Editing TG4 (section)

==Northern Ireland==
TG4 was originally only available in [[Northern Ireland]] via 'overspill' of the terrestrial signal from the [[Republic of Ireland]]. In the 1998 [[Belfast Agreement]] there was provision for TG4 (then TnaG) to be made available in Northern Ireland, along with increased recognition of the Irish language. Similarly, while TG4, along with the [[Republic of Ireland]]'s other terrestrial channels, are carried on [[Sky (UK & Ireland)|Sky Ireland]] there, it was not available to Sky subscribers in Northern Ireland until 18 April 2005 or on [[Virgin Media|Virgin Media NI]] until February 2007.

In March 2005, TG4 began broadcasting from the [[Divis]] transmitter near [[Belfast]], as a result of agreement between the [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Ireland)|Department of Foreign Affairs]] and the [[Northern Ireland Office]]. However, because of overcrowding on the frequency bands, only a low power signal can be transmitted and reception was still unavailable in many areas, even in parts of Belfast. The channel was, however, available on cable, digital terrestrial television (Freeview) and on to Sky satellite subscribers.

On 1 February 2010, the [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]'s Minister for Communications [[Eamon Ryan]] signed an agreement with the UK's [[Ben Bradshaw]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0202/1224263582384.html|title=RTÉ and TG4 to be freely available in North in 2012|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=2 February 2010|access-date=7 February 2010|archive-date=20 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220221923/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0202/1224263582384.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This agreement enabled viewers within [[Northern Ireland]] to watch [[RTÉ One]], [[RTÉ Two]] and TG4 on a [[free-to-air]] basis as of 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0201/communications.html|title=RTÉ News: Ryan signs TG4 agreement with the British government|access-date=7 February 2010|date=1 February 2010|archive-date=11 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211215605/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0201/communications.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The agreement between both jurisdictions initially also guaranteed viewers within the Republic would be able to view [[BBC One Northern Ireland]] and [[BBC Two Northern Ireland]] on the Republic's free-to-air service [[Saorview]]. A cross-border initiative has always been on the agenda for the [[Green Party (Ireland)|Green Party]] in Ireland. However, it was later confirmed [[BBC Northern Ireland]] services will not be made available in the Republic and would be made available on a 'paid for' basis. As of 2025, BBC Northern Ireland services are still unavailable on Saorview.