28 March 2024 The Irish Film & Television Network
     
150 Jobs Announced for Mayo Based Irish TV Station
15 Apr 2014 : Aisling Newton
Irish TV’s founders Pierce O'Reilly (CEO) and Mairead Ní Mhaoilchiaráin (MD) have announced that up to 150 jobs are to be created with Ireland’s first ever international satellite television channel when it extends broadcasting hours next month.

The station, which currently offers programming online, as well as weekly satellite transmissions, will broadcast 24 hours a day as part of a new €15m expansion. The project will create 150 new jobs with 34 staff initially based in its headquarters in Westport, Co Mayo, five in a second office in Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, and three in each of the 32 counties. 10 people will also be spread across three British offices in Manchester, Liverpool and London and five in Cleveland, Ohio. The new roles will include production, presentation, and commercial positions.

Irish TV is planning to feature 50 home-produced programmes a week to provide a round-the-clock service aimed at the country’s diaspora in North America, Europe and Britain. Each of Ireland’s 32 counties will have its own half-hour County Matters show once a week, produced by Irish TV's own nationwide production network.

“The theme of the County Matters shows are simple — Irish rural life is unique, with its own cultures, traditions and events,” said CEO O’Reilly. He added that “the station will take news and politics from RTE Digital, but the home-produced programmes will include everything from cookery and country music to fashion and farming, sports, children’s programmes, golf and entertainment. Country singer Lisa McHugh will present its prime-time Saturday night show.”

Irish TV was founded by the husband and wife duo O'Reilly and Ni Mhaoilchiarain who both hail from Co. Mayo. O’Reilly previously worked as a journalist for the Irish Echo in the US. The new television channel is backed by London-based Irish businessman John Griffin, who recently sold the UK's largest minicab service, Addison Lee, for €360m.

Irish TV will be launched on May 1st across Britain, Ireland and Europe on Sky Channel 191, and Freesat, and in the US on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). It will also have an online service across all devices on IrishTV.ie

The new TV station comes in the wake of Ireland’s success at MIPTV. Production companies and broadcasters such as RTE, TV3 and TG4 travelled to Cannes to buy and pitch several formats to global investors. Reed Midem UK Managing Director and OBE, Peter Rhodes, described Irish production as “punching well above its weight at MIPTV.” Independent production companies, such as Shinawil, Big Mountain, Loosehorse, Tyrone, Animo, Element Pictures and Sideline, have invested in formats and programme-making for domestic and international sale. These investments benefit from Ireland’s S481 tax fund, which mainly concentrates on film but is becoming increasingly relevant for TV in Ireland. The BAI’s Sound & Vision scheme has also revitalized the film and TV sector with incentives and funding increasing to accommodate programme makers.

Content investment in Irish television productions depends on extending the market internationally, which is why co-productions with global companies are vital. With the introduction of UTV Ireland, Sky Sports and now Irish TV, Irish productions are quickly becoming frontrunners in the global television market.



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