Twenty new jobs will be created here in Kerry following the launch today of Irish TV’s new Munster regional hub in Tralee.
The posts will be in a range of skilled media disciplines as the channel expands its range of locally-produced programming from the six Munster counties through its new regional office.
The jobs were announced by Minister for Diaspora Affairs Jimmy Deenihan, TD who opened the offices at the Kerry Technology Park.
Backed by UK entrepreneur, and recently-crowned Kerry London Person of the Year, John Griffin, Irish TV has witnessed exceptional growth since it was launched last May and delivers 40 new Irish-produced programmes every week, including 32 weekly County Matters shows.
Households in Ireland have access to Irish TV on Sky TV 191, Freesat 400, eircom eVision 191 and online at irishtv.com.
Irish TV expects to be available on the Saorview platform in March, and is currently in negotiations with a range of overseas networks.
Kerry broadcaster Brian Hurley has been appointed as Munster Regional Manager for Irish TV and he will be responsible for all programming from the region.
“Our ethos is to showcase local stories, businesses, tourism and communities to a local and global audience, and we believe in being on the ground in each county which are managed through regional offices,” said Mr Hurley.
“Kerry’s standing as a centre of international tourism as well as access to skilled multimedia graduates from IT Tralee and Kerry ETB were key factors in our decision to locate in Tralee, and we will be producing a range of programmes from our regional office, in addition to our County Matters shows from the six Munster counties.
“Tralee joins our other regional office locations in Mayo and Tyrone. As we are the only Irish TV channel to broadcast in the UK, we have regional headquarters in London and Manchester, with new offices scheduled to open this month in Birmingham and in the US.
“Irish TV will open up a massive international market that will have huge benefits for Kerry and right across the Munster region.
“Kerry has its own weekly half hour show Kerry County Matters on Irish TV, which is broadcast every Wednesday at 7.30pm and I would ask individuals or groups who would like to be featured to contact me on brian@irishtv.ie.
“A RED C Poll carried out for the station showed that 20% of the Irish population have watched Irish TV and 51% are aware of us, which is an extremely successful result in such a short time.
“Premiering on Irish TV this spring is Jimmy’s Heroes, a weekly chat show hosted by broadcasting legend Jimmy Magee who talks to some of his Irish sporting heroes.
“Also coming to your screens is new agricultural programme Grassroots, and the new season of the popular Cooking with Treyvaud, with Killarney’s unconventional TV chef Paul Treyvaud.
“Country music will also feature heavily this spring, with a new season of On the Road with Lisa McHugh and a special tribute show with Big Tom and a new series looking at the golden age of showbands in Ireland.”
