TV3 (Ireland)
| TV3 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | 20 September 1998 |
| Network | TV3 Group |
| Owned by | Virgin Media Ireland |
| Picture format |
576i (16:9 and 4:3) (SDTV), 1080i (HDTV) |
| Audience share | 8.4%  (31 December 2015, [2]) |
| Slogan | The Power of 3 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sister channel(s) |
3e be3 |
| Timeshift service | TV3 +1 |
|
Availability
|
|
| Terrestrial | |
| Saorview | Channel 3 (SD) |
| Satellite | |
| Sky Ireland | Channel 103 (SD/HD) Channel 117 (+1) Channel 273 (HD) |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media Ireland | Channel 103 Channel 119 (+1) Channel 150 (HD) |
| IPTV | |
| eir TV | Channel 103 |
| Streaming media | |
| Horizon Go by Virgin Media | Watch live (Ireland only) |
TV3 is a commercial free-to-air television channel operated within Ireland by the TV3 Group operated by Virgin Media Ireland and owned by Liberty Global. The channel launched on 20 September 1998 becoming the Republic of Ireland's first commercial television channel.
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.
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