BBC Northern Ireland
Encyclopedia
BBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland
.
The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC
, together with BBC Scotland
and BBC Wales
. Based at Broadcasting House
, Belfast
, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content. BBC Northern Ireland currently employs 700 people, largely in Belfast.
BBC Northern Ireland operates two television stations;
Prior to 27 October 2006, BBC Two NI
was a digital only service while BBC Two Northern Ireland was available on analogue transmission. Since 28 October 2006, BBC Two Northern Ireland has been the on-air name for both services which have been merged.
BBC Northern Ireland has its own team of continuity announcers which introduce all programmes on BBC One
and BBC Two
in Northern Ireland
.
BBC Northern Ireland makes some of its own programmes itself. However, unlike the radio stations, the television stations' content is for the most part identical to that broadcast by the BBC One
and BBC Two
channels in England. Some network programmes may however be time-shifted in order to make room for more local programming. Most local programmes are broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland.
BBC Northern Ireland is also involved in co-productions with other broadcasting networks, most notably from across the border with the Republic
's RTÉ
.
BBC Northern Ireland also takes part in the 'Regionalisation' of some of the BBC's national radio output. For example, on Thursday morning from midnight to 2am, Radio 1 splits the home nations
with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
broadcasting their own shows showcasing regional talent, with Huw Stephens
being heard in England. The Radio 1 Session from Northern Ireland is presented by Rory McConnell
.
base. It also provides multi platform interactivity for TV programmes including the annual Schools' Cup Rugby union
and Gaelic Athletic Association
finals.
BBC NI in recent years has been accused of showing bias against Gaelic games
, the most popular sports in Northern Ireland.
Many Gaelic-games fans claim the sports are being discriminated against by the BBC in comparison to other sports. The BBC's coverage of Ulster inter-county football did improve in 2008, with them showing all but one of the 2008 Ulster Senior Football Championship
matches, yet their lack of coverage of hurling
, club matches and non-Ulster Championship games still angers GAA supporters. Little or no coverage was given to the 2008 club championships or the All-Ireland Minor Championship final
replay between Tyrone
and Mayo
on BBC TV or radio. The BBC would have had to purchase the rights to show matches outside of the Ulster championships and described the situation as a "complicated rights issue". The popular show Sunday Sports Sound on BBC Radio Ulster was scrapped, before being reinstated in early 2008 and again in October 2008. The removal of the show had caused outrage among GAA fans in Ulster. Ulster Council
President Tom Daly called for the corporation to give "more attention and coverage because of the huge interest in Gaelic games at all levels" although he had previously stated that he was "confident that the standard of coverage of Gaelic Games in Ulster this year will be at a very high level."
, TG4
and BBC Alba
bought the rights for Celtic League rugby
. Setanta Sports
had held the Irish and Scottish rights from 2004 to 2009.
and Scots.
Radio Ulster carries a daily programme in Irish and there is an Irish language section on BBC Northern Ireland's pages, where reference is made to "BBC Thuaisceart Éireann". There are also occasionally TV programmes in Irish. Programmes are also broadcast in Ulster Scots.
There is a weekly radio programme for the Chinese community in Northern Ireland which broadcasts in Cantonese, called "Wah Yan Jee Sing".
(500 kW), Limavady
and Brougher Mountain transmitters. Both transmitters receive the BBC stations via a satellite feeds and each transmitter has a wealth of relay transmitters to provide analogue service to areas not served by their respective main transmitter.
BBC Northern Ireland have a radio link from their studios in Belfast which allows mobile on-location News crews to hear the studio; the test tone is known as the "commbeep". BBC Northern Ireland has three main television studios located in Belfast. There are two small studios located in the BBC Broadcasting House in Belfast. These are home to BBC Northern Ireland's regional news & current affairs programmes. They are around 2000 sq ft (185.8 m²) each and are called Studio B and Studio 1. The largest of the studios is called Studio A which is located in the BBC Blackstaff House on Great Victoria Street in Belfast (just a few streets away from the BBC Broadcasting House). The studio measures 6000 sq ft (557.4 m²) and has facilities which equal those available in the main television studios in London. Studio A has been home to the award winning local sitcom Give My Head Peace, BBC Northern Ireland's contribution to BBC Children in Need, Question Time, Nolan Live and more.
the Republic's police force, along with eleven other men in County Donegal
, as part of a probe into paramilitary activity. Gardaí were forced to ram a van containing the four journalists after the driver allegedly failed to stop in County Donegal. It is understood the vehicle was not being driven by any of the journalists, who were investigating dissident republican activity. All of the journalists were released. Four other men arrested in a follow-up search are still being questioned.
The arrests were made under Section 30 of the Republic's Offences Against the State Act, which allows police to arrest any individual for up to 72 hours.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, together with BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
and BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
. Based at Broadcasting House
Broadcasting House (Belfast)
Broadcasting House, Belfast is the headquarters building from which BBC Northern Ireland operates many of its broadcasting services. The building is located on Ormeau Avenue in Belfast city centre, at the junction with Bedford Street...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content. BBC Northern Ireland currently employs 700 people, largely in Belfast.
Television
- BBC One Northern IrelandBBC One Northern IrelandBBC One Northern Ireland is the national variation for BBC Northern Ireland of the network BBC One service broadcast by the BBC. The service is broadcast in Northern Ireland from Broadcasting House in Belfast...
- BBC Two Northern Ireland
Prior to 27 October 2006, BBC Two NI
BBC Two NI
BBC Two Northern Ireland is a television station operated by BBC Northern Ireland. It is broadcast via analogue and digital television.The channel was branded onscreen as 'BBC Two NI' from October 2006 until February 2007, though not referred to as such by continuity announcers...
was a digital only service while BBC Two Northern Ireland was available on analogue transmission. Since 28 October 2006, BBC Two Northern Ireland has been the on-air name for both services which have been merged.
BBC Northern Ireland has its own team of continuity announcers which introduce all programmes on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
and BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
BBC Northern Ireland makes some of its own programmes itself. However, unlike the radio stations, the television stations' content is for the most part identical to that broadcast by the BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
and BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
channels in England. Some network programmes may however be time-shifted in order to make room for more local programming. Most local programmes are broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland.
Regional television
- BBC NewslineBBC NewslineBBC Newsline is the BBC's regional television news service for Northern Ireland. The programme is broadcast on BBC One from BBC Northern Ireland's headquarters in Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast....
is the regional news service. Its main presenters are Noel ThompsonNoel ThompsonNoel Thompson is a news journalist with BBC Northern Ireland. Thompson is currently the main male presenter of BBC Newsline and political series Hearts and Minds.-Journalism career:...
, Donna TraynorDonna TraynorDonna Traynor is a Northern Irish journalist. She is currently the main female anchor of BBC Newsline.-Broadcasting career:...
, Sarah TraversSarah TraversSarah Travers is a Northern Irish journalist. She currently works as a reporter and presenter on BBC Newsline.-Broadcasting career:...
and Mark CarruthersMark CarruthersMark Carruthers OBE is a Northern Irish broadcaster and journalist, from Derry. He currently presents a number of television and radio programmes for BBC Northern Ireland.-Broadcasting work :...
. The main bulletin is from 18.30-19.00 with shorter bulletins at 13.30 and 22.25. Summaries are also broadcast during BreakfastBBC BreakfastBBC Breakfast is the morning television news programme simulcast on BBC One and the BBC News channel. It is presented live from BBC Television Centre in White City, West London, and contains a mixture of news, sport, weather, business and feature items...
and the early afternoon (all the BBC regions broadcast their own regional news simultaneously before all the networks reconnect to the national network for a national weather broadcast); - regional political programmes, notably Spotlight, Hearts And Minds and Lets Talk;
- regional arts programmes;
- regional weekend chat shows;
- specialist coverage of events such a visit by Her Majesty The Queen, or a cross border visit by a dignitary such as the President of IrelandPresident of IrelandThe President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
, or a distinguished overseas visitor such as the US president. There is coverage of the OrangeOrange InstitutionThe Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
parades on 12 July, St. Patrick's Day parades on 17 March, etc.
Networked productions
As well as programmes intended purely for a regional audience, BBC Northern Ireland also produces programmes for national consumption on the BBC's channels across the UK. The main part of BBC Northern Ireland's network productions are in drama and comedy (http://www.bbc.co.uk/nidrama). Most recently, this has included producing the high-profile drama series Messiah.BBC Northern Ireland is also involved in co-productions with other broadcasting networks, most notably from across the border with the Republic
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
.
Republic of Ireland
- BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC Two Northern Ireland are widely available across the border in the Republic of IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. These channels are carried on all digital platforms in the Republic including Sky Ireland, UPC IrelandUPC IrelandUPC Ireland is Liberty Global Europe's telecommunications operation in Ireland. UPC Ireland is the largest digital cable television provider within the Republic of Ireland. As of September 2010 the company offers broadband internet, digital television and digital telephony to over 531,000 customers...
, Magnet NetworksMagnet NetworksMagnet Networks is an Irish company providing telephone, television and internet services via subscription over optical fibre.Magnet Networks was launched in Dublin on 1 December 2004, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of US-based international investment company Columbia Ventures Corporation...
, SCTV and Crossan Cable. BBC One NI and BBC Two NI are also available terrestrially in the Republic in counties near the Northern Ireland border.
- Additional BBC channels such as BBC ThreeBBC ThreeBBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
, BBC FourBBC FourBBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
, BBC News, and BBC World News, are also available within the Republic of Ireland as part of a subscription with leading digital television providers.
- On 1 February 2010 the Republic of IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's Minister for Communications Eamon RyanEamon RyanEamon Ryan is an Irish politician and leader of the Irish Green Party. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency from 2002 to 2011, and served as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2007 to 2011....
signed an agreement with the UK's Ben BradshawBen BradshawBenjamin Peter James Bradshaw is a British Labour politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Exeter since 1997, and served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport....
. This agreement will enable viewers within Northern IrelandNorthern IrelandNorthern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
to watch RTÉ OneRTÉ OneRTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
, RTÉ TwoRTÉ TwoRTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
and TG4TG4TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
on a free-to-airFree-to-airFree-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
basis as of 2012. The agreement between both jurisdictions will also guarantee that viewers within the Republic of Ireland will be able to view BBC One Northern IrelandBBC One Northern IrelandBBC One Northern Ireland is the national variation for BBC Northern Ireland of the network BBC One service broadcast by the BBC. The service is broadcast in Northern Ireland from Broadcasting House in Belfast...
and BBC Two Northern Ireland on the Republic of Ireland's free-to-air service which is to debut in late 2010. A cross-border initiative has always been on the agenda for the Green PartyGreen Party (Ireland)The Green Party is a green political party in Ireland. It was founded as the Ecology Party of Ireland in 1981 by Dublin teacher Christopher Fettes. The party became the Green Alliance in 1983 and in 1987 was renamed to its current title in English...
in the Republic of Ireland. However it was later confirmed that BBC Northern Ireland services are now to be offered in the Republic of Ireland on a 'paid-for' basis and not the original free-to-air basis.
Radio
BBC Northern Ireland operates two radio stations:- BBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
, on 92-95 FM and 1341 Medium Wave, which broadcasts throughout Northern Ireland, and - BBC Radio FoyleBBC Radio FoyleBBC Radio Foyle is a BBC Northern Ireland local radio station, serving County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. It is named after the River Foyle which flows through the city where the station is based. The station broadcasts from BBC's Northland Road studios on 93.1 FM and 792 MW in Derry, County...
, on 93.1 FM and 792 Medium Wave, which broadcasts to the North West of Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland also takes part in the 'Regionalisation' of some of the BBC's national radio output. For example, on Thursday morning from midnight to 2am, Radio 1 splits the home nations
Home Nations
Home Nations is a collective term with one of two meanings depending on the context. Politically, it means the nations of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom...
with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
broadcasting their own shows showcasing regional talent, with Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens is a radio presenter currently broadcasting shows on BBC Radio 1.-Early life and career:Stephens was born in Cardiff, Wales, the son of the author and literary journalist Meic Stephens...
being heard in England. The Radio 1 Session from Northern Ireland is presented by Rory McConnell
Rory McConnell
Rory McConnell is a DJ and radio presenter for BBC Radio 1. He currently presents the Northern Ireland edition of BBC Introducing, a regionalised radio programme transmitted Belfast from 00:00 to 02:00 on Sunday night/ Monday morning.-Biography:...
.
Online
BBC Northern Ireland's online service provides News, Sport, Schools, Learning and Programme information for television and radio programmes. It provides a streaming audio service for Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle as well as every programme on demand for up to a week after transmission. bbc.co.uk/northernireland/ is part of BBC Online and operated from the BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
base. It also provides multi platform interactivity for TV programmes including the annual Schools' Cup Rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
finals.
Significant regional programmes
- Good Morning UlsterGood Morning UlsterGood Morning Ulster is a flagship Northern Irish radio news programme broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster.The programme is presented by Wendy Austin, Conor Bradford and Mark Carruthers, airing each weekday between 6:30am & 9am....
, flagship breakfast news programme presented by Mark CarruthersMark CarruthersMark Carruthers OBE is a Northern Irish broadcaster and journalist, from Derry. He currently presents a number of television and radio programmes for BBC Northern Ireland.-Broadcasting work :...
, Karen Patterson and Conor Bradford; - BBC NewslineBBC NewslineBBC Newsline is the BBC's regional television news service for Northern Ireland. The programme is broadcast on BBC One from BBC Northern Ireland's headquarters in Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast....
, television news bulletins - Give My Head PeaceGive My Head PeaceGive My Head Peace was a satirical television comedy series on BBC Northern Ireland that pokes fun at political parties, paramilitary groups and the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland...
, television comedy series - Dry Your EyesDry Your Eyes (TV series)Dry Your Eyes was a Northern Irish sketch show on BBC One NI, created by the Hole in the Wall Gang, the makers of one of Northern Ireland's most successful shows Give My Head Peace...
, Television comedy series - Spotlight (not to be confused with the BBC South WestBBC South WestBBC South West is the BBC English Region serving Devon, Cornwall and the Channel Islands.-Television:BBC South Wests television service consists of the flagship regional news service Spotlight, the opt-out service BBC Channel Islands, the topical magazine programme Inside Out and a 20-minute...
programmeSpotlight (BBC South West News)Spotlight is the BBC's regional news programme for the southwest of England, covering Cornwall, Devon, West Dorset, and Somerset. There is also a special version of the programme for viewers in the Channel Islands. The main version of the programme broadcasts between 18:30 and 18:58 on weekdays,...
) - Hearts and MindsHearts and MindsHearts and Minds may refer to:* A biblical quotation; see the Wikisource link-Film:* Hearts and Minds , a 1974 documentary film about the Vietnam War-Television:...
presented by Noel ThompsonNoel ThompsonNoel Thompson is a news journalist with BBC Northern Ireland. Thompson is currently the main male presenter of BBC Newsline and political series Hearts and Minds.-Journalism career:... - Let's Talk presented by Mark CarruthersMark CarruthersMark Carruthers OBE is a Northern Irish broadcaster and journalist, from Derry. He currently presents a number of television and radio programmes for BBC Northern Ireland.-Broadcasting work :...
- Sunday SequenceSunday Sequence (BBC Radio Ulster)BBC Northern Ireland's award-winning Sunday morning speech radio programme has a magazine format and a focus on religion, ethics and current affairs....
presented by William CrawleyWilliam Crawley-Television presenter:He recently presented Blueprint, a three-part television natural history series, which ran from 31 March 2008, as the centre-piece of the most ambitious multi-platform broadcasting project in the history of BBC Northern Ireland. The Blueprint season united TV, radio and online... - Talk BackTalk Back (BBC Radio Ulster)Talk Back is BBC Radio Ulster's award winning daily political and current-affairs phone-in programme, currently presented by Wendy Austin. It was launched on 8 September 1986 and runs from Monday to Friday, from just after the mid-day news to 1:30pm .The programme's first presenter was Barry...
presented by Wendy AustinWendy AustinWendy Austin is a BBC journalist and broadcaster in BBC Northern Ireland, and presenter of BBC Radio Ulster’s current affairs programme Talkback.... - Seven Days presented by David DunseithDavid DunseithDavid Dunseith was a Northern Irish journalist and broadcaster with BBC Northern Ireland. He presented BBC Radio Ulster's 'Talk Back' & 'Seven Days' programmes. His career has spanned the troubles covering the turbulent and tragic events of recent years from the Falls Curfew in 1970 to the Omagh...
- The Stephen Nolan show presented by Stephen NolanStephen NolanStephen Nolan, born Belfast in 1973, is a radio and television presenter for BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Radio Five Live. He was educated at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, and Queen's University Belfast where he studied French and Business Studies....
- Evening ExtraEvening ExtraEvening Extra is a news and current magazine radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster on Weekday evenings, from 5pm to 6.30pm. Evening Extra is presented from Mondays to Wednesdays by Mark Carruthers and by Karen Patterson on Thursdays and Fridays. Karen Patterson also presents Seven Days on...
, drive-time radio news presented by Seamus McKee
Television news bulletins
- Ulster Mirror (1950s)
- Scene Around Six (1969-September 1984)
- Inside Ulster (September 1984 - 12 February 1996)
- Newsline 6.30/Newsline/BBC Newsline (12 February 1996 to date)
Selection of network programmes
- BallykissangelBallykissangelBallykissangel is a BBC television drama set in Ireland, produced in-house by BBC Northern Ireland. The original story revolved around a young English Roman Catholic priest as he became part of a rural community. It ran for six series, which were first broadcast on BBC One in the UK from 1996 to 2001...
(late 1990s) - Gunpowder, Treason and Plot, historical drama
- Holy Cross
- Messiah (Crime Drama)
- Murphy's Law
- The Ambassador (late 1990s)
- Patrick Kielty Almost LivePatrick Kielty Almost LivePatrick Kielty Almost Live was a Friday night aired chat show aired between 1999 and 2003 hosted by Northern Irish comedian Patrick Kielty. It was filmed in Belfast....
Gaelic games
BBC NI in recent years has been accused of showing bias against Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
, the most popular sports in Northern Ireland.
Many Gaelic-games fans claim the sports are being discriminated against by the BBC in comparison to other sports. The BBC's coverage of Ulster inter-county football did improve in 2008, with them showing all but one of the 2008 Ulster Senior Football Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
matches, yet their lack of coverage of hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
, club matches and non-Ulster Championship games still angers GAA supporters. Little or no coverage was given to the 2008 club championships or the All-Ireland Minor Championship final
All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
replay between Tyrone
Tyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
and Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
on BBC TV or radio. The BBC would have had to purchase the rights to show matches outside of the Ulster championships and described the situation as a "complicated rights issue". The popular show Sunday Sports Sound on BBC Radio Ulster was scrapped, before being reinstated in early 2008 and again in October 2008. The removal of the show had caused outrage among GAA fans in Ulster. Ulster Council
Ulster GAA
The Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
President Tom Daly called for the corporation to give "more attention and coverage because of the huge interest in Gaelic games at all levels" although he had previously stated that he was "confident that the standard of coverage of Gaelic Games in Ulster this year will be at a very high level."
Rugby
In 2010 BBC Northern Ireland with RTÉ SportRTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport is a cross platform, integrated business division of Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann, responsible for the provision of sport coverage on RTÉ Radio, RTÉ Television, and RTÉ.ie....
, TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
and BBC Alba
BBC Alba
BBC Gàidhlig is the department of BBC Scotland that produces Scottish Gaelic language programming. This includes TV programmes for BBC Alba and BBC Two Scotland, the BBC Radio nan Gàidheal radio station and the BBC Alba website.-Television:...
bought the rights for Celtic League rugby
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
. Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports is an international sports broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events...
had held the Irish and Scottish rights from 2004 to 2009.
Languages
Although BBC Northern Ireland broadcasts primarily in English, there is some programming in the languages of Ireland, IrishIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
and Scots.
Radio Ulster carries a daily programme in Irish and there is an Irish language section on BBC Northern Ireland's pages, where reference is made to "BBC Thuaisceart Éireann". There are also occasionally TV programmes in Irish. Programmes are also broadcast in Ulster Scots.
There is a weekly radio programme for the Chinese community in Northern Ireland which broadcasts in Cantonese, called "Wah Yan Jee Sing".
Technical
The BBC television and radio stations are broadcast primarily from the DivisDivis
Divis is a large mountain and area of sprawling moorland to the north-west of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The mountain is 478 m tall, making it the highest of the Belfast Hills...
(500 kW), Limavady
Limavady
Limavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
and Brougher Mountain transmitters. Both transmitters receive the BBC stations via a satellite feeds and each transmitter has a wealth of relay transmitters to provide analogue service to areas not served by their respective main transmitter.
BBC Northern Ireland have a radio link from their studios in Belfast which allows mobile on-location News crews to hear the studio; the test tone is known as the "commbeep". BBC Northern Ireland has three main television studios located in Belfast. There are two small studios located in the BBC Broadcasting House in Belfast. These are home to BBC Northern Ireland's regional news & current affairs programmes. They are around 2000 sq ft (185.8 m²) each and are called Studio B and Studio 1. The largest of the studios is called Studio A which is located in the BBC Blackstaff House on Great Victoria Street in Belfast (just a few streets away from the BBC Broadcasting House). The studio measures 6000 sq ft (557.4 m²) and has facilities which equal those available in the main television studios in London. Studio A has been home to the award winning local sitcom Give My Head Peace, BBC Northern Ireland's contribution to BBC Children in Need, Question Time, Nolan Live and more.
Former BBC NI Broadcasters
- Patrick KieltyPatrick KieltyPatrick Kielty is an Irish comedian and television personality from Dundrum, Northern Ireland.-Background:He was affected by The Troubles in Northern Ireland. On 25 January 1988 his father, businessman Jack Kielty, was shot dead by the Ulster Defence Association /"Ulster Freedom Fighters" , a...
- ComedianComedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and chat show host now mainly working on network television - Sean RaffertySean RaffertySean Rafferty is a Belfast-born Northern Irish broadcaster now best known for his work on BBC Radio 3.A graduate in Law of Queen's University, Belfast, Rafferty's original career was as an accountant. Meeting the head of BBC Northern Ireland at a conference led to him working as a researcher for...
- Former presenter of Scene Around Six and Inside Ulster, evening news programmes broadcast until mid-1990s, as well as BBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
news programmes, now a BBC Radio 3BBC Radio 3BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
music presenter - Gloria HunnifordGloria HunnifordGloria Hunniford is a Northern Irish TV and radio presenter, and formerly a singer.-Biography:...
- Former BBC NI presenter now well-known national personality working in network programmes based in London - Suzanne VirdeeSuzanne VirdeeSuzanne Virdee is a British television newsreader known in the Midlands area. She is one of the presenters of Midlands Today on BBC One and has appeared on BBC Breakfast as the programme's newsreader, until a change of studio and format in March 2006.-Career:Virdee became a journalist at the age...
- Former News reporter and presenter of BBC NewslineBBC NewslineBBC Newsline is the BBC's regional television news service for Northern Ireland. The programme is broadcast on BBC One from BBC Northern Ireland's headquarters in Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast....
and Inside Ulster and former radio presenter on BBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
now based in BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
presenting BBC Midlands Today - Colin MurrayColin MurrayColin Murray is a Northern Irish sports and music radio and television presenter. He is the current host of the BBC Television show Match of the Day 2 on BBC Two, and the BBC Radio 5 Live shows 5 Live Sport and Fighting Talk, as well as a show on BBC Radio Ulster. He has previously hosted regular...
- BBC Radio Five LiveBBC Radio Five LiveBBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
presenter and former BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ started with BBC Radio Ulster as a presenter on the Across the LineAcross the Line (BBC Radio Ulster)Across the Line is a programme on BBC Radio Ulster . It broadcasts Monday, 8pm to 10.00 pm and Friday, 12.05 am to 02.00 am. Rigsy presents the Monday programme. Saturday is the Dance show and is presented by Paul Hamill.Support for Northern Ireland music and musicians in central to the Across the...
programme
Current BBC NI Broadcasters
- Noel ThompsonNoel ThompsonNoel Thompson is a news journalist with BBC Northern Ireland. Thompson is currently the main male presenter of BBC Newsline and political series Hearts and Minds.-Journalism career:...
- Presenter of BBC NewslineBBC NewslineBBC Newsline is the BBC's regional television news service for Northern Ireland. The programme is broadcast on BBC One from BBC Northern Ireland's headquarters in Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast....
and Hearts and Minds - Stephen NolanStephen NolanStephen Nolan, born Belfast in 1973, is a radio and television presenter for BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Radio Five Live. He was educated at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, and Queen's University Belfast where he studied French and Business Studies....
- Presenter of The Stephen Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster, Nolan Live on BBC1 NI and a weekend phone-in programme on BBC Radio Five LiveBBC Radio Five LiveBBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries... - Gerry AndersonGerry Anderson (broadcaster)Gerald Michael Anderson, known professionally as Gerry Anderson , is a Sony Award-winning radio and television broadcaster from Derry, Northern Ireland who works for BBC Northern Ireland, and is a member of the Radio Academy Hall of fame...
- Presenter of The Gerry Anderson Show on BBC Radio Ulster, a unique and wacky voice in broadcasting without a script - Jackie FullertonJackie FullertonJohn Alexander "Jackie" Fullerton, MBE is a Northern Irish television presenter and journalist, who is currently a reporter and football commentator for BBC Northern Ireland.-Sporting career:...
- BBC Northern Ireland's principal football commentator - Hugo DuncanHugo DuncanHugo Duncan is a singer and BBC broadcaster born in Strabane, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland on 26 March 1950. His nickname is "The wee man from Strabane"....
- Singer and presenter of music programmes on BBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
and BBC Radio FoyleBBC Radio FoyleBBC Radio Foyle is a BBC Northern Ireland local radio station, serving County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. It is named after the River Foyle which flows through the city where the station is based. The station broadcasts from BBC's Northland Road studios on 93.1 FM and 792 MW in Derry, County... - Donna TraynorDonna TraynorDonna Traynor is a Northern Irish journalist. She is currently the main female anchor of BBC Newsline.-Broadcasting career:...
- Presenter on BBC NewslineBBC NewslineBBC Newsline is the BBC's regional television news service for Northern Ireland. The programme is broadcast on BBC One from BBC Northern Ireland's headquarters in Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast.... - Sarah TraversSarah TraversSarah Travers is a Northern Irish journalist. She currently works as a reporter and presenter on BBC Newsline.-Broadcasting career:...
- Presenter on BBC NewslineBBC NewslineBBC Newsline is the BBC's regional television news service for Northern Ireland. The programme is broadcast on BBC One from BBC Northern Ireland's headquarters in Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast....
Controversy
On 16 March 2008, four BBC Northern Ireland journalists were arrested by the Garda SíochánaGarda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
the Republic's police force, along with eleven other men in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, as part of a probe into paramilitary activity. Gardaí were forced to ram a van containing the four journalists after the driver allegedly failed to stop in County Donegal. It is understood the vehicle was not being driven by any of the journalists, who were investigating dissident republican activity. All of the journalists were released. Four other men arrested in a follow-up search are still being questioned.
The arrests were made under Section 30 of the Republic's Offences Against the State Act, which allows police to arrest any individual for up to 72 hours.