1988 in Irish television

Events

• 30 April – Ireland hosts the Eurovision Song Contest from the RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion, Dublin, after winning it the previous year. Pat Kenny and Michelle Rocca host the 33rd annual contest, which is won by Switzerland with the song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi (Don't Leave Without Me), sung by a 20-year-old Celine Dion.
• 3 July – The Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act, legislation concerning licensing for broadcasting, comes into law.
• September – RTÉ 2 is rebranded as Network 2 as part of a major overhaul of the channel.
• 3 October – Australian soap Home and Away receives its Irish television debut on Network 2. On the same day new look RTÉ Weather is born.

Debuts

RTÉ 1

• 4 March – UK/USA A Little Princess (1986)
• 7 April – WAL Fireman Sam (1987–present)
• 8 April – UK The Gemini Factor (1987)
• 10 June – UK The Secret World of Polly Flint (1987)
• 11 June – CAN/BEL Ovide Video (1987–1988)
• 5 July – UK Chocky's Challenge (1986)
• 13 July – AUS Kaboodle (1987–1990)
• 6 August – CAN The Raccoons (1985–1991)
• 15 October – Kenny Live (1988–1999)
• Undated – USA DuckTales (1987–1990)
• Bibi (1988-1994)

Network 2

• 1 May – USA Jim Henson Presents the World of Puppetry (1985)
• September – Jo Maxi (1988–1993)
• 3 October – AUS Home and Away (1988–present)
• 6 October – CAN/USA The Care Bears Family (1986–1988)
• 6 October – FRA/JPN/SWI/ITA Once Upon a Time... Life (1987)
• 6 October – The Floradora Folk (1988–1989)
• 11 October – Nighthawks (1988–1992)
• 28 October – UK T-Bag (1985–1992)
• 1 December – FRA/JPN The Mysterious Cities of Gold (1982–1983)
• Undated – USA The Tracey Ullman Show (1987–1990)
• Undated – UK The Storyteller (1987–1988)
• Undated - USA Full House (1987-1995)

Endings

RTÉ 1

• 29 April - Evening Extra (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)
• Rapid Roulette (1986–1990)
• Live at 3 (1986–1997)
• Saturday Live (1986–1999)
• Questions and Answers (1986–2009)
• Dempsey's Den (1986–2010)
• Marketplace (1987–1996)
• Where in the World? (1987–1996)
• Know Your Sport (1987–1998)

References

References

1. "RTÉ Libraries and Archives: preserving a unique record of Irish life". Rte.ie.