Fiktiv Ireland - TV3 Group

TV3 Group is a commercial TV company in Ireland, based in Dublin. Launched in 1998 as TV3 Television Network, the TV3 Group was formed in January 2009. The company was acquired by Oaktree Capital Management in 2015.

The initial company TV3 Television Network Ltd was established in the early 1990s as a response to the development of the IRTC in October 1998. The former broadcasting regular Independent Radio & Television Commission (now the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland) was created to regulate broadcasting in Ireland. In 1990 following an invitation by the IRTC to seek interests from independent broadcasters, a consortium (Tullamore Beta Ltd) came together to launch the Republic of Ireland's first independent channel and third terrestrial channel. The launch of TV3 was delayed and the licence was revoked due to this delay. Following a court case, the license was eventually restored in 1993. It was agreed that 49% of the company would be sold to UTV, to raise much-needed cash for investment in facilities. By 1995, UTV decided not to partner up with Tullamore Beta and instead focused on its own channels being made available through digital television providers in Ireland. In 1997, Canadian communications company Canwest bought a major stake in the new company in order to help launch the independent network.

In 1997, Canadian communications company Canwest bought a major stake in the new company. In 2001, Granada purchased a 45% share in the company. In 2006 the group was sold to Doughty Hanson & Co, a venture capital firm based in Luxembourg which purchased the stakes of Canwest and ITV Plc's stake as well as the remaining 10% stake.

By 2015, Doughty Hanson & Co confirmed it planned on selling the TV3 Group; as the holding company decided to abandon television broadcasting. By mid-2015 it was confirmed Kilcullen Kapital Partners would purchase the company. Doughty Hanson & Co sold the company for €80 million and an additional €7 million should the "group" meet certain targets. The acquisition of TV3 was approved by the CPCC in November 2015 and it was passed to then Minister for Communications, Alex White, for approval which he gave in December 2015.

The company has a staff of around 300 employees to run three television channels and one on-demand online service.

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TV3 is an Irish free-to-air television channel owned by TV3 Group. The channel was launched on 20 September 1998, becoming Ireland's first commercial television channel.

TV3 broadcasts a wide range of programming which in its early years depended heavily on international acquisitions. In 2008, the TV3 Group produced a three-year strategy to increase the amount of homegrown productions on the channel. Under its contract with the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), TV3 is required since 2008 to have 30% of its programming coming from Ireland though TV3 now produces 40% Irish produced content.

TV3 is Ireland's first national, commercial, independent television network. TV3 offers a real alternative to the viewer delivering an entertainment mix that reflects the interests and tastes of modern Ireland. Since our launch in September 1998, TV3 has built a loyal and growing audience. With an innovative approach to programming, news and current affairs, TV3 continues to challenge established broadcast practice.

TV3 News is the Irish television news and current affairs division of TV3 in the Republic of Ireland. The news division produces news and current affairs programming for free-to-air channels TV3, 3e, be3, online (tv3.ie), on-demand (3Player) and on mobile.

TV3 News launched its first news bulletin on September 20, 1998 under the TV3 News @ 6 branding airing Monday – Friday for an hour at 18:00, with half an hour bulletins on Saturdays and Sundays. A year later following a failed attempt to compete with RTÉ News: Six One this bulletin was moved to 17:30 and 19:00. Following the TV3 Group's acquisition of content from ITV and a schedule change the 19:00 bulletin was moved to 18:30.

From its inception TV3 News has played a major role on Ireland AM helping to inform viewers of the latest local, national and international news stories. TV3 News on Ireland AM also provides entertainment news, funny stories, weather, traffic updates and sports news.

TV3 News morning bulletins are broadcast every half-hour during Ireland AM between 7am and 10am on weekdays and between 9am and 12pm on weekends. Additionally there is a 5-minute news summary broadcast on weekdays during This Morning at 11:15am.

On 30 September 2013 TV3 introduced a lunchtime news bulletin on weekdays hosted by Collete Fitzpatrick. The bulletin originally was broadcast at 12:45pm and lasted 15 minutes, but on 2 June 2014 the bulletin was extended and moved to its current 12:30pm timeslot. The bulletin features in-depth news and analysis.

TV3 News flagship daily news bulletin is broadcast at 5:30 pm. The bulletin is called TV3 News at 5.30 and runs for approximately 30 minutes. Presented on weekdays by main news anchor Colette Fitzpatrick, the programme covers Irish national and international news stories every day.

On weekdays there is another 30-minute early evening news bulletin at 6.30pm (competing with the long-established Six One News on RTÉ One) and an in-depth hour-long programme at 10pm, including feature reports, interviews and analysis. On Friday nights, the second half of the 10pm programme consists of an extended sports segment.

Ireland AM is an Irish morning television show on TV3. It airs live every weekday morning from 7am to 10am, and weekends from 9am to 12pm. The program features news, current affairs, weather updates, showbiz, fashion, beauty, food, health, home and garden.

Ireland AM was launched on 20 September 1999 on the 1st anniversary of TV3's launch, the first show of its kind in Ireland. It was originally on air from 7:00am to 9:00am and hosted by Mark Cagney and Amanda Byram. The show went on air almost a year after TV3 launched, and was seen as an attempt by the station to improve ratings.

The show keeps you up to date with all that's happening in the worlds of entertainment, fashion, TV and film and asks the questions that matter to you on issues ranging from health to wealth, and from shopping to job-hunting. There's news every half-hour, business updates and sport along with weather.

On Saturday 29 August 2015, Ireland AM launched weekend editions on Saturdays and Sundays. Both shows provide a mix of current affairs, showbiz, entertainment, in-studio guests, cookery, debate and fashion. Saturday AM focuses more on light entertainment whereas Sunday AM concentrates more on current affairs, debate and an analysis of Sunday newspapers.

Xposé is an Irish entertainment, fashion and beauty programme, broadcast every weekday at 6pm on TV3, with a repeat the following day at 1pm on 3e (TV3's sister channel).

The show's format is similar to that of American celebrity news and gossip programmes, such as E! News and Entertainment Tonight, covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It is produced in-house by TV3 with a team of reporters conducting the interviews and attending various events. On rare occasions guests may appear in the studio. Xposé primarily focuses on celebrity life in Ireland and around the world. Reporters cover home events including top awards ceremonies, film premieres, rock and pop concerts, fashion shows and interviews with Irish and international stars.

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3e is an Irish free-to-air television channel owned by TV3 Group. The channel was lanuched on 30 March 2006 as Channel 6.

In December 2008, TV3 confirmed it was to rebrand Channel 6 to 3e on 5 January 2009. The channel would use existing TV3 programming and provide TV3 audiences with a wider range of programming.

3e provides viewers with a mix of US and Australian acquisitions. It is also used as a TV3 replay service featuring repeats of previously broadcast programs on TV3 such as Ireland AM, Xposé and Midday. Although designed as an entertainment channel, it started broadcasting news updates shortly after its rebrand to 3e in 2009. 3e News Update is a minute long news broadcast from TV3 News. 3e News Update is broadcast Monday to Friday every hour between 12:59pm and 3:59pm and again between 6:59pm and 9:59pm. The News Updates are presented by TV3 News presenters.

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be3 is an Irish free-to-air television channel owned by TV3 Group. The channel was lanuched on 1 January 2015.

As a sister channel to TV3 and 3e, the channel primarily carries programming aimed towards women, with a focus on chat shows, dramas, and soaps.

be3's children's strand 3Kids is broadcast seven days a week from 7am to 10am, and features shows including Barney & Friends, Babar and the Adventures of Badou, Ghosts of Time, Jibber Jabber, Origanimals, Rainbow Ruby, Stella and Sam, Teletubbies, and The Wiggles.

be3 broadcasts a thirty-minute news programme covering Irish national and international news stories (known as TV3 News at 8), broadcast at 8pm. The programme is produced by TV3 News.

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3Xposé is an Irish free-to-air television channel owned by TV3 Group. The channel was lanuched on 29 April 2010.

The channel is built on TV3’s blockbuster entertainment brand, Ireland’s leading entertainment brand for women. A channel packed with the world’s best entertainment shows, 3Xposé mixes domestic and international titles and classic and contemporary shows that deliver the perfect entertainment formula for Ireland’s entertainment television junkies.

3Xposé goes back and forth across the decades to deliver a programme schedule that will range from award-winning comedies to popular classics. Spin-offs from TV3’s successful entertainment show Xposé provide an Irish flavour to the channel, with a particular focus on local events in towns and cities throughout the island of Ireland.

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3Today is an Irish free-to-air television channel owned by TV3 Group. The channel was lanuched on 29 April 2010.

3Today delivers a compelling Irish and international schedule of bespoke News and Current Affairs, as well as drama, comedy and documentary titles from some of the world’s best producers. It complements TV3’s current populist, mainstream proposition.

3Today showcases key industry figures in formats such as Face to Face – an interview show features in-depth interviews with iconic Irish personalities. 3Today draws on the best talent in Irish journalism from all media, providing an additional outlet for the best print, radio and broadcast journalists, in addition to TV3’s in-house team.

3Today gives Irish viewers the first chance to see TV3 original series and acquisitions. 3Today also provides showcase slots for independent Irish producers to broadcast their own productions free of station editorial control in “Indie Hour”.