TG4

Infobox TV channel
name= TG4
logofile=TG4LOGO.gif
logoalt= TG4 logo
launch= 31 October, 1996
share= 3.2%
share as of= 2005
share source= [http://www.tg4.ie/Bearla/Scan/F2005.pdf]
owner= Teilifís na Gaeilge
slogan = The More You Watch, The More You See (English)
Fan go bhFeice Tú (Irish)
country= IRL
former names= Teilifís na Gaeilge (TnaG)
(1996-1999)
web= [http://www.tg4.ie/ www.tg4.ie]
terr serv 1 = Irish analogue
terr chan 1 = "Normally tuned to 4"
standard= PAL I standard
terr serv 2 = Irish digital
terr chan 2 = Mux 1
sat serv 1 = SCTV Digital
sat chan 1 = channel 104
sat serv 2 = Sky Digital
sat chan 2 = channel 104 (ROI)
channel 163 (NI)
cable serv 1 = UPC Ireland
cable chan 1 = channel 104
cable serv 2 = Virgin Media (UK)
cable chan 2 = channel 877 (NI only)
adsl serv 1 = Magnet Entertainment
adsl chan 1 = channel 104 | adsl serv 2 = Smart Vision
adsl chan 2 = ?

TG4 ("Spoken as" TG Ceathair "or" TG a Ceathair; pronounced|tiː dʒiː kʲahəɾʲ) is a television channel in Ireland, aimed at Irish-language speakers and established as a wholly owned subsidiary by Radio Telefís Éireann on October 31, 1996. It was formerly known as Teilifís na Gaeilge or TnaG, before a rebranding campaign in 1999. The channel is now headed by an independent public corporation, Teilifís na Gaeilge [ [http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2001/en/act/pub/0004/sec0044.html#partvi-sec44 Broadcasting Act, 2001, Section 44] ] , since 1 April 2007 [cite news | url = http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0403/tg4.html | publisher = Radio Telefís Éireann | title = New board announced for independent TG4 | date = 2007-04-03 ] , following the passage of relevant legislation in 2001. Additional funding is anticipated.

Initially derided as a white elephant by journalist Kevin Myers formerly of the "Irish Times" (who called it 'Telefís De Lorean', in a reference to the ill-fated De Lorean Motor Company), the station attracts approximately 730,000 viewers every day and the core audience is in the region of 100,000, giving it an audience share of between 2-3%. Ladies gaelic football broadcasts attract up to 180,000 viewers. In July 2007, TG4 was accepted as a new member of the European Broadcasting Union.

Operation

Infobox_Company
company_name = Teilifís na Gaeilge
company_
company_type = Statutory Corporation
company_slogan = "Súil Éile"
foundation = 1 April 2007
location = flagicon|Ireland Baile na hAbhann, County Galway, Ireland
key_people = Peter Quinn, Chairman, Pól Ó Gallchóir, Ceannasaí (Director-General)
num_employees = 75 - 2007
industry = Broadcasting
products = Television
revenue = First accounts to be published 2008.
homepage = [http://www.tg4.ie www.tg4.ie]

The daily Irish-language programme schedule is its central service, broadcasting approximately 2.5 hours a day of 'First Showing' Irish-language programming, together with an estimated 2.5 hours a day of Irish-language programmes repeats. RTÉ supplies TG4 with 1 hour a day of all 'First Showing' Irish- language programming. The remainder of the TG4 schedule is made up of English-language acquired programmes from the USA (such as "Nip/Tuck" and "The O.C."). On 1 April 2007, coinciding with its independence from RTÉ, TG4 changed its overnight sustaining service from Euronews, which it had previously relayed for some years, to France 24. RTÉ channels relay Euronews still.

Operating as a publisher and broadcaster, TG4 annually invests up to €20m in original indigenous programming from the independent production sector in Ireland. The Irish-language soap opera "Ros na Rún" is one of its most popular programmes, and it also commissions a number of documentaries.

On 1 April 2007, Teilifís na Gaeilge became an independent statutory corporation, with former Gaelic Athletic Association president Peter Quinn becoming first chairperson of the corporation. The other members appointed to the authority were Joe Connolly, Padraig MacDonnacha, Eilís Ní Chonghaile, Méabh Mhic Ghairbheith, Méadhbh Nic an Airchinnigh, Bríd Ní Neachtáin, Feargal Ó Sé, and Regina Culliton. [ [http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Minister+for+Communications+Marine+and+Natural+Resources+Noel+Dempsey+T.D.+Announces+Members+of+Teil.htm Minister for Communications Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey T.D. Announces Members of Teilifis na Gaeilge / Ainmníonn Aire Nollaig Ó Díomasaigh Baill Theilifís na Gaeilge - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | An Roinn Cumarsáide, Mara agus í ] ]

Programming

TG4 has nurtured a reputation for innovative programming in film, arts, drama, documentaries, and sports. For example, it broadcast popular US imports such as "Nip/Tuck", "Carnivàle", "The Wire", "The O.C.", "One Tree Hill", "Everwood", "Survivor", "Invasion" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" before mainstream UK channels, and in 2005, it broadcast exclusive Irish coverage of the Wimbledon championships tennis tournament and Tour de France French cycling. The channel extensively covers Irish sports, such as the secondary Gaelic football and hurling competitions and club championships, and women's Gaelic football (formerly it also broadcast Celtic League rugby). These are events which generally do not appeal to a mass audience, but have a reasonably loyal following. It also frequently shows classic films in English, such as Westerns; as well as films in other languages - in particular French, German and Spanish.

TG4 also produces a small amount of light entertainment, such as the chat show "Ardán" and the fashion/dating show "Paisean Faisean". Much of TG4's programming is subtitled in English. On October 31 2006 it aired the first episode of a comedy-drama series aimed at an adolescent audience, entitled "Aifric" after the programme's fourteen-year-old protagonist. On 24 September, 2007, TG4 began broadcasting South Park in Irish. TG4 has also began to broadcast episodes of Sesame Street ("Tar ag Spraoi Sesame") that have been dubbed into Irish. A new drama aimed at an older audience than "Aifric" has also begun and is called "Seacht". It follows the lives of seven college students in Belfast.

It also actively commissions documentaries such as the acclaimed and popular "Amú" series of travel programmes which launched the career of Hector Ó hEochagáin, one of a number of TG4 presenters who have gone on to success at other channels. Others include newsreader Gráinne Seoige. As many of these programs are subtitled in English, they are often popular with recent immigrant populations, who find spoken English very fast on Irish produced television, as well as native Irish speakers.

TG4 provides live coverage of Dáil Éireann each Wednesday and Thursday morning; as well as live coverage of the proceedings of key Dáil Committees from time to time. It also has a daily news programme - "Nuacht TG4" - as well as "Timpeall na Tíre" (weekly news roundup) and "7 Lá" (current affairs discussion show).

The station has a teletext service called "Téacs TG4". Additionally, in June 2006, the station began a trial online simulcast of most of their content, available at [http://www.tg4.tv tg4.tv] . Certain content is blacked out for rights reasons.

Northern Ireland

TG4 was originally only available in Northern Ireland via 'overspill' of the terrestrial signal from across the border. In the 1998 Belfast Agreement there was provision for TG4 (then TnaG) to be made available in Northern Ireland, along with increased recognition of the Irish language. Similarly, while TG4, along with the Republic's other terrestrial channels, is carried on Sky Digital there, it was not available to Sky subscribers in Northern Ireland until 18 April, 2005, and on Cable until February 2007.

In March 2005, TG4 began broadcasting from the Divis transmitter near Belfast, as a result of agreement between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Northern Ireland Office. However, because of overcrowding on the frequency bands only a low power signal can be transmitted and reception is still unavailable in many areas, even in parts of Belfast. The channel is however available on cable and on to Sky satellite subscribers. It is hoped that the channel can eventually be made available on digital terrestrial services (Freeview) and Free to Air on satellite.

An Ofcom report, released in Nov 2007, seemed to confirm that TG4 will be carried on Freeview in the future. [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dttfuture/summary/]

TG4 Analogue UHF Transmitters

Source: http://www.irish-tv.com/irishtrans.asp

References

*"Irish Viewers to get a '6' Sense Soon." (9 February 2006). The "Irish Independent" Business section, p10

ee also

*List of Irish television channels
*Raidió na Gaeltachta
*BBC Alba
*List of Celtic language media

External links

* [http://www.tg4.ie Official Site]
* [http://www.tg4.tv TG4 online stream]