The TV3 consortium has reached agreement on all the main issues with the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) and is aiming to begin broadcasting towards the end of next year. Since the TV3 consortium was joined by the Canadian broadcaster, CanWest Global, earlier this year, talks have been taking place on the contract for a licence. The process is expected to be completed by early September. TV3 has had a troubled history since it was first granted the licence to be Ireland's third channel in 1989. Two years later the IRTC withdrew the licence as it was unable to give a full list of investors. It got the licence back following court battles and was expected on air this year when UTV decided to become a major partner.
When UTV withdrew it appeared the TV3 project was dead, but in March it was announced that CanWest would take an interest.