Ireland AM Celebrates 10 Years of Great Breakfast Television

TV3 GROUP RELEASE

IMMEDIATE: Friday 25th September 2009


Ireland's favourite TV Show - Ireland AM - celebrated it's 10th birthday this morning with presenters past and present, along with some well known faces who have contributed to the show throughout the years.

Irish TV viewers have been waking up to Ireland AM since September 1999. Back then, the original team consisted of Mark Cagney, Amanda Byram and Alan Hughes; both Mark and Alan are still presenting the show today. Since it's launch, Ireland AM has enjoyed phenomenal growth and popularity as Ireland's first live television breakfast show and is now firmly established as a favourite with families throughout the country. The shows' popularity was demonstrated when Ireland AM was voted ‘Ireland's Favourite TV show' at both the 2008 and 2009 TV Now Awards.

A gala show to mark the 10th anniversary aired this morning with a glamorous breakfast garden party held at TV3 studios. All the regular hosts were there was a special appearance by the first lady to ever anchor the show - Amanda Byram - who was also back on the couch! This special anniversary show gave a unique look behind the scenes of Ireland AM, and viewers got the chance to see the faces behind the desks and behind the cameras who help to bring their favourite show to their screens five days a week. All the presenters and contributors reminisced about their top Ireland AM moments of the last ten years, looking back at changing styles and sets, and remembering those special moments when things didn't always go exactly to plan!

Over it's 10 year lifetime, Ireland AM has grown from an audience of 6,000 viewers in 1999 to a current high of 170,000 viewers every day - which in turn has helped TV3 as a channel to grow and prosper.

Director of News, Andrew Hanlon said: "What an incredible 10 years it's been! When Ireland AM first started people said breakfast TV would never catch on in Ireland. Now, 10 years later, over 170,000 people a day tune in to the show at some point. That success is due in no small part to the best production team in the country and a brilliant team of presenters led by veterans Mark Cagney, Aidan Cooney, Alan Hughes, Sinead Desmond and Anna Daly."

TV3 CEO, David McRedmond, said: "Ireland AM's 10th birthday is a landmark in Irish broadcasting; it is the most often broadcast show on Irish television. Ireland AM is the anchor tenant of the TV3 schedule and a brilliant public service of which we are very proud."

Ends.

Please note that all images have been sent to your picture desks by Brian McEvoy.

For Further Information:
Maureen Catterson
TV3 Press Office
00 353 1 419 3430 / 00 353 87 780 0737
Maureen.catterson@tv3.ie
publicity@tv3.ie
www.tv3.ie