Ireland To Have Third Television Station

TV3, Ireland’s third terrestrial television station is now expected to launch at the end of 1996. The TV3 consortium comprises UTV, which announced its involvement this week, Windmill Lane Pictures and 2 businessmen, Ossie Kilkenny and Paul McGuinness

TV3 was originally awarded the licence by the IRTC in 1989 but the licence was revoked following management and shareholder changes to the TV3 consortium. TV3 then took its case to the Supreme Court and the licence was re-awarded to the consortium 2 years ago.

The new station will be funded by advertising and sponsorship, with advertising taking up to 15% of all airtime. The programming will be centred around news, comment and entertainment. To begin with 15% of total output will be home produced programming, rising to 25% by its fifth year of transmission.

Ireland currently has 2 stations RTE 1 and Network 2, both are state owned and are funded by a licence fee and advertising.

TV3: 003531 6713444