The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1998.

Events

• 20 September - Launch of TV3, the Republic of Ireland's first commercial television channel.^[1] Early programming on the channel includes the UK soap EastEnders, the miniseries Merlin the film The Quick and the Dead,^[2] US comedy Just Shoot Me, and Breakers, a new Australian soap. The channel is aimed at the 15-44 age group and also has a remit for 15% of its programming to be homegrown - rising to 25% within five years.^[3]
• 1 October - Digital satellite television launches in the Republic of Ireland, operated by Sky Digital.
• 1 October - TV3 reports an audience share of 927,000 (7% of viewers) for its first week on air, passing its intended initial target of a 6% audience share.^[2]

Debuts

RT

• 14 September - Gridlock (1998)
• September - The Premiership/Premier Soccer Saturday on RT 1 (1998 Present)
• Undated - 2Phat on Network 2 (1998-2000)

TV3

• 20 September - TV3 News @ 6 (1998-1999)
• 20 September - TV3 News (1998 Present)
• Undated - Speakeasy (1998-1999)
• Undated - Sports Tonight (1998-2009)

BBC

• Undated - Give My Head Peace on BBC One (1998-2008)

Ongoing television programmes

1960s

• RT News: Nine O'Clock (1961 Present)
• RT News: Six One (1962 Present)
• The Late Late Show (1962 Present)

1970s

• The Late Late Toy Show (1975 Present)
• RT News on Two (1978 Present)
• The Sunday Game (1979 Present)

1980s

• Glenroe (1983-2001)
• Saturday Live (1986-1999)
• Questions and Answers (1986-2009)
• Dempsey's Den (1986-2010)
• Kenny Live (1988-1999)
• Fair City (1989 Present)
• RT News: One O'Clock (1989 Present)

1990s

• Winning Streak (1990 Present)
• Challenging Times (1991-2001)
• Prime Time (1992 Present)
• The Movie Show (1993-2001)
• No Disco (1993-2003)
• Echo Island (1994-1999)
• Nuacht RT (1995 Present)
• Fame and Fortune (1996-2006)
• Nuacht TG4 (1996 Present)
• Ros na R n (1996 Present)
• PM Live (1997-1999)
• Later On 2 (1997-2000)
• Don't Feed the Gondolas (1997-2001)
• A Scare at Bedtime (1997-2006)

Ending this year

• 1 April - Know Your Sport (1987-1998)
• 17 April - Brendan O'Carroll's Hot Milk and Pepper (1996-1998)
• 26 November - Bosco (1979-1998)

Deaths

• 28 February - Dermot Morgan, 45, comedian and actor

References