Ireland AM
| Ireland AM | |
|---|---|
| File:Ireland AM Logo.jpg | |
| Starring | Co-hosts Mark Cagney Sinead Desmond Aidan Cooney Alan Hughes Anna Daly |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Production | |
| Running time | 180 Minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | TV3 3e |
| Release | September 20, 1999 – Present |
Ireland AM is Ireland's only breakfast television programme. The show is broadcast live every weekday morning by TV3 and 3e.
History
Early years (1999 - 2004)
Ireland AM was launched on 20 September 1999 on the 1st anniversy of TV3's launch, the first show of its kind in Ireland. It was originally on air from 7:00am to 9:00am, hosted by Mark Cagney and Amanda Byram. The show went on air almost a year after TV3 launched, and was seen as an attempt by the station to improve ratings.[1] A number of years after the start of the show TV3 executives decided on an extra hour for the show, the show now finishes at 10am.
Following years (2004 - 2010)
In March 2004, Claire left the show in order to replace Gráinne Seoige as the main news anchor on TV3. Byrne was replaced by Maura Derrane, a news presenter on the channel. In October 2005, Mark Cagney was nominated and later won the TV Personality of the Year Award at the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs). After two years as co-host, Maura Derrane left the show in September 2006. She was replaced by television newcomer, Sinead Desmond.
As of 2008, Desmond and original presenter Cagney are the main hosts of the show along with Alan Hughes, Aidan Cooney and Anna Daly ,who also frequently present segments and interview guests. Elaine Crowley presents news bulletins every half hour, while Laura Bermingham is also a frequent contributor. Today FM's Adelle McDonnell has contributed to a section of the show featuring soaps.
Over the years the show has had an extra hour added, and now broadcasts until 10 a.m. each morning. Also The Best of Ireland AM airs at different times on Saturday and Sunday mornings, featuring highlights from the weekday shows.
Ireland AM won the 'Favourite TV Show in Ireland' at the TV Now Awards in 2009. Ireland AM currently makes up 12.5% of TV3 output, or 41% of their legally required Irish programming content from the BAI.
Format
Like most other breakfast television shows, it blends a mixture of news every thirty minutes, interviews and features topics such as consumer affairs, health, politics, gardening, education, finance, food and fashion into a three hour format. The show is currently sponsored by Unilever.
References
External links
- Ireland AM at TV3
- Ireland AM on Twitter