The 15- to 45-year-old audience should have quite diverse TV interests. In theory, TV3 has its work cut out trying to please this bunch - however, in reality, mum, dad and the teenagers seem to have more in common than they might like to think.
A glance at any day's viewing on TV3 shows up very little in the way of specialist programming. Apart from programmes like the popchart show on Saturdays (usually bland enough to appeal to parents), almost anyone could be watching any of it.
"Feed the family addiction" seems to be the underlying message, with approximately five soap operas on each weekday. And while the likes of Breakers is more teen-oriented than Eastenders, no one is likely to be so offended or confused as to want to switch off.
Given the low-budget ethos, there are only a handful of home-produced programmes, including the contribution from Paul Tylock and Joe Rooney (see below) and the midday chat show, Speakeasy. And there's always a bit of an oul' film - often quite good ones actually.
Most of the criticism levelled at TV3 has been in relation to the bought-in soaps, dramas and sitcoms. Apart, perhaps, from , TV3 has managed to land only the poor man's version of the pickings. The imported shows include "real TV" filler such as When Stunts Go Wrong and American car-chase videos.
As for The Sweeney, this kind of thing was great in the era of Starsky and Hutch, but in today's world of jittery, troubled cops in NYPD Blue Homicide, gobshites in flares hasn't quite the same appeal. Whether the 6 per cent will stay tuned is anyone's guess.
