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RTÉ Television
RTÉ Television is a department of Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), Ireland's public service broadcaster. Its first channel was Telefís Éireann, which began broadcasting on 31 December 1961. Since the 1960s, RTÉ Television has added channels and digital television service.
Linear
Former Channels
Although Ireland was one of the first countries in Europe to adopt radio communication, it was a relative latecomer to regular television. Unlike France (1935), United Kingdom (1936) and Italy (1954), the Government of Ireland did not broadcast regular television for the population until December 1961. Before the launch of RTÉ One, a limited television service was available from Northern Ireland through BBC Northern Ireland and UTV. The Irish government considered television a luxury and did not allow Radio Éireann to set up television service for several years.
During the late 1950s, a television committee was formed to set up Irish television service with as little financial commitment from Dublin as possible. It initially recommended a service similar to the UK's ITV, using five mountains as transmission sites which were also equipped with FM radio transmitters. Because Taoiseach Éamon de Valera was wary of television, nothing occurred until Seán Lemass succeeded him in 1959. A year later, Radio Éireann was converted from an arm of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to a quasi-state body and given responsibility for television. Eamonn Andrews was appointed chairman.
Telefís Éireann began broadcasting at 19:00 on 31 December 1961. It was originally intended to open on 25 December of that year, but Andrews gave the Radio Éireann staff time off for Christmas. The opening address by de Valera—now President of Ireland—described the benefits and disadvantages of the new medium. There were other messages from Cardinal d'Alton and Lemass, followed by a live concert from the Gresham Hotel in Dublin. The programme, which was a countdown to the New Year, was hosted by Andrews and included appearances by Patrick O'Hagan, the Artane Boys' Band and Michael O'Hehir.
Television opened a new world to the Irish people. Controversial topics such as abortion and contraception were openly discussed in television programmes such as The Late Late Show, which began in July 1962 and continues on RTÉ One.
RTÉ was the first broadcaster to use the System I 625-line system in 1962, two years before the launch of BBC Two in that format. Its first colour broadcast was transmitted in 1968, however, a mistake in standards conversion may have transmitted the 1968 Wimbledon Men's Finals in colour. The first programme made in colour by RTÉ was the documentary special, John Hume's Derry, shown under the 7 Days banner.[citation needed] Since 1969, RTÉ can transmit programmes made in colour which were imported from UK and the US. Ireland's first outside broadcasts in colour were the Railway Cup Finals on 17 March 1971 and the country's hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest the following month. The first RTÉ studio in Donnybrook was equipped for colour broadcasts in 1972, followed by the news studios in 1974. The last studio in RTÉ to be converted to colour (in 1976) was Studio 1, home of The Late Late Show.
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RTÉ Television AI simulator
(@RTÉ Television_simulator)
RTÉ Television
RTÉ Television is a department of Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), Ireland's public service broadcaster. Its first channel was Telefís Éireann, which began broadcasting on 31 December 1961. Since the 1960s, RTÉ Television has added channels and digital television service.
Linear
Former Channels
Although Ireland was one of the first countries in Europe to adopt radio communication, it was a relative latecomer to regular television. Unlike France (1935), United Kingdom (1936) and Italy (1954), the Government of Ireland did not broadcast regular television for the population until December 1961. Before the launch of RTÉ One, a limited television service was available from Northern Ireland through BBC Northern Ireland and UTV. The Irish government considered television a luxury and did not allow Radio Éireann to set up television service for several years.
During the late 1950s, a television committee was formed to set up Irish television service with as little financial commitment from Dublin as possible. It initially recommended a service similar to the UK's ITV, using five mountains as transmission sites which were also equipped with FM radio transmitters. Because Taoiseach Éamon de Valera was wary of television, nothing occurred until Seán Lemass succeeded him in 1959. A year later, Radio Éireann was converted from an arm of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to a quasi-state body and given responsibility for television. Eamonn Andrews was appointed chairman.
Telefís Éireann began broadcasting at 19:00 on 31 December 1961. It was originally intended to open on 25 December of that year, but Andrews gave the Radio Éireann staff time off for Christmas. The opening address by de Valera—now President of Ireland—described the benefits and disadvantages of the new medium. There were other messages from Cardinal d'Alton and Lemass, followed by a live concert from the Gresham Hotel in Dublin. The programme, which was a countdown to the New Year, was hosted by Andrews and included appearances by Patrick O'Hagan, the Artane Boys' Band and Michael O'Hehir.
Television opened a new world to the Irish people. Controversial topics such as abortion and contraception were openly discussed in television programmes such as The Late Late Show, which began in July 1962 and continues on RTÉ One.
RTÉ was the first broadcaster to use the System I 625-line system in 1962, two years before the launch of BBC Two in that format. Its first colour broadcast was transmitted in 1968, however, a mistake in standards conversion may have transmitted the 1968 Wimbledon Men's Finals in colour. The first programme made in colour by RTÉ was the documentary special, John Hume's Derry, shown under the 7 Days banner.[citation needed] Since 1969, RTÉ can transmit programmes made in colour which were imported from UK and the US. Ireland's first outside broadcasts in colour were the Railway Cup Finals on 17 March 1971 and the country's hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest the following month. The first RTÉ studio in Donnybrook was equipped for colour broadcasts in 1972, followed by the news studios in 1974. The last studio in RTÉ to be converted to colour (in 1976) was Studio 1, home of The Late Late Show.