TV3 News at 5.30
| TV3 News at 5:30 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | TV3 News |
| Presented by |
Alan Cantwell Colette Fitzpatrick |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | TV3, Westgate Business Park, Dublin 24, Ireland |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Distributor | TV3 Ireland |
| Release | |
| Original network | TV3 |
| Picture format | 16:9 |
| Original release | 19 March 2001 – 19 October 2012 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | First Edition |
| Followed by | The 5:30 |
| Related shows |
Midday Midweek TV3 Nightly News Tonight with Vincent Browne |
| External links | |
| Website | |
TV3 News at 5.30 was the flagship evening news programme on the Irish television network TV3. It was produced by the TV3 News division.
The TV3 News at 5.30, presented by main newscasters Alan Cantwell and Colette Fitzpatrick, was a thirty-minute news programme covering Irish national and international news stories, broadcast at 5:30pm from Monday to Friday.
On Bank Holidays, the main evening bulletin usually aired at either 5:30pm, running for just five minutes.
History
When TV3 launched on 20 September 1998, its early evening news programme was called TV3 News @ 6. It provided a comprehensive view of the day's main international and national news stories, was presented by Alan Cantwell and Gráinne Seoige and was in direct competition with RTÉ News: Six One. This period of direct rivalry with RTÉ only lasted for a year as TV3 decided to break up the hour-long programme. As a result of this, two new programmes - First Edition at 5:30 pm and TV3 News @ 7 - were launched. Both programmes were still fronted by Cantwell and Seoige, while First Edition became Ireland's first early-evening news programme.
On 19 March 2001, First Edition was relaunched as TV3 News at 5.30 with Cantwell and Seoige still remaining at the helm. It was also around this time that TV3's second early evening news programme moved from 7:00 pm to 6:30 pm, becoming the TV3 News @ 6.30.
In 2004, Gráinne Seoige left TV3 News to become the new face of Sky News Ireland.[1] She was replaced as the main female presenter of TV3 News at 5.30 by Claire Byrne, who had been working with TV3 for a number of years at that stage.[2]
Two years later in 2006, Byrne left TV3 to front the new breakfast show on Newstalk. Her departure was not a happy one as a lengthy legal battle was played out. Colette Fitzpatrick took over from Byrne.[3]
In 2007, TV3 dropped their 6.30 news bulletin, leaving TV3 News at 5.30 as their only flagship evening news bulletin.
In 2010, Elaine Crowley became the latest co-presenter of TV3 News at 5.30 to join Alan Cantwell. She replaced Colette Fitzpatrick, who was on maternity leave. Fitzpatrick returned in 2011.
The last edition of the TV3 News at 5.30 was broadcast on 19 October 2012.
Newscasters
Main newscaster
| Years | Newscaster | Other roles | Previous roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-2012 | Alan Cantwell | Former Midday presenter | |
| 2006-2012 | Colette Fitzpatrick | Midday and Midweek presenter |
Relief newscasters
| Years | Newscaster | Other roles | Previous roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-2011 | Elaine Crowley | Midday and Midweek presenter | |
| 2011-2012 | Brian Daly | News correspondent |
Former presenters
| Presenter | Years | Other roles |
|---|---|---|
| Gráinne Seoige | 2001-2004 | |
| Claire Byrne | 2004-2006 |
References
- ↑ "Grainne Seoige to leave TV3 for Sky News". Breaking News. 2004-01-08. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
- ↑ "Claire Byrne Appointed News Anchor for TV3". IFTN. 2004-03-03. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
- ↑ "Colette Fitzpatrick Is TV3 News Anchor". IFTN. 2004-09-14. Retrieved 2011-01-15.