THE IRISH version of The Apprentice, a new midday talk show and a documentary series about sex in Ireland are some of the highlights of TV3's new autumn schedule announced yesterday.
Station chief executive David McRedmond said he hoped to get Competition Authority approval for TV3's acquisition of Channel 6 in the next week and to launch it in early 2009. TV3 will also launch a new website in October.
Mr McRedmond said the commercial station was "significantly along the path to achieving what we set out to achieve" in providing a credible alternative to RTÉ.
This was TV3's biggest and best autumn season, with the largest ever amount of Irish programming, he said.
The schedule includes 19 new series and specials as well as returning shows such as Nightly News with Vincent Browne, Xposéand The Political Party.
"There are 230 people in TV3. To produce a schedule this rich and varied is quite astonishing," Mr McRedmond said.
Ben Frow, TV3 director of programming, highlighted the production of TV3's first original drama, School Run.
Written by novelist Anna McPartlin, the feature-length drama centres around the production of a school nativity play and will be screened towards the end of the year.
Mr Frow said the station had some "spectacular failures" in the past year, notably Rock Rivalsand The Bionic Woman, "who didn't turn out to be as bionic as we had hoped".
However, it also had fantastic successes with shows such as Vincent Browne's news programme and Undercover Ireland, he added.
The Apprenticewas "probably the most anticipated programme in our autumn schedule", he said.
The 14 candidates in the show will face businessman Bill Cullen, his partner Jackie Lavin and entrepreneur Brian Purcell across the boardroom table as they compete for a position with Mr Cullen.
The series is scheduled to begin in late September.
The new documentary series Now Then: How the Irish Have Sexwill involve frank discussions with people of all ages about their sex lives.
Living With Murder, presented by Maura Derrane, will cater for the public's fascination with crime while investigative reporter Donal MacIntyre will front the new CCTV Citiesseries.
The station has also acquired the US science fiction drama Fringe, from the makers of Lost.
TV3's new Middayprogramme will be a news-led talk show and will be hosted by news anchors Alan Cantwell and Colette Fitzpatrick and weather presenter Martin King. They will all retain their current roles.
Sports coverage will include the Uefa Super Cup, the Uefa Cup, Champions League matches and 10 All-Ireland football and hurling championship ties.
