1986 in Irish television

Events

• January – RTE begins a six-week test of its teletext service Aertel, operating on RTE 1 between 2pm and closedown with a sample in-vision service broadcast on RTE2 between 2pm and 5,45pm.
• 29 September – Long running Irish afternoon chat show Live at 3 begins on RTÉ 1.
• 29 September – RTÉ Television airs the first edition of Dempsey's Den, a series presented by Ian Dempsey with puppets Zig and Zag. Dempsey's Den presented children's afternoon programmes.
• 1 October – Welsh children's animation SuperTed begins its screening debut on RTÉ 1 as part of Dempsey's Den. The series is translated and dubbed into an Irish language.
• 9 November – The current affairs series Questions and Answers first goes on air. It is presented by Olivia O'Leary.

Debuts

RTÉ 1

• 14 January – USA Alvin and the Chipmunks (Ruby Spears version) (1983–1987)
• 10 April – AUS Butterfly Island (1985–1987)
• 13 August – CAN/SCO The Campbells (1986–1990)
• 11 September – Pajo's Junkbox (1986–1988)
• 29 September – Dempsey's Den (1986–2010)
• 29 September – Live at 3 (1986–1997)
• 30 September – Rapid Roulette (1986–1990)
• 30 September – UK The Prisoner of Zenda (1984)
• 1 October – WAL SuperTed (1983–1986)
• 13 October - Evening Extra (1986-1988)
• 25 October – Saturday Live (1986–1999)
• 9 November – Questions and Answers (1986–2009)
• Undated – USA Muppet Babies (1984–1991)

RTÉ 2

• 30 September – USA Spaceflight (1985)
• 8 October – UK Chocky (1984)
• 9 October – USA Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985–1991)
• 2 December – USA Starman (1986–1987)
• 25 December – WAL Fox Tales (1986–1988)

Changes of network affiliation

Ongoing television programmes

1960s

• RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock (1961–present)
• RTÉ News: Six One (1962–present)
• The Late Late Show (1962–present)

1970s

• Sports Stadium (1973–1997)
• The Late Late Toy Show (1975–present)
• RTÉ News on Two (1978–2014)
• Bosco (1979–1996)
• The Sunday Game (1979–present)

1980s

• Today Tonight (1982–1992)
• Mailbag (1982–1996)
• Glenroe (1983–2001)
• MT-USA (1984–1987)

Ending this year

• 23 February – Davis at Large (1984–1986)
• 23 April – Leave It To Mrs O'Brien (1984–1986)

References

References

1. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOnJQFGXjmg&ab_channel=WalterLawlerArchive-RegularVideoUploads RTE launches regular teletext, January 1986]
2. "RTÉ Libraries and Archives: preserving a unique record of Irish life". Rte.ie.