10 January –
Scottish Media Group and Belfast-based
UTV agree the details of a merger, including a revised share split between the two. UTV will own 54% of the group, while SMG will take the remaining 46%.[2] However, the deal is once again rejected at the end of February.
February
No events
March
No events
April
1 April – The
RTÉIrish language channel,
TG4, becomes a separate entity. Previously it had been operated as a subsidiary of RTÉ under the name Telefís na Gaeilge.[3]
April – The
Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007 comes into law. The Act gives Irish national public service broadcasters
RTÉ and
TG4 digital terrestrial television obligations and also mandates the licensing of multiplexes for carriage on the RTÉ multiplex of Irish free-to-air channels.
May
22 May – 52-year-old Paul Stokes is sentenced to two years imprisonment (one of which is suspended) for criminal damage and reckless endangerment after he drove his car into the front door of a building at
RTÉ Television Centre in December 2006.[4]
24 September –
TG4 begins airing the long running US animated comedy series South Park with the series being dubbed into an Irish speaking language. It will be shown on Silé with the more adult content being removed.
October
October –
UTV undergoes a corporate reorganisation which sees the broadcaster's shareholders swap their shares for shares in a new holding company, UTV Media plc, which takes over UTV plc's shareholdings in the new media and radio subsidiaries. UTV Ltd. – the original Ulster Television Limited, now a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media – has returned to being solely the operating company for the ITV franchise.[5]
November
No events
December
No events
Unknown
Undated –
TV3 begins broadcasting in widescreen format on
UPC.