"The Irish television audience has consistently shown its preference for high-quality home-produced programmes," and TG4 aimed to continue delivering them, the station's ceannasai, Mr Cathal Goan, said as he launched its autumn schedule in Dublin yesterday.
The new schedule will be phased in during October and November. A new weekend schedule in October will operate from 9 a.m. until midnight. November's weekday schedule will last from midday until midnight.
Highlights on the channel hitherto known as Teilifis na Gaeilge will include a new evening news bulletin, a strong campaign to publicise the station's "soap", Ros na Run, live coverage of basketball on Friday nights and Gaelic games on Sunday afternoons. There is to be a greater emphasis on children's programming which will include work aimed at the under-fives and a new series of inter-active games on Sunday.
Music coverage is to be augmented by two new series, Sruth na Maoile, exploring the musical links between Ireland and Scotland, and Blath na Su Craobh, looking at the background to traditional music. Both Geantrai and Ceol Cois Locha will return for another series.
A new documentary series, with the overall title Cead Isteach, will look at various aspects of contemporary Ireland on Monday nights. Programmes to be broadcast include Man of Aran, a look at contemporary life on the Aran Islands, Aon Seans Ort?, a behind-the-scenes look at finding a partner, Seapoint, a retrospective on the ballroom in Salthill, Galway, Mna Boilg, a look at Dublin's belly dancers and Scaoil leis an gCaid which follows the fortunes of a local Gaelic football team.
"Any channel would be rightly proud of a schedule of this calibre," Mr Goan said. "We are providing over six hours a day of Irish-language programming. This represents an unparalleled commitment to domestic production."