UTV to Launch New Channel in Ireland

November 6, 2013 World Screen Top Stories

BELFAST: UTV Media is planning to launch a new television channel in the Republic of Ireland in early 2015.

The UTV Ireland subsidiary is submitting an application to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for the content provision contract today. The new service will be based in Dublin, with newsgathering hubs in Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick.

John McCann, the group chief executive of UTV Media, said: “The audience in Ireland has known the UTV brand for more than 50 years through our station for Northern Ireland and we’re delighted to announce our plans for a new dedicated channel for viewers in the Republic of Ireland.

“UTV Media already has a very strong presence in the Republic of Ireland employing more than 300 people in our various businesses including our market leading Irish radio stations. We look forward to building on that success with the launch of a new Irish TV channel.

“After incurring start-up costs in 2014 we expect the new channel to breakeven in its first full year of operation and then move into profit from 2016.

“Today’s announcement represents a strong vote of confidence in Irish broadcasting and our investment in the Irish economy.”

Michael Wilson, the managing director of UTV Television, said: “UTV was the first commercial TV channel in Ireland when it launched as part of the ITV Network back in 1959 and for many years the only place where you could watch Coronation Street and the hugely popular ITV network programming.

“We intend to introduce UTV Ireland in early 2015 utilising the existing UTV winning formula of combining high-quality news, current affairs, entertainment and drama.

“We plan to make this new channel available on as many platforms as possible, subject to contract approval, with a catch up service also available online.”