Limerick to benefit from Irish TV Munster Hub

LOCAL TV programming in Limerick will
benefit from the announcement this week of the opening of Irish TV’s new Munster regional hub.

Twenty new jobs will be created in a range of skilled media disciplines as the channel expands its range of locally-produced programming from the six Munster counties through its new Munster regional office in Tralee.

Irish TV says the announcement will mean increased opportunities for programming from Limerick, which already has a weekly half-hour programme called Limerick Matters airing on Wednesdays at 7pm.

Limerick Matters can be viewed on Sky TV 191, Freesat 400, eircom eVision 191 and online at irishtv.com.

Irish TV expects to be available on the Saorview platform in March, and is currently in negotiations with a range of overseas networks.

The jobs were announced this week by Minister for Diaspora Affairs Jimmy Deenihan, who opened the offices at the Kerry Technology Park.

“Irish TV has its finger on the broadcasting pulse of Ireland and there is a clear demand and appetite for their positive coverage of Irish life,” said Minister Deenihan.

Broadcaster Brian Hurley has been appointed as Munster regional manager for Irish TV and he will be responsible for all programming from the region.

“Our ethos is to showcase local stories, businesses, tourism and communities to a local and global audience, and we believe in being on the ground in each county which are managed through regional offices,” said Mr Hurley.

“We will be producing a range of programmes from our regional office, in addition to our County Matters shows from the six Munster counties.

“Tralee joins our other regional office locations in Mayo and Tyrone. As we are the only Irish TV channel to broadcast in the UK, we have regional headquarters in London and Manchester, with new offices scheduled to open this month in Birmingham and in the US.

He concluded: “Irish TV will open up a massive international market that will have huge benefits right across the Munster region.

“A RED C Poll carried out for the station showed that 20 per cent of the Irish population have watched Irish TV and 51 per cent are aware of us, which is an extremely successful result in such a short time.”