This page indexes the individual year in Irish television pages. Each year is annotated with a significant event as a reference point.
2020s – 2010s – 2000s – 1990s – 1980s – 1970s – 1960s – 1950s
2020s
2021 in Irish television
2020 in Irish television
2010s
2019 in Irish television – Launch of the timeshift channel RTÉ2+1. 2018 in Irish television – TV3 is renamed Virgin Media One. 2017 in Irish television – UTV Ireland is renamed be3. 2016 in Irish television – ITV sells UTV Ireland to TV3. 2015 in Irish television – Launch of new commercial channel UTV Ireland. 2014 in Irish television 2013 in Irish television 2012 in Irish television – The analogue television service in the Republic of Ireland is switched off on 24 October, with Northern Ireland having completed its own switchover the previous evening day. 2011 in Irish television – RTÉ Television celebrates 50 years on air with the launch of TV50. 2010 in Irish television – Trial transmissions of Saorview, Ireland's free-to-air digital television service begin on 29 October.
2000s
2009 in Irish television – The Broadcasting Act 2009 paves the way for the set up of digital television in Ireland. 2008 in Irish television – RTÉ News Now is launched as an online news service. 2007 in Irish television – The RTÉ Irish language channel, TG4, becomes a separate entity having previously been operated as a subsidiary of RTÉ under the name Telefís na Gaeilge. 2006 in Irish television – Launch of Channel 6, later rebranded as 3e, and Sky announces the closure of Sky News Ireland. 2005 in Irish television – Taoiseach Bertie Ahern opens RTÉ's new studios in London, based at Millbank opposite the British Houses of Parliament. 2004 in Irish television – Network 2 is rebranded as RTÉ Two. Sky News Ireland is launched. 2003 in Irish television – Stories from the Twin Towers, a documentary about the September 11 terrorist attacks by RTÉ News journalists Caroline Bleahan and Jim Fahy wins the Gold World Medal for top September 11 documentary at The New York Festival's 45th annual Television Programming Awards. 2002 in Irish television – Give Up Yer Aul Sins an animated film produced for RTÉ Television by Brown Bag Films is nominated for an Oscar for Animated Short Film. 2001 in Irish television – RTÉ Television News introduces subtitles and Glenroe airs for the last time. 2000 in Irish television – RTÉ undergoes a programme of re-structuring.
1990s
1999 in Irish television – Gay Byrne presents his final edition of The Late Late Show on RTÉ Television. 1998 in Irish television – Launch of TV3, the Republic of Ireland's first commercial television channel. 1997 in Irish television – The RTÉ Authority seeks permission from the Irish Government to find a partner to fund digital terrestrial television. 1996 in Irish television – The RTÉ website, www.rte.ie, is launched. The Irish language television service Teilifís na Gaeilge (TG4) goes on air for the first time. 1995 in Irish television – RTÉ appoints Mark Little as its first Washington Correspondent. 1994 in Irish television – The Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Michael D. Higgins repeals Section 31 of the Broadcasting Authority Act. 1993 in Irish television – RTÉ establishes an Independent Production Unit. 1992 in Irish television – The Irish language drama serial Ros na Rún is first aired on RTÉ Television as a series of 15-minute episodes. 1991 in Irish television – Proceedings from the Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament are aired on a regular basis. 1990 in Irish television – The Broadcasting Act comes into law. The Act includes amendments to earlier legislation covering advertising and commercial promotion.