26 May – At its
annual general meeting in
BelfastUlster Television plc formally changes its name to UTV plc, taking the decision because it believes that the existing name no longer reflected the full scope of the company's business.
June
No events
July
No events
August
23 August –
ITV secures a deal to sell its 45% stake in
TV3 for £70m.[3]
29 August –
Scottish Media Group – owners of the
STV network – officially rejects a merger offer from
Northern Irish ITV franchise holder
UTV. The merger approach from would have given SMG shareholders a 52% stake in the combined company.[4]
September
No events
October
31 October –
Sky announces plans to end its nightly
Sky News Ireland broadcasts from 30 November.[5]
November
3 November –
Ray Kennedy presented the final Sky News Ireland programme at 10.00pm.[6] No further Sky News Ireland bulletins were broadcast after this because the staff walked out.
24 November – An edition of The Late Late Show is briefly interrupted by an intruder who makes his way onto the stage to hurl abuse at host
Pat Kenny. An individual is arrested and released, but re-arrested on 2 December for driving his car into the entrance of RTÉ's
Donnybrook headquarters.[7]
December
4 December – The UK's
Channel 4 becomes available to viewers in Ireland via
Sky.
Unknown
Launch of
Setanta Ireland, a channel dedicated to sport, showing both local and international sporting events.