3e (channel)
| 3e | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | 5 January 2009 |
| Network | TV3 Group |
| Owned by | Virgin Media Ireland |
| Picture format |
576i (16:9 SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Audience share | 2.5%  (August 2015, ) |
| Country | Ireland |
| Formerly called | Channel 6 (2006–2009) |
| Sister channel(s) |
TV3 be3 |
| Website | http://www.3etv.ie |
|
Availability
|
|
| Terrestrial | |
| Saorview | Channel 5 |
| Satellite | |
| Sky Ireland | Channel 105 |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media Ireland | Channel 105 Channel 149 (HD) |
| IPTV | |
| Eir TV | Channel 106 |
| Streaming media | |
| Horizon GO | Watch live (Ireland only) |
3e (3 entertainment) is the second free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by the TV3 Group a subsidiary of Virgin Media Ireland in Ireland.
The channel is aimed at the 15–35 age group. Following TV3's purchase of Channel 6 in July 2008, TV3 announced in December 2008 the channel would become 3e from 6 January 2009.
At 00:55 on January 9, 2017, 3e rebranded and launched 3e HD.
Channel 6 launched on 30 March 2006 then operated by Kish Media's subsidiary Channel 6 Broadcasting Ltd. Kish Media was a consortium made up of Tullamore Beta Ltd (Windmill Lane Productions & Paul McGuinness (U2 manager); Owners of TV3)), Barry family of Barry's Tea, and Gowan Group. In its infant stages, the channels consortium invested €14 million to fund the project. It was anticipated that Channel 6 would launch further channels including a Channel 6+1 service and a music channel.
In 2008, Kish Media announced the channel was for sale. In July 2008, it was confirmed that TV3 had purchased Kish Media for €10 million. The channel continued to broadcast as Channel 6 for a further six months, when TV3 began to promote Channel 6 programming on its main channel.
The station's first managing director was Martin Drake, who left the company after just eight months, and after a period under interim CEO Mark Kellett, the channel's top job was taken by Managing Director Michael Murphy, who later left the channel when it was fully transferred to TV3 and integrated into the TV3 Group. In December 2008, TV3 confirmed it would to re-brand Channel 6 to 3e on 5 January 2009. Though 3e shares some of the same shareholders and programmes as Channel 6, there was no formal connection between the two stations, until 2008 when Tullamore Beta took control of the channel.
3e was a replacement for Channel 6, which first broadcast on 30 March 2006. In 2008, it was announced the channel was for sale. In July 2008, it was confirmed that TV3 had purchased the parent company, Kish Media, for €10 million. The channel continued to broadcast as Channel 6 for a further 6 months before it was re-branded as 3e. Prior to its relaunch TV3 began to promote Channel 6 programming on its main channel. Including the 2008 series of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, which previously aired on TV3 and subsequently aired on 3e until 2014. Channel 6 Broadcasting Ltd remains a subsidiary of TV3 posting profits of 4million euro in 2015.
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