1998 in Irish television

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The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1998.

Events

• 20 September – Launch of TV3, the Republic of Ireland's first commercial television channel.^[1] Early programming on the channel includes the UK soap EastEnders, the miniseries Merlin the film The Quick and the Dead,^[2] US comedy Just Shoot Me, and Breakers, a new Australian soap. The channel is aimed at the 15–44 age group and also has a remit for 15% of its programming to be homegrown – rising to 25% within five years.^[3]
• 1 October – Digital satellite television launches in the Republic of Ireland, operated by Sky Digital.
• 1 October – TV3 reports an audience share of 927,000 (7% of viewers) for its first week on air, passing its intended initial target of a 6% audience share.^[2]

Debuts

RTÉ

• 14 September – Gridlock (1998)
• September – The Premiership/Premier Soccer Saturday on RTÉ 1 (1998–2013)
• Undated – 2Phat on Network 2 (1998–2000)

TV3

• 20 September – TV3 News @ 6 (1998–1999)
• 20 September – TV3 News (1998–present)
• Undated – Speakeasy (1998–1999)
• Undated – Sports Tonight (1998–2009)

BBC

• Undated – Give My Head Peace on BBC One (1998–2008)

Ongoing television programmes

1960s

• RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock (1961–present)
• RTÉ News: Six One (1962–present)
• The Late Late Show (1962–present)

1970s

• The Late Late Toy Show (1975–present)
• RTÉ News on Two (1978–present)
• The Sunday Game (1979–present)

1980s

• Glenroe (1983–2001)
• Saturday Live (1986–1999)
• Questions and Answers (1986–2009)
• Dempsey's Den (1986–2010)
• Kenny Live (1988–1999)
• Fair City (1989–present)
• RTÉ News: One O'Clock (1989–present)

1990s

• Would You Believe (1990s–present)
• Winning Streak (1990–present)
• Challenging Times (1991–2001)
• Prime Time (1992–present)
• The Movie Show (1993–2001)
• No Disco (1993–2003)
• Echo Island (1994–1999)
• Nuacht RTÉ (1995–present)
• Fame and Fortune (1996–2006)
• Nuacht TG4 (1996–present)
• Ros na Rún (1996–present)
• PM Live (1997–1999)
• Later on 2 (1997–2000)
• Don't Feed the Gondolas (1997–2001)
• A Scare at Bedtime (1997–2006)

Ending this year

• 1 April – Know Your Sport (1987–1998)
• 17 April – Brendan O'Carroll's Hot Milk and Pepper (1996–1998)
• 26 November – Bosco (1979–1998)

Deaths

• 28 February – Dermot Morgan, 45, comedian and actor

References

1. "TV to plug a gap in Eire's market | Archive". Marketing Week. 10 September 1998. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
2. "TV3 claims to have reached 7percent audience share". The Irish Film and Television Network. 1 October 1998. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
3. Gallagher, Jim (13 September 1998). "EastEnders take on the Street in TV revolution; End of the dark ages". The People (Trinity Mirror). Retrieved 12 April 2012.