This New Season on RTÉ Television is about a strong new schedule packed with a range and depth of programming that caters for all of our audiences. With so many new and returning series across so many genres, we are looking forward to a great Autumn/Winter on RTÉ Television with something for everyone.
Managing Director of RTÉ Television Glen Killane said, “In this Digital age there is no such thing as an Irish television market. Almost 80% of Irish households have access to hundreds of digital channels, most of them with no Irish programming. RTE and the other Irish broadcasters are competing against some of the largest and best-funded broadcasters in the world, yet last year 47 of the top 50 programmes shown in Ireland were broadcast on RTÉ. The range and quality of RTÉ’s output is our past, our present and the key to our digital future.”
The New Season on RTÉ Television will offer viewers a range of programming from RTÉ Factual including 15 new documentaries and series along with seven returning series which promise to stimulate debate about important topics such as education, obesity and teen pregnancy. RTÉ Factual will also present an insight into many aspects of both contemporary and historical Irish life which will captivate and enlighten viewers. As part of Back to School Week three documentaries on the Irish educational system will air during the first week of September – Inside the Department, John Lonergan’s School Principles and Scoil Mhuire. Clinical Psychologist David Coleman explores the issue of teen bullying in Bullyproof and Claire Byrne witnesses real rescues unfold in Ireland Search and Rescue.
There’s something for everyone in entertainment programming this new season on RTÉ Television. On RTÉ One Ryan Tubridy returns as Late Late Show host and Brendan O’Connor is back in the hotseat on The Saturday Night Show. In a new series Hector Ó hEochagáin takes to the highways and by-ways of Ireland and Irish Pictorial Weekly offers a satirical slant on Irish life. The new season sees the return of the hugely popular The Voice of Ireland with Kathryn Thomas at the helm and Celebrity Bainisteoir is back with a new twist. On RTÉ Two Craig Doyle holds court on his chat show and Singin’ Bernie Walsh has her eye on re-inventing breakfast television with the help of her trusty sidekick Brian. Format Farm is an innovative series of exciting new Irish generated television entertainment programme formats including pilots like The Hit, The Takeover and Six in the City.
Featuring some of the best in Irish talent both onscreen and behind-the-camera, there will be over 62 hours of home-produced drama to keep viewers engrossed this coming season. IFTA award-winning Love/Hate is back for its third season under King Nidge’s reign and Jojo and the kitchen crew return for a fifth season of RAW. Ireland’s favourite home-grown soap Fair City enters its 24th season and new crime series The Fall, starring Gillian Anderson and made in Belfast in association with RTÉ, makes its debut.
RTÉ Lifestyle programming features a range of new and returning series covering everything from travel, fashion and culinary endeavours to weddings, amateur dramatics, home improvement and more. Nick Munier and Dylan McGrath are back to cook up a storm in the second series of Masterchef and three well known personalities take up the challenge of learning a musical instrument in Instrumental.
RTÉ continues its commitment to the arts this season with new documentaries spanning the worlds of film, literature and art to inspire and illuminate viewers’ imaginations. A Grand Experience charts a journey by three artists along the Grand Canal on board a barge while The Missing Bones of W.B. Yeats traces the mystery of Yeats’s final resting point.
In a country of great story tellers Cláracha Gaeilge bring viewers some of the best stories. From the political to the tragic or even nostalgic whatever the mood there’s a scéal for you – as gaeilge. RnaG@40 documents 40 years of Raidió na Gaeltachta and Cloch le Carn remembers David Kelly and Joe Lynch.
RTÉ continues to feature a broad range of religious expression from all the major Christian denominations and Ireland’s minority faith communities through its religious programming. The Choice is a new interview based format presented by Bláthnaid Ni Chofaigh which will explore the consequences of religious and ethical decisions. The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne returns and Gay speaks to former President Mary McAleese and musician Noel Gallagher.
RTÉ’s award-winning Young People’s department provides the biggest range of programming for young people in the country through channel blocks RTÉjr and TRTÉ along with TwoTube. This season we’re offering our viewers a wide range of exciting new programming including two new Irish animations – Joe and Jack and I’m a Creepy Crawly – plus surf show Big Wave Bootcamp and a brand new reality series Football’s Next Star which offers one lucky Irish soccer player a coveted place at Glasgow Celtic’s prestigious Youth Academy.
RTÉ Television continues to bring Irish viewers the very best in international drama with the return of big hitting series. New series Hell on Wheels starring Colm Meaney rolls onto RTÉ Two while returning series Homeland, Revenge, Big Bang Theory, New Girl, 2 Broke Girls, CSI, CSI New York and The Mentalist will all be shown first on RTÉ.
RTÉ Two will deliver a schedule full of the best Irish comedy, sport, Irish factual programming, like the pioneering Format Labs, and the first broadcast of the best US and UK acquired programming.
RTÉ News and Current Affairs provides comprehensive, reliable and impartial reporting of national and international news in Irish and English across both television channels. In addition RTÉ News and Current Affairs provides a range of programming which covers the important issues of the day, raises debate on topics of national interest and explores aspects of life in Ireland through its in-depth investigations.
In an unbeatable year of Irish and International sport, RTÉ continues to offer the most comprehensive free-to–air sports coverage available with unrivalled analysis on any channel in this country. This season RTÉ Sport will bring you the biggest and best national and international sports events including the Paralympics, GAA, soccer, rugby, racing, athletics and more.
The New Season on RTÉ Television continues to deliver the quality, range and diversity of programmes that Irish viewers have come to expect and, indeed, deserve from their Public Service broadcaster. We hope you enjoy it.
Full information on all programmes is available at www.rte.ie/tv/newseason
ENDS
Date: Wednesday 8th August 2012
For more information please contact:
Karen Fitzpatrick, Acting Communications Manager, RTÉ Television: 01 208 2667; 086 814 9290; karen.fitzpatrick@rte.ie
Rayna Connery, Acting Senior Press Officer, RTÉ Television: 01 208 3169; 087 986 2902; rayna.connery@rte.ie