UTV to begin broadcasting new Irish channel featuring Coronation Street and Emmerdale in 2015
Irish broadcaster UTV Media has announced plans to launch a new Irish channel after signing an agreement with ITV Studios Global Entertainment which will give it exclusive rights to broadcast ITV Studios programmes, including Coronation Street and Emmerdale in the country.
The new channel is set to create over 100 jobs, the broadcaster has claimed, with an application being made to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to receive a Content Provision Contract, today.
The channel will be based in Dublin, but plans will include newsgathering resource in Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick.
John McCann, group CEO of UTV Media, said: “The audience in Ireland has known the UTV brand for more than 50 years through our station for Northern Ireland and we’re delighted to announce our plans for a new dedicated channel for viewers in the Republic of Ireland.
“UTV Media already has a very strong presence in the Republic of Ireland employing more than 300 people in our various businesses including our market leading Irish radio stations. We look forward to building on that success with the launch of a new Irish TV channel."
He added that the company expected to move into profit in 2016 after incurring start-up costs during 2014, with the channel scheduled to go live early the following year.