1988 in Irish television

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The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1988.

Events

• 7 April – Welsh children's animated series Fireman Sam gets its first ever premiere on Irish television when it airs on RTÉ. The series will begin on RTÉ 1 as part of the children's programming block Dempsey's Den every Thursday.
• 30 April – Ireland hosts the Eurovision Song Contest from the RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion, Dublin, after winning it the previous year. Pat Kenny and Michelle Rocca host the 33rd annual contest, which is won by Switzerland with the song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi (Don't Leave Without Me), sung by a 20-year-old Celine Dion.
• 3 July – The Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act, legislation concerning licensing for broadcasting, comes into law.
• September – RTÉ 2 is rebranded as Network 2 as part of a major overhaul of the channel.
• 3 October – Australian soap Home and Away receives its Irish television debut on Network 2.

Debuts

RTÉ 1

• 4 March – / A Little Princess (1986)
• 7 April – Fireman Sam (1987–present)
• 15 April – The Gemini Factor (1987)
• 10 June – The Secret World of Polly Flint (1987)
• 11 June – / Ovide Video (1987–1988)
• 5 July – Chocky's Challenge (1986)
• 13 July – Kaboodle (1987–1990)
• 6 August – The Raccoons (1985–1991)
• 27 August – The Henderson Kids (1985–1987)
• 15 October – Kenny Live (1988–1999)
• Undated – DuckTales (1987–1990)

Network 2

• 1 May – Jim Henson Presents the World of Puppetry (1985)
• September – Jo Maxi (1988–1993)
• 3 October – Home and Away (1988–present)
• 6 October – / The Care Bears Family (1986–1988)
• 6 October – /// Once Upon a Time... Life (1987)
• 6 October – The Floradora Folk (1988–1989)
• 11 October – Nighthawks (1988–1992)
• 17 October – The Fabulous Fleischer Folio (1983)
• 28 October – T-Bag (1985–1992)
• 1 December – / The Mysterious Cities of Gold (1982–1983)
• Undated – The Tracey Ullman Show (1987–1990)
• Undated – The Storyteller (1987–1988)

Changes of network affiliation

Shows	Moved from	Moved to
SuperTed	RTÉ One	Network 2
/ The Campbells	RTÉ One	Network 2
Alvin and the Chipmunks (Ruby Spears version)	Network 2	RTÉ One
Muppet Babies	RTÉ One	Network 2
Wait Till Your Father Gets Home	RTÉ One	Network 2
Dempsey's Den	RTÉ One	Network 2
Bosco	RTÉ One	Network 2
The Wuzzles	RTÉ One	Network 2
/ The Berenstain Bears	RTÉ One	Network 2
Catweazle	RTÉ One	Network 2
ALF	RTÉ One	Network 2

Ongoing television programmes

1960s

• RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock (1961–present)
• RTÉ News: Six One (1962–present)
• The Late Late Show (1962–present)

1970s

• Sports Stadium (1973–1997)
• The Late Late Toy Show (1975–present)
• RTÉ News on Two (1978–present)
• Bosco (1979–1998)
• The Sunday Game (1979–present)

1980s

• Today Tonight (1982–1992)
• Mailbag (1982–1996)
• Glenroe (1983–2001)
• Rapid Roulette (1986–1990)
• Live at 3 (1986–1997)
• Saturday Live (1986–1999)
• Questions and Answers (1986–2009)
• Dempsey's Den (1986–2010)
• Marketplace (1987–1996)
• Where in the World? (1987–1996)
• Know Your Sport (1987–1998)

See also

• 1988 in Ireland