1999 in Irish television explained

The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1999.

Events

January

• No events

February

• 1 February – RTÉ News Online is launched.^[1]

March

• 10 March – US animated comedy series South Park premieres in Ireland for the very first time on TV3.

April

• No events

May

• 6 May – CableLink, the cable television company which is part owned by RTÉ is sold to NTL Communications for more than £535 million.^[1]
• 14 May – Sunday Independent journalist Terry Keane discusses her affair with former Taoiseach Charles Haughey during an edition of The Late Late Show.^[2]
• 21 May – Gay Byrne presents his final edition of The Late Late Show on RTÉ Television.^[1]

June

• 28 June – Launch of TV You (later UTV2) in Northern Ireland. The channel's programme content is primarily simulcast with ITV2 in London. However, unusually for a commercial station, it does not carry any advertising.
• Unknown – Final episode of Echo Island is screened on Network 2.
• Summer – Helen O'Rahilly is appointed as the first female Director of Television at RTÉ. She left in 2000 to take up a position at the BBC in London.^{[3] [4]}

August

• • 4 August TnaG rebrands to TG4 9 August – Long running UK animated series for children Bob the Builder begins its first ever broadcast on Irish television with the series going to air on Network 2 as part of Den2.

September

• 3 September – The iconic anime Pokémon has been picked by Network 2 to be transmitted on Irish television.
• 6 September – Reeling in the Years, a documentary series that talks about music over the years is officially launched on RTÉ 1.
• 6 September – Gay Byrne who has retired as hosting The Late Late Show since its premiere in 1962 presents a brand new short-lived comedy show called Make 'Em Laugh which airs on RTÉ 1. The series however only lasted for one series consisting of only eight episodes.
• 6 September – The long running UK children's television series Teletubbies premieres on Irish television for the very first time ever as the series itself begins airing on Network 2 as part of their Den2 programme (although people who have access to British television broadcasting were to see earlier transmissions of the series). One of The Disney Channel's most famous and popular children's series Bear in the Big Blue House also makes its first ever broadcast on Network 2 on the very same day.
• 10 September – Pat Kenny succeeds Gay Byrne as presenter of The Late Late Show.

October

• 1 October – Despite airing in Northern Ireland and several parts of Ireland with access to UK television networks since its television debut in 1963, the long running UK science fiction series Doctor Who finally airs in the Republic of Ireland for the first time ever on TG4. The series will be paired up with the 1940 film Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe as part of the Sci-Fi block Back to the Future. However seeing as Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe won't be broadcast for the first two weeks, a double bill of Doctor Who will be shown instead to fill the hour slot. Spearhead from Space the very first serial of the seventh season and the first serial to star Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor will be the very first Doctor Who serial to be shown in Ireland.
• 15 October – Doctor Who, the long running UK science fiction series will start at an earlier time of 6:31pm on TG4. It will be billed as running for an hour, followed by Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe which ends at 8:00pm. The serial it will be showing is parts 1 and 2 of the second serial of Season 7 Doctor Who and the Silurians.

November

• 4 November – The Broadcasting Bill is presented in the Dáil, addressing the emergence of digital media. The Bill also establishes the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.^[1]

December

• 31 December – RTÉ presents , coverage of the turn of the millennium from 31 December 1999 into 1 January 2000. The programme is part of the international strand 2000 Today to celebrate the occasion.

Debuts

RTÉ

• 4 January – Timbuctoo on RTÉ Two (1998–2000)
• 5 January – No Sweat on RTÉ Two (1997–1998)
• 12 January – CatDog on RTÉ Two (1998–2005)
• 13 January – The Animal Shelf on RTÉ Two (1997–2000)
• 19 January – Steven Spielberg Presents Toonsylvania on RTÉ Two (1998–1999)
• 20 January – Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain on RTÉ Two (1998–1999)
• 25 January – The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss on RTÉ Two (1996–1998)
• 20 February – The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends on RTÉ Two (1959–1964)
• 22 March – on RTÉ Two (1997–2002)
• 26 March – Caillou on RTÉ Two (1997–2010)
• April – States of Fear (1999)
• 1 April – Kit and Kaboodle on RTÉ Two (1998–1999)
• 12 April – Pocket Dragon Adventures on RTÉ Two (1998–1999)
• 12 April – The Worst Witch on RTÉ Two (1998–2001)
• 1 May – Walter Melon on RTÉ Two (1998)
• 8 May – on RTÉ Two (1996–1998)
• 11 May – The New Addams Family on RTÉ Two (1998–1999)
• 15 May – Oggy and the Cockroaches on RTÉ Two (1998–present)
• 8 June – Bimble's Bucket on RTÉ Two (1996–1998)
• 8 June – Lavender Castle on RTÉ Two (1999–2000)
• 8 June – The California Raisin Show on RTÉ Two (1989)
• 17 June – Fennec on RTÉ Two (1997–1998)
• 25 June – Anthony Ant on RTÉ Two (1999)
• 26 June – Extreme Dinosaurs on RTÉ Two (1997)
• 12 July – The Magician on RTÉ Two (1997–1999)
• 9 August – Bob the Builder on RTÉ Two (1999–2012, 2015–present)
• September – Telly Bingo on RTÉ One (1999–present)
• 3 September – Pokémon on RTÉ Two (1997–present)
• 6 September – Reeling in the Years on RTÉ One (1999–present)
• 6 September – Bear in the Big Blue House on RTÉ Two (1997–2006)
• 6 September – Make 'Em Laugh on RTÉ One (1999)
• 6 September – Teletubbies on RTÉ Two (1997–2001, 2015–present)
• 7 September – Pippi Longstocking on RTÉ Two (1997–1998)
• 7 September – The New Woody Woodpecker Show on RTÉ Two (1999–2002)
• 15 September –

Notes and References

1. Web site: RTÉ Libraries and Archives: preserving a unique record of Irish life . Rte.ie . 2 January 2012.
2. News: McDonald . Henry . Haughey mistress: 'He still loves me' . Guardian Media Group . The Guardian. 16 May 1999 . 10 April 2015.
3. News: Grainne . Cunningham . Top names go in sweeping changes at RTÉ – National News . Independent.ie . 6 March 2000 . 25 January 2012.
4. Web site: I’m Still Here « The Anti Room . Theantiroom.com . 12 November 2010 . 25 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120712112112/http://www.theantiroom.com/2010/11/12/im-still-here/ . 12 July 2012 .