Virgin Media Television, the new name for the TV3 group, has announced their new season schedule.
As previously reported, viewers will be getting familiar with the new names for the stations that were formerly part of the TV3 Group.
These three free-to-air channels, Virgin Media One (the new name for TV3), Virgin Media Two (the new name for 3e) and Virgin Media Three (the new name for be3) have announced the lineup of shows that will be airing over the next few months.
In terms of drama, the new Irish show Blood, featuring BAFTA nominee Adrian Dunbar, will air on Virgin Media One this October. The six-part psychological thriller focuses around a woman who returns to her rural Irish home following her mother’s seemingly accidental death. Red Rock also returns for 10 brand new episodes.
Virgin Media One are going big on sport as Republic of Ireland legend Niall Quinn joins Graeme Souness, Kevin Kilbane, Keith Andrews and Brian Kerr on the panel to provide expert analysis. Their Champions League coverage will be free-to-air on Tuesday nights, alongside Wednesday night highlights.
Joe Molloy, Shane Horgan and Ronan O’Gara will be back on our screens for more rugby this season as the Heineken Champions Cup comes to Virgin Media One. All this action will be ahead of exclusive coverage of the 6 Nations as Ireland look to continue their formidable form and inspire the nation. Continued coverage of some of racing’s biggest meetings including ‘The Cheltenham Festival’, ‘The Aintree Grand National Festival’ and ‘Royal Ascot, will also feature.
Aside from this, Virgin Media One will have up to 10 hours of Irish content each weekday, with Ireland AM, Elaine, The Six O’Clock Show and The Tonight Show all returning. The station’s news coverage, which will rebrand to Virgin Media News from 30th August, will see the launch of a brand new 8pm News bulletin, fronted by Claire Brock.
There’s a greater emphasis on factual and documentary programming too as the station aims to capture real Irish stories and modern day Irish life with the return of the True Lives documentary strand.
Elsewhere, there’s going to be features on Ireland’s Jihadis and Ireland’s Paedophile Hunters.
The disappearance of Fiona Sinnott is explored 20 years on from her vanishing in Getting Away with Murder and Ireland’s Youngest Grandparents is a tell-all documentary following young grandparents across Ireland to discover what it is like to become a grandparent in your 30s.
Donncha O’Callaghan’s Afterlife follows one of the greats of Irish rugby as he transitions from sport star to everyday life.
As for the other factual features, Inside James’s, The Town, Revolting Ireland, Doctor in the House, and Hutch v Kinahan: Ireland’s Deadliest Feud will also be shown.
With regards to current affairs, The Tonight Show returns for a second series, as Matt Cooper and Ivan Yates deconstruct the news, offering insight and their own different perspectives on the news.
Pat Kenny also has a brand new show: Pat Kenny’s Big Debate. He’ll be focusing on issues like housing, the welfare state, Brexit, the Presidential election and much more. As well as this, Economist David McWilliams returns to our screens with Back to the Future, as he delves into Ireland’s economic growth and the rising cost of property to find out if we are repeating the mistakes of the past.
Finally, Living with Lucy will see the TV host cosying up with ten new celebrities including Nathan Carter, Gemma Collins, Christy Dignam and Nadine Coyle. Gogglebox Ireland, Ireland’s Got Talent and The Restaurant are also making welcome returns along with a host of other shows like Coronation Street, X-Factor, Graham Norton, and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
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