1998 in Irish television
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The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1998.
Events
- Undated – Ray D'Arcy leaves The Den after hosting the long running wacky children's programme for 9 years since 1990. This also marks his very last day as the presenter of The Den.
- 20 September – Launch of TV3, the Republic of Ireland's first commercial television channel.[1] Early programming on the channel includes the UK soap EastEnders, the miniseries Merlin, the film The Quick and the Dead,[2] US comedy Just Shoot Me, and Breakers, a new Australian soap. The channel is aimed at the 15–44 age group and also has a remit for 15% of its programming to be homegrown – rising to 25% within five years.[3]
- 1 October – Digital satellite television launches in the Republic of Ireland, operated by Sky Digital.
- 1 October – TV3 reports an audience share of 927,000 (7% of viewers) for its first week on air, passing its intended initial target of a 6% audience share.[2]
Debuts
RTÉ
- 3 January –
Darkwing Duck on Network 2 (1991–1992) - 4 January – /
Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist on Network 2 (1996–1997) - 6 January – Cow and Chicken on Network 2 (1997–1999)
- 7 January – Dexter's Laboratory on Network 2 (1996–2003)
- 8 January – Ally McBeal on Network 2 (1997–2002)
- 15 January –
//
The Adventures of Paddington Bear on Network 2 (1997–2000) - January – What-a-Mess (Series 3) on Network 2 (1995–1996)
- 2 March – The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson on Network 2 (1998)
- 8 April – The Wombles on Network 2 (1998–2002)
- 10 April –
Lizzie's Library on Network 2 (1995) - 2 June – Orson and Olivia on Network 2 (1993)
- 1 August – Skippy: Adventures in Bushtown on Network 2 (1998–1999)
- 22 August – What-a-Mess (Series 2) on Network 2 (1990)
- 10 September – The Wild Thornberrys on Network 2 (1998–2004)
- 14 September – Gridlock (1998)
- 16 September –
Oscar and Friends (1996) - September – The Premiership/Premier Soccer Saturday on RTÉ 1 (1998–2013)
- Undated – 2Phat on Network 2 (1998–2000)
- Undated – The Forgotten Toys on Network 2 (1998–1999)
- Undated – Men in Black: The Series on Network 2 (1997–2001)
- Undated – Extreme Ghostbusters on Network 2 (1997)
- Undated – PB&J Otter on Network 2 (1998–2000)
- Undated – // The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures on Network 2 (1997–1998)
- Undated – The Blobs on Network 2 (1997)
- Undated –
The New World of the Gnomes on Network 2 (1997) - Undated – Recess on Network 2 (1997–2001)
- Undated – The Mozart Band on Network 2 (1995)
- Undated – Veronica's Closet on Network 2 (1997–2000)
- Undated – Dharma & Greg on Network 2 (1997–2002)
- Undated – Dawson's Creek on Network 2 (1998–2003)
- Undated – / Mirror, Mirror II on Network 2 (1997–1998)
- Undated – Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord on Network 2 (1997)
- Undated – Murder Call on Network 2 (1997–2000)
TV3
- 20 September – TV3 News @ 6 (1998–1999)
- 20 September – TV3 News (1998–present)
- 20 September – Just Shoot Me! (1997–2003)
- 20 September – Merlin (1998)
- 20 September – Sports Tonight (1998–2009)
- 21 September – Gimme 3 (1998–1999)
- 21 September – Breakers (1998–1999)
- 21 September – EastEnders (1985–present)
- 21 September – The Ren and Stimpy Show (1991–1996)
- 21 September – Speakeasy (1998–1999)
- 21 September – // Conan the Adventurer (1992–1993)
- 26 September – Conan and the Young Warriors (1994)
- 26 September – / Salty's Lighthouse (1997–1998)
- 26 September – Avenger Penguins (1993–1994)
- 26 September –
/
Loggerheads (1998–1999) - 26 September – Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (1994–1997)
- 27 September – Transformers: Generation 2 (1992–1994)
- 27 September – The Adventures of Pete and Pete (1991–1996)
- 27 September – / Animal Crackers (1997–1999)
Teilifís na Gaeilge
- 16 January – / Tabaluga (1994–2004)
- Undated – Power Rangers Turbo (1997)
BBC
- Undated – Give My Head Peace on BBC One (1998–2008)
Changes of network affiliation
| Shows | Moved from | Moved to |
|---|---|---|
 We Wish You a Merry Christmas
|
Network 2 | TV3 |
 Mole's Christmas
|
Network 2 | TV3 |
| Jolly Old St. Nicholas
|
Network 2 | TV3 |
| Seinfeld
|
Network 2 | TV3 |
| The Sweeney
|
RTÉ 1 | TV3 |
Ongoing television programmes
1960s
- RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock (1961–present)
- RTÉ News: Six One (1962–present)
- The Late Late Show (1962–present)
1970s
- The Late Late Toy Show (1975–present)
- RTÉ News on Two (1978–present)
- The Sunday Game (1979–present)
1980s
- Glenroe (1983–2001)
- Saturday Live (1986–1999)
- Questions and Answers (1986–2009)
- Dempsey's Den (1986–2010)
- Kenny Live (1988–1999)
- Fair City (1989–present)
- RTÉ News: One O'Clock (1989–present)
1990s
- Would You Believe (1990s–present)
- Winning Streak (1990–present)
- Challenging Times (1991–2001)
- Prime Time (1992–present)
- The Movie Show (1993–2001)
- No Disco (1993–2003)
- Echo Island (1994–1999)
- Nuacht RTÉ (1995–present)
- Fame and Fortune (1996–2006)
- Nuacht TG4 (1996–present)
- Ros na Rún (1996–present)
- PM Live (1997–1999)
- Later on 2 (1997–2000)
- Don't Feed the Gondolas (1997–2001)
- A Scare at Bedtime (1997–2006)
Ending this year
- 1 April – Know Your Sport (1987–1998)
- 17 April – Brendan O'Carroll's Hot Milk and Pepper (1996–1998)
- 15 May – The Morbegs (1996–1998)
- 26 November – Bosco (1979–1998)
Deaths
- 28 February – Dermot Morgan, 45, comedian and actor
See also
References
- ^ "TV to plug a gap in Eire's market | Archive". Marketing Week. 10 September 1998. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ a b "TV3 claims to have reached 7percent audience share". The Irish Film and Television Network. 1 October 1998. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ Gallagher, Jim (13 September 1998). "EastEnders take on the Street in TV revolution; End of the dark ages". The People. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 12 April 2012.