TV3 (Ireland)

Virgin Media One, also called Virgin One, is an Irish free-to-air television channel owned by Virgin Media Ireland (part of Liberty Global), operated through its subsidiary Virgin Media Television. The channel was known until 30 August 2018 as TV3 (and until 2006 as TV Three, launched on 20 September 1998), becoming Ireland's first commercial television channel. Its name was changed to Virgin Media One on the same day. The channel broadcasts a mix of Irish programming and acquired programming from ITV and others.

History

In October 1988, the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) was set up to regulate new independent stations. Following this TV3 was intended to be the Republic of Ireland's third terrestrial channel. The original broadcasting licence was granted to a consortium ''Tullamore Beta Ltd'' in 1990 (some of this consortium made up of Windmill Lane Productions and Paul McGuinness). It was originally envisaged that the channel would broadcast solely on cable and analogue MMDS, but it was later (1990) decided that the channel should broadcast on some terrestrial UHF transmitters similar to other Irish channels. Initially their signal coverage was much poorer than that of RTÉ but this has been largely addressed since the switchover to digital television.

TV3's broadcast was further delayed when IRTC revoked the broadcasting licence due to delays in broadcasting the channel. After a court battle the licence was eventually restored in 1993. By 1993 an agreement was made to sell 49 per cent of the company to UTV, to raise much-needed cash for investment in facilities. However, UTV pulled out of negotiations in 1995, after TV3 tried to convince existing MMDS and cable television providers to drop UTV and replace it with TV3. Cable operators declined to drop UTV Northern Ireland from its line-up.

In 1997, Canadian communications company Canwest bought a major stake in the new company. In 2001, Granada purchased a 45% share in the company. By 2006 the group was sold to Doughty Hanson & Co. In 2015, Liberty Global confirmed it planned to purchase the TV3 Group, approval to purchase the broadcaster was given on 2 October 2015 by the CCPC.

In June 2018, it was announced that the TV3 Group channels would be rebranded as Virgin Media Television on 30 August 2018, with TV3 renamed Virgin Media One.

Subsidiary channels

Virgin Media One +1

A timeshift channel TV3 +1 launched on 2 December 2014 on UPC Ireland. The channel was added to Sky Ireland on 8 April 2015.

However, the channel is unavailable to viewers on Saorview, as TV3 were in dispute with its operator 2RN (formerly a subsidiary of RTÉ) over the non-payment of tariffs over several years by TV3. On 30 August 2018, with the rebrand of TV3, TV3 +1 was rebranded as Virgin Media One +1.

Virgin Media One HD

TV3 HD is a high definition version of TV3, both domestic and imported programming is available in HD, mainly sporting content. TV3 HD launched on Virgin Media Ireland and Sky Ireland on 11 August 2015. It is anticipated TV3 will utilise its existing Virgin Media TV3 HD Studio in Ballymount where a number of its shows already broadcast from such as Ireland:AM, Xposé, The Tonight Show and 3 News. The service is currently unavailable on Saorview. On 30 August 2018, with the rebrand of TV3, TV3 HD was rebranded as Virgin Media One HD.

Broadcasting policy

TV3 broadcasts a wide range of programming which in its early years depended heavily on international acquisitions. In 2008, the TV3 Group produced a three-year strategy to increase the amount of homegrown productions on the channel. Under its contract with the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), TV3 is required since 2008 to have 30% of its programming coming from Ireland though TV3 now produces 40% Irish produced content (most of this content comes from in studio productions such as '' Ireland AM'' and '' Xposé''). In 2010 TV3 announced a target of 50% Irish programming by 2012. TV3 has also confirmed its plan to build a major new studio in 2011 which will be fully HD capable with audience capacity.

The company has a small staff of 200 employees to run three television channels and one on-demand online service. On average, TV3 spend about €10 million on internal productions which are generally for daytime viewers. It does not have a history of strong prime-time content; generally its home produced programmes consist of at least one independently produced programme, e.g. The Apprentice, a number of internal documentaries such as Ireland Undercover and a number of BCI licence fee-funded independent products such as School Run, Diary of... and Modern Ireland.

As of October 2009, TV3 claims to be the most watched television channel by people aged 15–24 years old. This group was previously captured by RTÉ One. This is an important group to capture as it is often these viewers whom advertisers wish to target. In reaction to this press release from TV3, RTÉ rebutted its claims stating that RTÉ One outdoes TV3 in far more demographic categories and that TV3's press release, "In terms of the selective audiences focussed upon by TV3 in their release, it's clear this is a recent phenomenon and only pertains to a narrow sub-demographic of young viewers in this country. By contrast, the year-to-date equivalent (1 January – 20 October), all day national share, sees RTÉ One with a 16.2% share of the 15-24s; TV3 with a 13.3% share."

Budget

In 2009 TV3 had revenues of €54,300,000. In the previous year (2008), TV3 received €62 million in advertising revenue. Increases in programme cost during 2008 included new sporting contracts with the GAA and UEFA, the first renewal of its contract with the British broadcaster ITV for shows such as '' The X Factor'' and ''Coronation Street'', a small but significant increase in programmes commissioned from independent producers. It also increased investment in online technology, with its online service earning a profit for the first time.

In 2008, TV3 received €3 million in funding from the licence fee for independent productions on the channel.

In 2009, two rounds of redundancies reduced TV3 staff to 213 people. Staff savings have been augmented by agreed reductions in wages. The 200 staff working in TV3 now provide seven hours of live television five days a week, an increase of two hours and a staff reduction of 50 since 2007.

In February 2012 the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) restructured TV3's outstanding loans to the bank. The owners of TV3, Doherty Hanson & Co., have loans of €140million with the bank. €51million continued to be repaid over the next 5 years, while €81.1 was frozen until a "liquidity event", according to the IBRC this is in the event of a sale of TV3.

In 2014 TV3 saw losses of €7 million, and €17 million in 2015, with operating expenses of €55.6 million.

Product placement

Product placement within Irish produced programming had previously been banned by broadcasting authorities in Ireland, though in the past Irish viewers have been used to product placement as seen on US television and film productions. Due to an EU ruling made in 2007, Irish broadcasters can now place products within programming mainly entertainment shows, though excludes programming which is deemed mainly 'news and current affairs' and programming aimed at children. On 15 August 2011 it was confirmed that TV3 would become the first official broadcaster to implement the new broadcasting terms. Kenco reportedly paid TV3 Group a six-figure sum to place its branding on two key early morning television shows mainly, '' The Morning Show'' and '' Midday'' from September 2011. Similar to RTÉ and TG4 broadcasters will have to air the logo 'PP' at the beginning and end of the show to inform viewers that products will appear on the show. RTÉ Television has previously used product placement on its series '' The Late Late Show''.

Irish-produced programming

Virgin Media Ireland programming has often been criticised for having no "distinctive, clearly Irish identity". In spring 2008, a major effort was made by the station to change this situation. In general Virgin Media Ireland spends around €10 million on its Irish productions each year. In 2008 it significantly increased the number of prime time shows produced in Ireland. Under current broadcasting legislation, Virgin Media One is required to use 15% of its total Irish production budget for independent productions. Since 2004 independent productions for the network have been able to avail of the BAI's Sound and Vision Fund, a fund provided to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) from the licence fee. In 2008 independent producers received €3million from the Sound and Vision fund for programming that they produced for the network.

News and current affairs

Virgin Media News provides national Irish and international news through television, online, on-demand and on mobile. The news service begins at 07:00 with regularly bulletins featured on '' Ireland AM'' until 10:30. The main news bulletins on Virgin Media One are ''Virgin Media News at 12.30'', '' Virgin Media News at 5.30'', '' Virgin Media News at 8.00'', plus ''Virgin Media News on Two'' on Virgin Media Two. On Virgin Media Three, ''60 Second Update'' bulletins are broadcast throughout prime-time.

Sports programming

From its infancy, TV3 aired a live sporting programme called '' Sports Tonight'' (1998–2009) hosted by Trevor Welsh. The show would air weeknights from 23:30, until its cancellation on 23 March 2009.

At its launch, TV3 secured rights to number of Republic of Ireland exhibition matches. It joined forces with Sky to provide deferred coverage of World Cup Qualifying games along with a programme dedicated to League of Ireland games, ''The Soccer Show'' and live coverage of League of Ireland games. Later those games moved to RTÉ after the government chose to put those games on a live free-to-air footing.

Virgin Media Ireland currently holds the Irish broadcasting rights to 2018 for UEFA Champions League on Tuesday nights, while RTÉ 2 covers Wednesday nights and the final exclusively live. which includes in-vision sporting commentary and analysis by Virgin Media Sport presenters and crew. Coverage is presented by Tommy Martin alongside 2 pundits examples being Graeme Souness, Harry Redknapp, Brian Kerr, Neil Lennon, Martin Keown or Tony Cascarino. Commentary is provided by Dave McIntyre and Kevin Kilbane or Mark Lawrenson with Trevor Welsh also providing highlights commentary. The network previously held exclusive Irish rights from 2001 to 2004. It then lost these to RTÉ but since 2009 have shared rights with RTÉ and will continue to have these rights until 2018. TV3 also held rights to the UEFA Europa League matches on Thursday nights until 2015. In 2015 TV3 began airing the FA Cup Final live and will do so through to 2018. The coverage was presented by Tommy Martin alongside Paul McShane and Brian Kerr with commentary by Dave McIntyre and Kevin Kilbane.

A milestone in TV3 broadcasting history came with coverage of the 2011 UEFA Europa League Final, held at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Forty cameras were used to broadcast to an audience in the tens of millions across the world.

From 2008 to 2013 TV3 secured broadcasting rights for a selection of GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship matches as part of '' Championship Live''. In 2008, the station began broadcasting a selection of live matches, as well as a weekly preview show called ''Championship Throw In''. TV3 lost these rights in 2014 to Sky Sports.

TV3 first aired Rugby with coverage of the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The channel had coverage of 13 games with all Ireland matches, quarter-finals, semi-finals, the final and the opening match shown live alongside Setanta Ireland who broadcast all matches. TV3 coverage in 2007 was hosted by Matt Cooper with analysis by Paul Wallace, Trevor Brennan, Jim Glennon, Michael Cheika, Jim Williams and Victor Costello. The commentators were Conor McNamara and Phillip Matthews.

Days after the loss of Gaelic games Championship rights in 2014, the station secured live free to air coverage of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. TV3 broadcast all 48 matches in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Coverage was presented by Matt Cooper or Tommy Martin alongside Keith Wood, Matt Williams, Peter Stringer, Shane Jennings, Neil Back, Murray Kinsella with commentary by 2 commentary teams – the first being Conor McNamara, Stuart Barnes and Liam Toland and the second being Dave McIntyre and Hugo McNeill. Other commentary was provided by the world field such as Andrew Cotter, Joel Stransky, Alan Quinlan, Chris Patterson. The coverage has been met with significant criticism due to the high number of ad breaks and their positioning throughout the coverage. After a successful Rugby World Cup for TV3 they shocked RTÉ Sport in November 2015 by winning the rights to broadcast all matches in the 6 Nations from 2018 to 2021 with RTÉ continuing to cover the tournament in 2016–2017.

Daytime programming

Virgin Media One's daytime TV takes up the majority of its home produced programming. Virgin Media Ireland has stated that 40% of its total output is of Irish origin 10% more than its requirement under its broadcast licence with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. Together ''Ireland AM'', ''News at 12.30'', ''Xposé'' and ''News at 5.30'' make up 30 hours of television each week.

TV3's first daytime produced programme was '' Speakeasy'' produced by Fastnet for TV3. The series focused on topical issues affecting people in Ireland ranging from divorce, sex, crime, multiculturalism, poverty, sexuality and other topics were discussed amongst the presenter and a panel of guests. The show ran for one year from 1998 to 1999.

The station created a new morning news talk show, '' Ireland AM'', launched in September 1999. It became Ireland's first televised breakfast show. The show airs every weekday morning from 07:00 until 11:00 featuring a broad range of topics such as news, show business, daily newspapers, current affairs, technology, cooking, animal welfare, social issues, fashion, beauty, health, interviews, traffic reports, weather, sport, movies and music. ''Ireland AM''s presenting team include Karen Koster, Anna Daly, Ciara Doherty and Alan Hughes.

Originally ''Ireland AM'' broadcast for two hours each morning, it now broadcasts for 3 and a half hours. In 2013 45 minutes extra were added to the show with the first hour hosted by Anton Savage as a current affairs programme, in 2014 TV3 drop the extra 45 minutes and the first hour of Current Affairs.

In 2008, TV3 launched a female skewed programme similar to '' The View'' called '' Midday''. ''Midday'' broadcasts from 11:30 until 12:30; the show is presented by Elaine Crowley and is joined on occasion by Sybil Mulcahy in front of a live studio audience.

In 2009, TV3 launched a new topical show called '' The Morning Show with Sybil & Martin''. In August 2013, TV3 confirmed that '' The Morning Show'' had been axed from the new autumn schedule after weeks of speculation.

In 2013 ''Late Lunch Live'' started broadcasting Monday to Friday at 14:30. The show is hosted by Lucy Kennedy and Martin King. In February 2015 this was replaced by ''The Seven O'Clock Show''.

In 2014 the afternoon news at 12:45 was rebranded as ''The 12:30'' and now runs for 30 minutes Monday to Friday. In June 2015, TV3 Group confirmed it would extend its '' Ireland AM'' format into the weekends. From August 2015, the station began broadcasting '' Weekend AM'' live providing up to six hours live content on the weekends.

Reality and entertainment programming

1998–2001

The channel's first attempt at a travel show was ''Messrs Tylak and Rooney'' in which Joe Rooney and Paul Tykla traveled around Ireland's tourist spots.

In 2000, TV3 commissioned the dating game ''Perfect Match'' hosted by Twink (Adele King'' hosted by Eamon Dunphy.

Other entertainment shows included a film show, ''Take 3''.

2002–2006

In May 2002, ''Haunted House'' started out with about 26 contestants who would be ultimately voted out of the house by the public. The tasks were similar to those of '' I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!''.

In 2003, TV3 launched the ill-fated ''The Dunphy Show'' presented by Eamon Dunphy, which was built up to be a contender with RTÉ One's '' The Late Late Show''.

TV3 also launched a weekly movie review show called ''Popcorn''.

In 2005, TV3 made a second attempt at launching another late night talk show every Wednesday at 22:00 hosted by Brendan Courtney called ''The Brendan Courtney Show''. It was somewhat successful and ran for two seasons.

In the same year the channel launched a property based show hosted by Richard Eberle and Maura Derrane called ''The Property Game''. Similar to other European broadcasters TV3 began to produce its own reality based TV series.

In 2006 TV3 produced its second reality TV series. '' The Box'', fronted by Keith Duffy, debuted on Monday 9 October 2006.

2007–2014

From 2007 TV3 continued its commitment to increase its Irish entertainment output. In April 2007, the channel launched the female-skewed news entertainment show '' Xposé'' airing weeknights at 18:00.

An Irish version of ''Deal or No Deal'' which ran for one season in association with the Irish National Lottery was launched in 2009. It was produced by Endemol for TV3.

As part of the autumn-winter schedule in 2008, TV3 aired the Irish version of the internationally successful ''The Apprentice''. This proved to be very successful for TV3. The series aired on the channel between 2008 and 2012. It also led to spin-off shows called '' The Apprentice: You're Fired!'' and ''The Apprentice: At Home''.

In 2009 entertainment news anchor Lorraine Keane left '' Xposé'', which resulted in a reality TV show called ''Total Xposure'' which focused on a nationwide search for a new presenter.

TV3 began to air an Irish version of the international dating show ''Take Me Out'' from 2010. The series was presented by radio DJ Ray Foley.

In 2011, Adele King

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