

Commercial broadcaster TV3 and Irish-language channel TG4 have both proposed new Saorview channels to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

TV3 hopes to launch timeshift channel TV3+1, a high definition simulcast channel, TV3HD, and a daytime kids channel, 3Kids, which would become a classic TV channel in the evening.

TG4, the Gaelic-language channel, wants to launch a youth-oriented channel and a timeshifter.

The BAI has recommended TV3's plans go forward, but said TG4's youth channel should be subject to a market assessment and public value test before it goes forward.

But the BAI has also warned new channels could be put off joining Saorview by the 1million Euro annual fee proposed by RTE.

The BAI said 11 channel operators have expressed an interest in Saorview, but it was unlikely any would join the service until closer to Ireland's Digital Switchover date of October 2012.