TV in Republic of Ireland

[kahunabean]

How many TV stations are there in the RoI - are they any good ? Can viewers pick up British channels from Northern Ireland and do they bother ? I personally can't see Eastenders or Susannah and Trannie having much appeal anywhere -especially for export but I'd like to know for sure....

[froggequene]

There are 4 terresterial channels in the Republic, RTE1 and Network 2 which are state run like the BBC, TV3 a commercial channel and TG4, an Irish language channel. Years ago people on the East coast could pick up the English channels but you can't anymore, you have to get either satelite or cable. Some English programmes are shown on the Irish channels, RTE shows Eastenders and TV3 has anything that Granada produces such as Heartbeat, Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

[froggequene]

I love Trinny and Susannah, I know they're screaming b*tches of the first water but they're right when they say we should make the best of ourselves.

[5029]

Correction: - RTE and Network 2 are commercial as well. I know this, as living in Northern Ireland, I can pick up all these channels as well as BBC1 and 2,ITV and C4. Still cant get Channel5 though!

[seaoil]

To answer the second part of your question some are good. Very often you'll get live European Champions League Football on TV3 when the UK terrrestrials arent showing them. Also if you like shows like Friends, ER etc RTE and TV3 have them several weeks ahead of C4 or the UK equivalent.

[froggequene]

Correction, RTE and N2 are state funded and commercially funded but they are state run and have a remit similar to the BBC. The reason they are also commercial is because Ireland does not have the population to sustain a solely licence funded station. I like RTE and N2, I would watch them any day over TV3 which is little more then a cheap rip off of Sky One and Carlton.