RTÉ launched its new season of television programming at its Montrose headquarters in Dublin today, unveiling a package of more than 110 home-produced shows.
The new schedule, which features 49 new series and documentaries alongside 64 shows returning for fresh runs, sees a reduction in the broadcaster’s overall Irish-made output at a time when it is under severe financial pressure, seeking savings of €34 million.
Glen Killane, RTÉ’s managing director of television, said at the launch that the new season contains “programming which resonates for Irish audiences and which has real meaning in their lives.”
Topical factual programming provides several of the new season's highlights. Documentaries include Behind The Walls, a two part history of psychiatric hospitals from journalist Mary Raftery and a two-part look at Fianna Fáil's fall from grace.
There are also two overviews of the economic crash, Pension Shock, presented by George Lee, and Property Shock, hosted by Richard Curran.
Celebrity shows with a twist come in the form of Genealogy Roadshow, which sees Derek Mooney seeking out interesting family histories around Ireland and Two For The Road, which sees public figures accompany people with disabilities on trips across the globe. Meanwhile, The Big Interview With Mike Murphy sees the veteran broadcaster return to talk to six well-known Irish figures.
Lighter personality-driven fare comes in the form of Put 'Em Under Pressure, a sports quiz hosted by Gráinne Seoige, who also presents another new series, Gráinne Seoige's Modern Stories, as well as co-anchoring the revamped version of Crimecall with Philip Boucher Hayes. Sometime children's puppets Zig and Zag come back to host an outtake clip show, SuperBloopers.
Keeping an eye on ratings-winners, the entertainment programming also includes home-produced versions of international hit formats such as talent show The Voice Of Ireland and culinary contest MasterChef Ireland.
Drama output remains largely unchanged, with the return of restaurant-set series Raw and an expanded second run of crime thriller Love/Hate, while soap opera Fair City will continue to be broadcast four nights a week.
Brendan O'Carroll's Bafta-nominated comedy series Mrs Brown's Boys also returns, while stand-up comic PJ Gallagher turns his hand to sitcoms with a new show, Meet The Gallaghers, joining existing quirky comedies like Hardy Bucks, The Savage Eye and Republic of Telly, all of which are back for the new year.
With resources at a premium, RTÉ has concentrated on its prime time output, but has maintained its daytime programmes, The Daily Show and Four Live return, albeit in truncated runs. Meanwhile, the network's sport department will feature prominently over the coming year, broadcasting this year's Rugby World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics.
With advertising still volatile, proven ratings winners remain at the core of the new season, including Celebrity Bainisteoir, Operation Transformation, The Saturday Night Show and, unsurprisingly, The Late Late Show.
