150 jobs at IrishTV with new channel

Up to 150 jobs are to be created as Ireland’s first ever international satellite television channel, IrishTV, is launched.

Broadcasting 24 hours a day, the €15m project will see each county guaranteed an half an hour of weekly TV coverage as part of a County Matters show.

According to co-founders Máiréad Ní Mhaoilchiaráin and Pierce O’Reilly, the project will “focus on bringing rural Ireland to a global audience”. Its chairman, is Mayo-born multi-millionaire John Griffin, who recently sold Britain’s largest minicab service, Addison Lee, for €360m,

“The theme of the County Matters shows is simple — Irish rural life is unique, with its own cultures, traditions and events,” said CEO Pierce O’Reilly.

“At the heart of these events are people, and wherever people gather, we’ll be there.

Whether you’re from Cavan, Carlow, Cork, or Clare, there is at least half an hour’s worth of programming a week bringing your local area to you, wherever you are in the world”.

“Securing the deals both with Sky in Britain and Europe and PBS in the US has enabled us to potentially capture a large portion of the Irish diaspora — people who will now be closer to home than ever.”

The channel will feature 50 unique, home-produced programmes a week, with original content every night from 6pm-12am. Up to three staff are to be hired in each county in production, presentation, and commercial positions. Another 34 will be based at headquarters in Westport, with a further five at the northern office in Donaghmore, Co Tyrone. A further 10 will operate from offices in Manchester, Liverpool, and London, and five from Cleveland, Ohio.

IrishTV currently offers Irish programming online as well, as weekly satellite transmissions.

IrishTV will broadcast across the Britain, Ireland and Europe on Sky Channel 191, and Freesat, and in the US on the Public Broadcasting Service from May 1. It will also have an online service across all devices on IrishTV.com.

Meanwhile, Nielsen research has revealed that of the 5,000 most watched TV shows in Ireland last year, 97% are available to view on Saorview for free.

Top ranked was The Late Late Toy Show, which was watched by an estimated 1,547,000 viewers followed closely by the All Ireland Football Final at 1,064,000.

Popular RTÉ crime drama series Love/Hate was also in the top 3% of the most watched shows in 2013, as was Mrs Brown’s Boys.