TG4 today launched its Autumn programming line-up, with a twelve-minute show reel highlighting an impressive mix of home-produced content and US & Scandinavian imports for the season ahead.
Director General Pól Ó Gallchóir spoke of the technological changes to the broadcasting landscape in recent years, from the move to HD to the introduction of the TG4 player for laptops and tablets, which are changing the way programmes are made.
Along with returning favourites like ‘Cogar’, ‘Ros na Rún’, ‘An Jig Rig’ and IFTA-winning ‘Jockey Eile’, were glimpses of new shows such as '1916: Seachtar Dearmadta', focusing on the last of the Dublin rebels to surrender and be executed after the Easter Rising; and 'Mná Díbeartha' about the 4,000 young orphan workhouse girls who were transported on the Famine Bride Ships to colonies in Australia where men outnumbered women by 10 to 1.
Of special note is the quality of the US and Scandinavian imports this year featuring the final season of ‘Breaking Bad’; Denmark’s ‘Borgen’; Swedish crime drama ‘Arne Dahl’; Kelsey Grammer’s ‘Boss’; and modern-day Western ‘Justified’.
Mr Ó Gallchóir also praised the quality of the output of the independent production sector and the loyalty that audiences have shown TG4.
‘Our Gaelic games coverage last Spring regularly attracted over 200,000 viewers each Sunday, with our documentaries, drama and music programmes regularly among our top-rated programmes too,’ he added.
The following is a breakdown of TG4’s Autumn programming line-up:
Cogar: New documentaries in this series will cover such topics as the musical legacy of Frank Patterson and the story behind Limerick’s Thomond Park.
Ros na Rún: This season’s storylines boast local wrangling, love-stories, and the trademark wit and banter of the show’s characters.
Anamnocht: These hour-long programmes with focus on such stories as the 1913 Dublin Lockout; the unsung executed heroes of the 1916 Rising; and the torching of Ireland’s historical archive during the opening battle of the Irish Civil War.
An Jig Gig: Dance hopefuls battle it out to be crowned TG4’s best traditional Irish dance act.
Spillane an Fánaí: John Spillane travels the country, visiting small towns and seeking musical inspiration from the communities along the way.
Jockey Eile: Last year’s IFTA winner returns with 20 wannabe jockeys competing for the chance to make their dream a reality, aided by top jockeys Kevin Manning and Davy Russell.
I mBarr do Shláinte: A nine-part health education series featuring experts and patients, discussing the most common diseases affecting Irish adults.
Laochra Gael: The new season celebrates the careers of Gaelic games legends including Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Paddy Cullen, Larry Tompkins, Cora Staunton, Noel Lane and John Mullane.
GAA Beo: Exclusive live coverage of the All-Ireland Under-21 hurling final, TG4 All-Ireland ladies gaelic football finals from Croke Park, International Rules tests, county finals and the AIB Club provincial championships.
Rugby: Extensive live coverage of all four provinces’ progress in the new RaboDirect Pro12 Rugby season from Saturday 7th September along with extensive deferred coverage of the Heineken Cup.
Imeall: The weekly arts and culture show looks at trends, events and publications with profiles and reviews with Tristan Rosenstock.
Young people's line-up: ‘Cúla4 na nÓg’, the breakfast show for pre-school kids; ‘Cúla4’, the afternoon cartoon zone; and ‘Ponc’, aimed at young people presented by Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill and Colmán Mac Séalaigh.
Nuacht TG4: News Anchor Eimear Ní Chonaola and the Nuacht team continue to shed a different light on news stories at home and abroad.
Fíorscéal: A new season of international documentaries will look at environmental, social, political and global issues.
Róisín: Presenter Róisín O’Hara and her studio guests chat about current issues, mixing the light-hearted with the serious.
Comhrá: Host Máirtín Tom Sheáinín lets his guests, from all walks of life, do most of the talking in his traditional style.
Pobal ag Guí: Author, journalist and broadcaster Catherine Foley presents this four-part analysis of the role of religion in Irish society over the past three generations.
Croí an Cheantair: This looks at the stories of six towns and the household-name industries, now gone, that are part of their history.
Guth: A six-part series examining the impact of the Irish diaspora on popular music in the US and UK - from Bing Crosby, Johnny Lydon, Morrissey and Marr to Dusty Springfield, John Lennon and the Gallagher Brothers.
Opry an Iúir: A six-part Irish country music performance series, presented by Marc Roberts & Lynette Fay, along with Daniel O'Donnell, featuring singers Susan Mc Cann, Jimmy Buckley, Robert Mizzel and Mary Duff.
A link to TG4’s Autumn 2013 show-reel can be found here.
