The UTV Ireland Thread

Skid X · 06-11-2013 4:14pm #1

UTV Ireland is coming and they have secured the rights to show ITV's programmes in the Republic from "early 2015"

That's going to be a disaster for TV3 - Coronation Street, Emmerdale, X Factor**, I'm a Celebrity etc are ratings juggernauts and it's hard to see how they will be replaced.

UTV Media plc is delighted to announce that its subsidiary UTV Ireland Limited (UTV) plans to launch a new Irish TV channel which will create more than 100 new jobs.

An application to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for a Content Provision Contract was submitted today (6 November).

This announcement follows the signing of an agreement with ITV Studios Global Entertainment, which will give UTV the exclusive broadcasting rights for ITV Studios programmes for the Republic of Ireland audience, including popular soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale from early 2015, once appropriate statutory broadcasting licences are in place

... "We plan to make this new channel available on as many platforms as possible, subject to contract approval, with a catch up service also available online."

** Apparently X Factor is made by an Independent Company (Fremantle Media) and isn't affected by the ITV/UTV deal

http://www.utvireland.ie/

http://www.independent.ie/business/minster-pat-rabbitte-surprised-by-utvs-plans-to-enter-irish-market-29731761.html

http://www.independent.ie/business/media/is-utv-decision-to-enter-irish-tv-market-really-a-plan-to-squash-tv3-29732119.html

flazio · 06-11-2013 4:24pm

I could see UTVI and TV3 merging by 2016. TV3 wouldn't stand a chance without ITV content.

SeaFields · 06-11-2013 4:34pm

"We plan to make this new channel available on as many platforms as possible, subject to contract approval, with a catch up service also available online."

From my perspective I hope this part included them delivering the service on Saorsat as this is what I use at home. TV3 went against entering saorsat on day one. (Granted the only reason I would find myself watching TV3 is for the times they have the rights to a GAA match!)

_Kaiser_ · 06-11-2013 4:37pm

flazio wrote: »

I could see UTVI and TV3 merging by 2016. TV3 wouldn't stand a chance without ITV content.

And that worries me because from the above this is still only an application from UTV, not approval.

Is it possible the "powers that be" may deny the application, citing something like anti-competitive advantages etc

Patty O Furniture · 06-11-2013 4:47pm

TV3 chief executive David McRedmond admitted today that the move will be challenging for the station but time will tell.
"We've had other players come into to the market in the past and they haven't stayed," he said.
"It is a challenge but we have refocused our attention on home grown programming and that will remain our focus."
He played down suggestions that losing the likes of Corie would be a blow for TV3.
"We were losing money on the soaps," he said.
He added that the TV3 budget was being starved as a result.

I heard a newsclip of him on the radio this morning saying that they already pay millions each year for these soaps!

What was the name of the last drama they had!

Also heard that both soaps make up 20% of their viewing, whats that gonna do for X Factor+Celebrity GMOOH etc when you add them as well!
Always thought with all their ITV content, thought it was gonna be called ITV Ireland!

Btw: will this make the ITV Card trick void?, as i never got around to doing it.

Skid X · 06-11-2013 4:49pm

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Is it possible the "powers that be" may deny the application, citing something like anti-competitive advantages etc

The initial comments from Pat Rabbitte would suggest not.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte told RTE he was surprised by the move but he welcomed it and he will be meeting station executives today.

"It's somewhat of a surprise, I'll admit but one has to be positive about it.

"It means more competition in the broadcasting space and will create jobs in the Republic and the island of Ireland....and will provide more competition for incumbents.

http://www.independent.ie/business/utv-to-battle-it-out-with-tv3-and-rte-for-viewers-29731761.html

Patty O Furniture · 06-11-2013 5:57pm

Just heard the UTV MD Michael Wilson on the Last Word saying he wont cherry pick programs for UTV as X factor etc are made by a different company & will be up for bidding rights when its available, as theyre gonna talk about Program content in 6mths time.

Wont be bidding on football programs as they're not financially viable etc.

TV3 MD is on later to talk about it, probably after 5pm.

iseegirls · 06-11-2013 6:37pm

TV3 News have reported it in their news just there. David McRedmond saying that the soaps have become too dear and weren't affordable anymore.

So I wonder will they drop it next year so before 2015 when UTV Ireland starts, seeing it's so "dear" :rolleyes:

The_Valeyard · 06-11-2013 6:39pm

Hopefully it might kick TV3 into gear to show some really good shows, rather than reality based rubbish.

iseegirls · 06-11-2013 6:50pm

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Hopefully it might kick TV3 into gear to show some really good shows, rather than reality based rubbish.

They should start by removing Corrie and Emmerdale Omnibuses and repeats in the daytime, and showing that they can survive at those times. What TV3 will show at 7 and 7.30 is going to be interesting. Won't be surprised if they attempted to go for Home And Away.

hotmail.com · 06-11-2013 6:54pm

I hope that UTV Ireland provide a reliable, credible, independent news service to rival RTE, something TV3 never really did. Other than that, UTV will be ITV in every other way, with the odd token local programming thrown in.

I can't see UTV Ireland even doing its own morning programme?

The only indigenous programme I enjoy watching on TV3 is Vincent Browne. He's about 70 now and won't go on forever. TV3 News was a shoddy disgrace and it's something they never bothered to address. They had an opportunity back when they started to roll out a nightly news programme at 10 to rival RTE 9 News, but chose to provide a weak news programme at 11. They've consistently reduced and watered down their so called news programmes ever since (no news provided on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays). The coverage of elections was non-existent. We still have to completely rely on RTE for our news. I would like an independent alternative. The backbone of any popular traditional tv station is a decent, credible news service, something TV3 ignored.

Mully_2011 · 06-11-2013 6:57pm

Will they have Julian Simmons ??

The_Valeyard · 06-11-2013 6:58pm

Mully_2011 wrote: »

Will they have Julian Simmons ??

Probably Pat Kenny.

expectationlost · 06-11-2013 7:18pm

iseegirls wrote: »

TV3 News have reported it in their news just there. David McRedmond saying that the soaps have become too dear and weren't affordable anymore.

So I wonder will they drop it next year so before 2015 when UTV Ireland starts, seeing it's so "dear" :rolleyes:

weren't they planning to make their own?

mike65 · 06-11-2013 7:19pm

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Probably Pat Kenny.

I'll be amazed if they don't put forward a proposal for a weekly programme which is topical features/current affairs based for Kenny to front

Patty O Furniture · 06-11-2013 7:23pm

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Probably Pat Kenny.

EireGun · 06-11-2013 7:25pm

Looking forward to seeing a bit more news from the North, currently RTE News and UTV News are both aired at 6pm, RTE don't do enough news about Northern Ireland and UTV don't do enough news about the Republic. The UTV Ireland channel should have a good balance of both. RTE News still currently better at the moment.

recipio · 06-11-2013 7:35pm

Any hope Sky will broadcast it ? I record everything I want to watch and fast forward the ads. - You can get UTV on Sky but only as an 'extra channel' and is not recordable.

hotmail.com · 06-11-2013 7:36pm

EireGun wrote: »

Looking forward to seeing a bit more news from the North, currently RTE News and UTV News are both aired at 6pm, RTE don't do enough news about Northern Ireland and UTV don't do enough news about the Republic. The UTV Ireland channel should have a good balance of both. RTE News still currently better at the moment.

Does anyone in the South care about news in the North and vice versa?

AFAIK, the news programme will be a locally based programme for the Republic.

mike65 · 06-11-2013 7:44pm

Indeed I use Freesat and the great thing about it is I can put in any ITV area via the postcode feature and so do not have to sit through the dismal fare that UTV news and local programming consists of.

hotmail.com · 06-11-2013 8:03pm

mike65 wrote: »

Indeed I use Freesat and the great thing about it is I can put in any ITV area via the postcode feature and so do not have to sit through the dismal fare that UTV news and local programming consists of.

UTV News is actually more popular than BBC Newsline in the North.

I remember reading somewhere (this could be wrong), that nationalists didn't trust the BBC during the Troubles (state controlled and all that), so they watched their news on UTV, which was seen as fairer to both sides.

blue4ever · 06-11-2013 8:21pm

I'm with Mike on the drab News - its awful. Have to say - their political programme (I think) on a thursday night was good and again the name slips a host - was it Murray, I think he had a radio background, was fantastic. Outside that the current affairs was stock-in-trade six counties stuff Green V Orange

Ceist Beag: Am I correct in assuming that UTV will be replaced on say UPC/SKY by UTV Eire?

IrishStuff09 · 06-11-2013 8:25pm

Will it be in HD?

Richard · 06-11-2013 8:37pm

blue4ever wrote: »

I'm with Mike on the drab News - its awful. Have to say - their political programme (I think) on a thursday night was good and again the name slips a host - was it Murray, I think he had a radio background, was fantastic. Outside that the current affairs was stock-in-trade six counties stuff Green V Orange

Ceist Beag: Am I correct in assuming that UTV will be replaced on say UPC/SKY by UTV Eire?

I'd be surprised if they did. If they don't have ITV football then surely people will want "proper" UTV.

When it comes to TV news on the republic, it'd better be pretty good to rival RTE. Sky, with all their resources, failed.

wp_rathead · 06-11-2013 9:03pm

iseegirls wrote: »

They should start by removing Corrie and Emmerdale Omnibuses and repeats in the daytime, and showing that they can survive at those times. What TV3 will show at 7 and 7.30 is going to be interesting. Won't be surprised if they attempted to go for Home And Away.

Ideal if tv3 got Neighbours and Home & Away thus allowing RTE to get some decent shows for those time slots

JP Liz V1 · 06-11-2013 9:05pm

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Hopefully it might kick TV3 into gear to show some really good shows, rather than reality based rubbish the countless repeats

FYP

mike65 · 06-11-2013 9:43pm

wprathead wrote: »

Ideal if tv3 got Neighbours and Home & Away thus allowing RTE to get some decent shows for those time slots

TV doesn't work like that, two cheap imports which are part of a package would be replaced with repeats of someone in a garden or at the zoo or cooking. RTE is bust remember.

hfallada · 06-11-2013 9:47pm

The question Im sure is one everyones mind. If TV3 and UTV merger, will they keep TV3 reputation of oscar worthy documentaries? What would Irish media be without their tasteful insights in the traveler life.

Delightfully Bright · 06-11-2013 9:53pm

Have they released a name for this future channel yet? I presume it will be a letter followed by TV to continue the cross branding. I for Irish is taken by ITV. I was thinking it could be something like Republic TV but RTV is quite similar to RTÉ...