TG4

**TG4** is an Irish free-to-air public service television network. The channel launched on 31 October 1996 and is available online and through its on demand service TG4 Player in Ireland and beyond.

TG4 was formerly known as **Teilifís na Gaeilge (TnaG)**, before a rebranding campaign in 1999. TG4 was the third national station to be launched in Ireland, after RTÉ One in 1961 (as *Teilifís Éireann*) and RTÉ Two in 1978. It was followed by a fourth channel, TV3 (now called Virgin Media One), in 1998. The channel has 650,000 viewers who tune into the channel each day to view a broad programming policy. It has been reported to have a share of 2% of the national television market in the Republic of Ireland and 3% of the national television market in Northern Ireland. The daily Irish-language programme schedule is its core service: seven hours of programming in Irish supported by a wide range of material in other languages, mostly English and French.

TG4 launched its high-definition channel (**TG4 HD**) in 2012 on Virgin Media Ireland.

## History

In 1969, Lelia Doolan, Jack Dowling and Bob Quinn published *Sit down and Be Counted*, a book describing their campaign for a separate Irish-language television service. Bob Quinn is a film director who produced many documentaries and fiction films through the Irish language on limited budgets, including the first Irish-language feature film *Poitín* starring Niall Tóibín, Cyril Cusack and Donal McCann.

The three writers proposed small temporary buildings for Gaeltacht regional television services broadcasting a limited number of hours each night with programming coming from each of the Gaeltacht regions around the country.

RTÉ and the Irish government had sought to improve the availability of Irish-language programming on RTÉ services. In 1972, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta (RnaG) was set up to provide Irish-language radio services across the country. All radio and television services provided by RTÉ provided some Irish-language programming.

In 1980, a new group called *Coiste ar son Teilifís Gaeltachta* (The Committee for Irish-Language Television) was set up. In 1987 they set up the pirate television station Teilifís na Gaeltachta, after years of delays, including the sudden death of their technician who was to build the transmitter. Eighteen hours of live and pre-recorded programming was broadcast between 2 and 5 November 1987. The transmitter was built at a cost of IR£4,000 through donations from local Gaeltacht communities. In December 1988, further broadcasts were transmitted from three different sites, broadcasting pre-recorded programming.

The movement for a national Irish-language television service continued to gain momentum afterwards. In 1989, Ciarán Ó Feinneadha, one of the members of *Coiste ar son Teilifís Gaeltachta*, moved to Dublin and set up a similar organisation in the capital called *Feachtas Náisiúnta Teilifíse* (FTN). FTN outlined their demands:

* A television station to be set up in the Gaeltacht regions serving the Gaeltacht and Irish speakers across the country.
* It should be linked to RTÉ, but independent from both editorial and organisational points of view.
* A special authority set up to run it with representatives from RTÉ, the Department of Communications, and Údarás na Gaeltachta.

It was also suggested that the cap on advertising on RTÉ be removed and the additional funds be designated for the new services. Ray Burke had limited the advertising minutes on RTÉ a few years previously. Hence, there would be no cost to the Exchequer, and funding would also come from the National Lottery and the television Licence.

FTN suggested two hours of programming each day, with the rest of the broadcast hours used for Open University type programming.

In the early 1990s, Irish language programmes amounted to only 5% of total programming broadcast by RTÉ, and was reduced significantly during the summer months. Programmes included *Echo Island* for children, and current affairs programme *Cúrsaí*. Before the birth of TG4, RTÉ had suggested the use of RTÉ Two's prime-time schedule for Irish-language programming.

The outgoing coalition parties of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats called for the establishment of an Irish language television station in their 1989 manifestos. Fianna Fáil stated that they would set up an Irish language television service in the Galway Gaeltacht that would service the whole country. The PDs also looked for the setting up of what they called "Teilifís na Gaeltachta". The Green Party's manifesto from 1987 also called for the establishment of such a channel.

Fianna Fáil entered into coalition with The Labour Party in 1993 and as part of their programme for government they included the setting up of TnaG. Taoiseach Albert Reynolds appointed Michael D. Higgins as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and the responsibility for broadcasting moved to his department. This government left office in 1994 and was replaced by the Rainbow Coalition. The new programme for government also sought to launch TnaG as the 3rd channel. Michael D. Higgins remained as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht under Taoiseach John Bruton. TnaG launched in 1996.

## On the air

The total cost in establishing the transmission and links networks, and the construction of the station's headquarters in the Connemara Gaeltacht, was IR£16.1 million (€20.4 million). Annual running costs increased from IR£10.2 million (€12.95 million) in 1996 to IR£16 million (€20.3 million) in 2001, and €30 million in 2006.

In fewer than six months from the launch of Teilifís na Gaeilge, almost 65% of Ireland's television sets were able to receive the channel and the nightly audience had risen to 250,000 viewers. Three months later, in May 1997, independent research revealed that the station was able to attract audiences of 500,000, or 68% of television sets in Ireland, for at least one hour's viewing per week.

Very significant assistance in non-monetary terms comes from RTÉ which is required to provide over 360 hours of programming annually at no cost to TG4. It was not until 1996 that TnaG came on air. Their aim, initially, was to show one hour of Irish-language programming each night, increasing to two hours by 1999.

Initial criticisms of the planned station came from journalist Kevin Myers who derided TnaG as a white elephant, calling it 'Teilifís De Lorean', in a reference to the ill-fated DeLorean Motor Company.

In 2006, the Irish postal service, An Post, celebrated ten years of the Irish-language station with a commemorative stamp. The station also launched a book entitled *TG4@10: Deich mBliana de TG4* (Ten Years of TG4).

On 1 April 2007, Teilifís na Gaeilge became an independent statutory corporation. Former Gaelic Athletic Association president Peter Quinn became first chairman of the corporation. The other members appointed to the authority were Joe Connolly, Pádraig MacDonnacha, Eilís Ní Chonghaile, Méabh Mhic Ghairbheith, Méadhbh Nic an Airchinnigh, Bríd Ní Neachtáin, Feargal Ó Sé, and Regina Culliton. Coinciding with TG4's independence from RTÉ, TG4 began broadcasting news from France 24 instead of Euronews. RTÉ holds a share in Euronews, meaning TG4 could no longer broadcast the service.

On 1 July 2007, TG4 became a member of the European Broadcasting Union.

In 2008, TG4 became a founding member of World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN).

On 31 October 2021 TG4 turned 25. On 12 July 2009, the Broadcasting Act 2009 was signed into law. Many of the provisions of the Act relating to RTÉ also apply to TG4, with the station being subject to regulation from the new Broadcasting Authority of Ireland once the relevant provisions are commenced. The Act also changed the English-language title of the Chief Executive of TG4 to "Director-General" in line with RTÉ, and in the Irish language from "Ceannasaí" to "Ardstiúrthóir". There have been three Chief Executives of TG4, Cathal Goan (Director-General of RTÉ from 1996 to 2000) and his successor Director General, Pól Ó Gallchóir (2000 - 2016).

The Irish language enthusiast Seán Tadhg Ó Gairbhí wrote *Súil eile* (published by Cois Life in 2017). *The Irish Times* selected it as one of its best Irish language books of the year and described it as "the standard book for anyone wanting to take a *súil eile* at the history of the station for years to come".

## References

1. ↑ https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/756477082023886908/1053197154660921434/Screenshot\_2022-12-16\_06.17.49.png