TV3 News - Ireland

I have noticed some recent changes at TV3 News.

1. TV3 had introduced a 15 minute lunchtime news, separate from their Midday programme, which had been called the 12:45. Now it's a 30 minute programme, called The 12:30.

2. FYI which had been on their 3e channel has been cancelled. The last edition was on August 29th. Shame, I liked FYI, and the FYI newsbyte that aired at 1pm, but both have sadly gone.

3. I also notice that Ireland AM is now able to be viewed live online as well.

Be prepared for much bigger changes next year. If cash becomes tight it's likely they'll cut back even more. There's no 11pm bulletin any more... Vincent Browne had to attempt to read headlines...and I mean attempt, the first week he was back... It now seems that he gets a guest to talk about what happened in the news during the day before, they move onto the main topic of the show.

Oh dear I just noticed Xpose is now on for a full hour

TV3's news coverage is a joke. There is no bulletin at all on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Furthermore, TV3 didn't even make itself available on most of the relay transmitters in the Republic before Saorview commenced operation.

There's little more left to cut back, apart from the lunchtime news and perhaps the Ireland AM summaries. After that it becomes a case of not actually doing any news any more and I reckon that's the line the BAI will not let them cross.

Sorry, separating a bulletin from their Midday programme, turning it into the 12:45, a 15 minute bulletin, and expanding it into a 30 minute bulletin, the 12:30, is something you do when you're cutting? That's a strange idea. If they were serious about cutting, they wouldn't have created the 12:45 in the first place, nor expanded it to becoming the 12:30.

The bulletin they broadcast at 12.30 is very often much the same material as is broadcast at 5.30. They cut FYI entirely (A cheap but decent news show) and have promised to replace it with 60 second news updates during the day. (I think they haven't appeared yet)

Cutting Your only 2 bulletins between 6pm and 12midnight is cutting back in my book. Adding an extra 15 minutes (which is really closer to 10 after adverts are taken into account) during the day costs little especially as the material can in general be repeated at 5.30.

Plus I do have to point out that TV3 now have no News Whatsoever between Friday at 5.57 and Monday Morning at 7.00am... It used to be a 7 day News operation only a few years ago. Now it's down to 4 and a half days. That would make most fair minded people think that news is not a priority at the station.

I would have agreed with you 10 years ago, but the BAI have left them get away with a lot over the last few years. RTE News is the only Irish TV news in Town Friday Night, Saturday and Sunday. Plus Monday to Friday There's no news whatsoever on TV3 or 3e after 6pm

It's likely that They will point out that UTV are providing a lot of News in the Market next year and use that an excuse to cut back News again. (probably some sort of Headline service.) The threat of closure or Major job losses will make the BAI think twice before they'd take any major action.

I think it's a bit unfair to compare TV3 News directly with RTE. For starters RTE had a 37 year head start over 3, not to mention a much larger budget and resources. And while TV3 finishes at 6pm, RTE until fairly recently, didn't get out of bed until 1pm!

Yes TV3 is a bit basic (and the set and music is bloody awful!) but they do have a few decent reporters and are providing an alternative service that has an audience.

It will be interesting to see what impact UTV will have on the market come January.

I'd agree with you if it were 1998 and TV3 were just starting out but over the last 10 years they have just gone backwards when it has come to news, They shut down Galway and Belfast offices, dropped hours of weekend News and now are starting to wind down Weekday news. I'd agree as well that their news does have an audience but if they choose not to show the news, that audience is neglected.

I would find none of this a problem except they got their license with promises of a certain amount of News and Current Affairs. It could be argued that Monday to Thursday they reach the requirements but Friday to Sunday is a totally different matter.

Ireland is a news hungry Island (on both sides of the border) News Shows do well, but they do cost money. TV3 want to save money (and good luck to them) but the BAI have a lot to answer for by not putting a stop to this years ago.

It is bizarre that UTV lreland will begin broadcasting with far fewer Public Service Requirements in their license in January and will Still put out 90 minutes more News Monday to Friday between 6pm and 11pm.

I think the BAI have become a clear victim of what is known as "regulatory capture" when it comes to TV3 I'm afraid. They're afraid to let it go out of business but if it were to drop its remaining news commitments it wouldn't be a PSB any more IMO and in such circumstances I don't see why it should retain the rights to such prominent EPG positioning and must carry obligations.

From what people are saying elsewhere and here (I admit to being no expert), I really think UTV will be the PSB in the Republic...one way or another.

Could this be one of the catalyst for a change in the relationship between both sides of the Irish border?