TV3 hosts toy show in bid to upstage RTÉ

It’s the ultimate Christmas showdown, the kind of ding dong carol singers don’t croon about, as TV3 pitches itself against the State-funded broadcaster with its own version of the Late Late Toy Show.

Billed as ShowPal Christmas Toys, the TV3 programme is geared to steal a jump on rival RTÉ’s production by airing at a time when children are still tuned in to the possibilities of what Santa has to offer — which may or may not be a good thing.

As well as being broadcast at 10am on Ireland AM on Nov 29, it will re-air at 8pm, an hour-and-a-half before the RTE Toy Show. TV3 publicists describe the timing as “more child friendly”.