TV3 Ireland Upfronts

TV3 presented their plans for the coming autumn season to the Advertising world today. The TV3 Group had already largely stated what it plans to do over the next 18 months. Like the last two "upfronts" TV3 showed off its Rugby World Cup Coverage, which is due to take place in England in September. The second season of The Great Irish Bake Off featured again in this round of upfronts, while The Restaurant is due to return to the channel after successful ratings earlier this year. No mention of TV3 HD.

The channel lost major ITV imports in 2015 with the arrival of UTV Ireland. "The TV3 Group" (TV3, TV3+1 and 3e) audience share was down by 40% in the first 5 months of 2015 with a 10.3% audience share (down from 14% in 2015). Meanwhile, over at UTV Ireland it saw an increase of 100% across both UTV Ireland and UTV to 6% (up from 3% in 2015).

Returning series included The Restaurant, The Great Irish Bake Off and Red Rock. Red Rock is due to be repeated until its return in September. New Irish series include The Great Irish Menu, House Rules (A reality based DIY series) and a new documentary strand call Disclosure.

TV3 are clear to point out that X-Factor and Wednesday nights Champions League will be exclusive to TV3. Celebrity Big Brother will air for the first time on the channel in August. 15 Irish TV movie premieres will also feature in the schedule.

Don't get too excited TV3 will also have 1600 live studio based programming with new arrivals Saturday AM and Sunday AM.

Speaking at the launch TV3 Group Commercial Director Pat Kiely, said: “TV3 is a more confident broadcaster than ever following a successful transition to originated programming. TV3 now enters autumn knowing it has a successful home-grown soap, the biggest sporting event on Irish television and a very robust schedule, all led by a reinvigorated TV3 brand.”

TV3 Group Director of Content, Lynda McQuaid, said: “I’ve joined TV3 at just the right moment. I inherit a strong new and successful schedule anchored by ‘Red Rock’, so I can focus now on introducing major new programmes to the schedule over the next eighteen months.”

While the TV3 Group may feel that the schedule is anchored by Red Rock many others will feel the rest of the schedule lets down TV3’s most impressive show.