TV 3 Ireland
Launched	20 September 1998
Owned by	Doughty Hanson
Audience share	12.9% (2005, Source:)
Website	www.tv3.ie
Availability
Terrestrial
Irish analogue	(see article)
Irish digital	Mux 1
Satellite
Sky Digital	channel 103
Cable
NTL Ireland	channel 103
Chorus	channel 3

TV3 Ireland is the sole commercial terrestrial television channel in the Republic of Ireland. TV3 Television Network Limited is currently owned by European-based private equity firm Doughty Hanson & Co. since the end of August 2006. Before that it was jointly owned by ITV plc(45%), the largest UK commercial television company, and by CanWest Global Communications(45%), a Canadian company, and the original TV3 Consortium(10%). The main studios of TV3 are located in Ballymount, Dublin. Image File history File links Tv3ie2006. ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Doughty Hanson & Co is a European independent private equity fund manager. ... The deployment of digital terrestrial television in Ireland has had a chequered history, with the first tests being carried out in 1998, but no public trials until August 2006. ... Sky Digital is the brand name for British Sky Broadcastings digital satellite television service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28. ... NTL Communications (Ireland) Limited is a cable television and MMDS company in the Republic of Ireland. ... Chorus Communications is a communications provider in Ireland, it offers internet, television and telephone services. ... ITV plc (LSE: ITV) is the British media company that operates 11 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom. ... CanWest Global Communications Corp. ... Ballymount (Irish, Báile an Arde), is located on the south side of Dublin, and comes under the areas of Walkinstown, Tallaght and Clondalkin. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ...

=History

TV3, which was intended to be Ireland's third terrestrial channel, took almost ten years to bring from initial planning to debut. In October 1988 the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) was created to regulate new independent stations. The original TV3 licence to broadcast was granted in 1990 to a consortium including members of U2 and the owner of the Windmill Lane Studios where the group had made many of their records. Because of delays in setting up the station, the licence was revoked by the IRTC. After a court battle, the licence was eventually restored in 1993. 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) is the regulator of the commercial broadcasting sector in Ireland. ... This article is about the year. ... U2 are a rock band from Dublin, Ireland, featuring Bono (Paul David Hewson) on vocals, rhythm guitar and harmonica; The Edge (David Howell Evans) on lead guitar, keyboards and vocals; Adam Clayton on bass guitar; and Larry Mullen Jr. ... Windmill Lane Studios is a recording studio located in Dublin, Ireland. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

At this stage, an agreement was made to sell 49% of the company to UTV, the ITV franchise in Northern Ireland, to raise much-needed cash for investment in facilities. However, as TV3 were trying to convince Irish cable and MMDS carriers to replace UTV with their channel, the new shareholders pulled out in 1995. Given that UTV had the third largest audience in the Republic, the carriers declined to drop them in favour of TV3. The result was that the project was on hold again. For other uses of the UTV acronym see UTV (disambiguation) Ulster Television plc (UTV) is a media company based in Northern Ireland. ... Motto: [citation needed] (French for God and my right)2 Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official language(s) English (de facto), Irish, Ulster Scots 3, NI Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair... Coaxial cable is often used to transmit cable television into the house. ... Multichannel multipoint distribution service, also known as MMDS or wireless cable, is a wireless telecommunications technology, used for general-purpose broadband networking or, more commonly, as an alternative method of cable television programming reception. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1997, CanWest, decided to step in and buy a major stake in the new company. TV3 finally took to the air on September 20th, 1998 at 17:30. A preview of the station's programming formed the first half-hour of transmissions, followed by the first TV3 News at 6pm. As TG4 (then called 'Teilifís na Gaeilge') had been broadcasting for almost two years, this was the third Irish station; TV3 became, in fact, the fourth television station and first station which was not publicly funded, by tax or licence fees. TV3's initial on-air branding referred to the station as 'tvthree'. Although this is still part of the corporate logo, it no longer appears on screen. The Schoolhouse Rock! song, "Three Is A Magic Number", is the station's theme tune, played every day during start-up and close-down; this same tune is also used by BBC Three as its theme tune. 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... CanWest Global Communications Corp. ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... TG4 is an Irish television channel aimed at Irish language speakers and established as a wholly owned subsidiary by Radio Telefís Éireann in 31 October 1996; it was known as Teilifís na Gaeilge or TnaG before a rebranding campaign in 1999. ... Schoolhouse Rock! is a series of educational short films featuring songs about schoolhouse topics, including grammar, science, economics, history, and politics. ... BBC Three, the successor of the similar BBC Choice, is a British television channel from the BBC broadcasting only on digital cable, terrestrial and satellite. ...

In September 2000, Granada Media plc (a predecessor company of ITV plc which then owned six ITV franchises) agreed to acquire 45% of the company from the original TV3 consortium. This was part of deal which gave TV3 the right to simulcast with ITV certain Granada programming. As part of this deal, Coronation Street and Emmerdale moved from RTÉ One to TV3. The Granada plc shareholding was taken over by ITV plc upon the merger of Granada with Carlton on February 2, 2004. Granada plc (previously called Granada Group plc and Granada Media plc) is a former British media and previously catering conglomarate, best known as the former parent of Granada Television Limited. ... ITV plc (LSE: ITV) is the British media company that operates 11 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom. ... ITV (Independent Television) is the name popularly given to the original network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority (ITA) to provide competition to the BBC. In England, Wales and southern Scotland, the network has been rebranded to ITV1 by ITV plc, the owners of... Coronation Street is Britains longest-running television soap opera and its consistently highest-rating programme. ... Emmerdale (known as Emmerdale Farm until 1989) is a British television soap opera set in the fictional West Yorkshire village of the same name (known as Beckindale until 1994). ... RTÉ One is the Republic of Irelands oldest and most popular television channel, operated by Irish state broadcaster Radio Telefís Éireann. ... Carlton Television was the United Kingdom Channel 3 (ITV) licensee for London and the surrounding areas, Monday 9:25am, to Friday, 5:15pm (and for legal formalities still is; see below). ...

Previous TV3 logo, dropped on 05 March, 2006.

In early 2001, the station officially launched threetext, the teletext service, much of the content from Thomas Crosbie Media. Test transmissions of this service commenced in late 2000, but as early as 1999 limited programming content was provided. However, in 2004, the news and sports where dropped as part of a rebranding to an 'entertainment portal'. TV3 Ireland logo used under fair use This work is copyrighted. ... TV3 Ireland logo used under fair use This work is copyrighted. ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH) is a media and publishing group in Ireland. ...

On January 16, 2006, Canwest announced to TV3 staff, that it was selling its stake in the channel^[1], in an effort to reduce its debt, resulting in it leaving the European market. A purchaser for this stake for (for €103 million), rights to buy ITV Plc's stake (for €103 million), and the remaining 10% (for €59 million) was announced on May 19 as Doughty Hanson & Co, a venture capital firm who are believed to be operating on the behalf of another firm. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.^[2] January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Doughty Hanson & Co is a European independent private equity fund manager. ...

On February 7, 2006, TV3 announced that it would adopt a new on-air identity and station logo from March 6, 2006. The new logo, a variant of the existing station logo features the '3' figure now enclosed in a circle, with two further circles to the left. February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (66th in Leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Also, as of March 6 2006, TV3 began broadcasting in widescreen format on Sky Digital. Sky Digital is the brand name for British Sky Broadcastings digital satellite television service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28. ...

Programming

See also: List of TV3 Ireland television programming

TV3 programming is sometimes criticized for its lack of a "distinctive, clearly Irish identity"^[3]. Apart from their news bulletins and sports coverage, much of TV3's schedules are taken up with simulcasting of ITV programmes, acquisitioned programming from the U.S. and movies. This is a list of current and historical television programmes broadcast on TV3 Ireland. ... ITV (Independent Television) is the name popularly given to the original network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority (ITA) to provide competition to the BBC. In England, Wales and southern Scotland, the network has been rebranded to ITV1 by ITV plc, the owners of... United States is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help to improve this article to the highest of standards. ...

Efforts into Irish made television include the short run The Dunphy Show (2003), fronted by Eamon Dunphy, which was built up to be a contender with RTÉ's The Late Late Show. In spite of the flurry of media attention, The Dunphy Show's failed to perform to expectations, and was cancelled a few weeks before the initial season was due to conclude. For the Autumn 2005 season, TV3 have announced a new midweek talk show which will be hosted by Brendan Courtney. The Dunphy Show, presented by Eamon Dunphy, has been cancelled by TV3 (Ireland) from 12 December 2003. ... Eamon in the guise of popular radio host. ... Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ; Irish for Radio [and] Television of Ireland) is the Public Service Broadcaster of the Republic of Ireland. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Brendan Courtney (born Clondalkin, Dublin) is an Irish comedian television presenter. ...

Ireland AM is the breakfast programme and is the only live breakfast television programme in Ireland. Broadcast on weekdays from 07:00 to 10:00, it includes regular news updates on the hour and half-hour, but is mainly features and lifestyle based. Is Irelands only breakfast programme. ...

Apart from the updates in Ireland AM, TV3's news service on weekdays is broadcast in three 30-minute bulletins at 17:30 (News @ 5.30), 18:30 (News @ 6.30), and around 23:00 (News Tonight). Originally the 17:30 and 18:30 bulletins were a single 18:00 hour-long programme. However this attempt to compete with RTÉ News: Six One was a failure, and the bulletins were moved to 17:30 and 19:00 (later 18:30, after TV3 acquired the rights to Emmerdale and began showing it at 19:00, the same time as ITV1). For a time, the 17:30 programme was called First Edition. On bank holidays and at weekends, News @ 5.30 is the only news programme. ITV1 is the name, in England, Wales and the Scottish borders, for a terrestrial, free-to-air television channel, broadcast in the United Kingdom by the ITV network. ... A Bank Holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom and also in the Republic of Ireland. ...

Gráinne Seoige who had been the main evening news anchor from launch, moved in 2004 to become main anchor of Sky News Ireland. TV3 had previously poached her from TG4 where she had also been main news anchor. TV3 News is now anchored by Claire Byrne and Alan Cantwell, however Claire will be moving to Newstalk 106 ahead of it's national launch later this year, and will be replaced by Collette Fitzpatrick, who regularly fronts the morning news bulletins. Gráinne Seoige on Sky News Ireland Gráinne Seoige (pronounced Grawn-ya Show-ih-ge) is an Irish newsreader who is well known for her work as the main anchor for Sky News Ireland. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sky News Ireland is a television news channel broadcast in the Republic of Ireland by British Sky Broadcasting. ... TG4 is an Irish television channel aimed at Irish language speakers and established as a wholly owned subsidiary by Radio Telefís Éireann in 31 October 1996; it was known as Teilifís na Gaeilge or TnaG before a rebranding campaign in 1999. ... NewsTalk 106 is an Independent Local Radio station in Dublin, Ireland. ...

TV3 also produces a sports round-up programme called Sports Tonight which follows News Tonight on weekday evenings. Other original sports programming includes match analysis and commentary for the football matches that the station broadcasts.

In 2005, TV3 gained rights to broadcast edited highlights of Formula One Grand Prix racing. The new Irish sports channel, Setanta Sports, has the exclusive rights to broadcast the races live. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Formula One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Setanta Sports is a leading Irish international sports broadcaster, operating 12 channels in 24 countries. ...

There are also a number of commissioned programmes on TV3, including a weekly movie show called Popcorn, and a weekly programme on horse racing called Go Racing. Newly- commissioned shows launched in 2005 include a programme giving property advice (The Property Game), a sports-themed entertainment show (The Offside Show), and a late- night talk-show (The Brendan Courtney Show). Brendan Courtney (born Clondalkin, Dublin) is an Irish comedian television presenter. ...

TV3 Analogue UHF Transmitters

Source: http://www.irish-tv.com/irishtrans.asp Ultra high frequency (UHF) designates a range (band) of electromagnetic waves whose frequency is between 300 MHz and 3. ...

Carn Clonhugh (Irish: Carn Clann Aodha) is a hill just north of Longford Town, approximately halfway between Drumlish and Ballinalee. ...

Criticisms

Many media commentators have criticised TV3 for the lack of original programming on the station. The view of many commentators such as Stephen Price of the Sunday Times and Tom McGurk of the Sunday Business Post is that TV3 need to differentiate themselves in the growing Irish multi-channel market by making more original programming than at present. ^{[4] [5][6]} The Sunday Times is the name of several Sunday newspapers. ... The Sunday Business Post is an Irish national Sunday newspaper published by Thomas Crosbie Holdings Limited. ...

See also

• List of Irish television channels
• List of TV3 Ireland television programming
• List of Irish companies

Irelands television channels are a subset of the Media in Ireland. ... This is a list of current and historical television programmes broadcast on TV3 Ireland. ... The following page lists Irish companies or subsidiaries according to their sector. ...

Sources

1. ^ RTE: Canwest to sell share in TV3, January 16, 2006.
2. ^ The Irish Times, Auguat 24, 2006
3. ^ Irish Independent: TV3: lots of Heartbeat, but there's little pulse, January 21, 2006.
4. ^

   TV3 choose low budget popularity with minimum expenditure on home-made material in order to maximise profit. Far from becoming an indigenous Irish channel, they choose the formula that, for example, Ulster Television uses, making a small body of home produced programming around an existing network of popular material. UTV is simply a small regional add-on to the existing ITV network, whereas TV3 buys the mainstay of its programming on the international market. Tom McGurk, Sunday Business Post, June 30th 2002

5. ^

   Whether Doughty Hanson continues ITV’s supply deal with TV3, it needs to understand that relying so heavily on single-source, bought-in British programming to conquer the Irish market may be a tempting strategy, but in the long run is perilous. Stephen Price, Sunday Times, August 27th 2006

6. ^ A reference to TV3's simulcasting of ITV1 in the RTE review of 2003

External links

• Official Site
• Irish TV.com
• Irish Cable & Digital Guide