Tralee’s Irish TV hub faces the axe

COURT TOLD STATION COULD SURVIVE IF REGIONAL OFFICES ARE SHUT AND JOBS CUT

JUST two years after it opened Irish TV’s Munster Regional Hub in Tralee has been threatened with closure.

Last week the troubled satellite TV network – which specialises in regional programming aimed at the Irish diaspora – successfully sought to be placed in examinership after its main financial backer withdrew his support from the station.

In a High Court petition seeking court protection, Irish TV said it has been left with an immediate operational cash-flow shortfall after its main funder – UK mincab mogul John Griffin who was a 41 per cent stakeholder in the company – withdrew his support in late October.

Mr Griffin’s decision followed four years of losses at Irish TV which told the courts it now has net liabilities of €8.7 million.

An independent expert’s report – prepared to support of company’s application for examinership – said the station has a “reasonable prospect of survival” if a number of steps are taken.

These include shutting down the station’s regional offices in Tralee, Dublin, Tyrone, London and New York and the implementation of a redundancy programme.

Irish TV’s Munster Regional Hub – which oversees all of the station’s productions in the region – is located at the Tom Crean Centre at Kerry Technology Park. It was first opened in late 2014 and it currently employs around 20 people.

Irish TV, broadcasts a 24-hour channel on Sky, Eir and free-to-air services as well as online

Ms Justice Marie Baker has appointed Michael McAteer as interim examiner. The station said the action was “necessary and unavoidable” adding that it will continue broadcasting during the 70 to 100 day examinership process.