Irish TV seeks global audience

Irish people throughout the world will be able to keep up with developments at home with the launch today of the country’s first 24-hour television channel.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was the first person to broadcast on the new channel aimed at the 70 million Irish people across the globe.

Dublin-based Ireland Live Television News will be available on the Internet and digital television, although negotiations are underway to get the channel on cable.

In the first live broadcast Mr Ahern said: ‘‘I warmly welcome the start-up of Ireland’s first 24-hour news channel. I wish it every success as a digital media television service, which is aimed at the global Irish community.’’

The group also hopes to exploit the gap in the Irish market for 24-hour broadcast news.

The €3.8m service is the brainchild of Andy Ruane, the managing director of Like It Love It Productions and owner of Ireland’s Anner Media Group.

He said: ‘‘A 24-hour television news channel is a proven concept. Television works, always has, always will. As well as traditional delivery we are using new paths to deliver 24-hour television news to the world.’’

The channel will have a rolling news service, repeated and updated every 15 minutes, to cover Irish stories.

The network is available free to viewers and will be funded through advertising.