HispanicBusiness

WASHINGTON, DC -- (Marketwire) -- 03/15/13 -- Today's Ireland, the newest global content initiative of MHz Networks, launches as a full channel in the D.C. area March 17 on MHz 12 (over the air digital broadcast channel 30.12).

Today's Ireland (TI) connects American viewers with contemporary Ireland through a balanced blend of news, current affairs, politics, economy, business, education, tourism, culture, drama, sports and entertainment. The all-island (Ireland -- North and South) content is cooperatively provided by television broadcasters and film producers who share a common desire to promote better understanding of a 21st century European region to internationally-minded American viewers of Today's Ireland throughout the US.

The British-Irish program concept of Today's Ireland has never before been attempted and makes TI a one of a kind television broadcast service that connects with Ireland's American Diaspora, as well as MHz Worldview's well-established national audience in the U.S.

Content is from Irish broadcasters RTÉ, TV3, TG4 & Irish.TV anchors. TI is augmented with additional programming from Northern Vision Television, independent productions from Northern Ireland, and regional specialty programming such as "The Gathering 2013" and "Derry-Londonderry -- 2013 UK City of Culture."

The Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland) Mr. Enda Kenny T.D. will also broadcast a special Saint Patrick's Day "Message to America" on the channel to mark the March 17 launch of Today's Ireland in the U.S.

Launching initially with six hours of daily programming that begins airing at 3 PM EDT daily, TI will build to a 24/7 channel within a year. Expanded cultural and travel vignettes, short form content, magazine and talk programs, music performance, dance, sports and more will be added to the schedule. Cinema Ireland will be a weekly feature, with highly-acclaimed feature films provided by the Irish Film Board and Northern Ireland Screen.

"This has taken some time to put together," says Frederick Thomas, MHz Founder and Chief Executive, "but the time spent finding the right mix of content, representing the whole of Ireland, was well worth it. The mix of public and private channel content provides a fascinating mosaic of the people and perspectives of this modern, yet still bucolic, country that has deep ties to the US."

Select programs from Today's Ireland will be showcased on MHz's national channel, MHz Worldview, which is available in 38 million American households across the country.

The RTÉ Six One News Programme will be available nationwide at 5 PM EDT, seven days a week on MHz Worldview. Cinema Ireland will debut nationally in primetime on April 4th at 9PM EDT, which will be its regular weekly timeslot. TI will also be offered as a full-time channel to programmers, MSOs and additional content distribution networks throughout the country.

Michael Collins, Ambassador of Ireland to the US, said of the Saint Patrick's Day launch of Today's Ireland, "I am delighted that Ireland has, through Today's Ireland, an established comprehensive public service nationwide television platform as a further means by which to connect Americans with our country and the huge Irish Diaspora in the United States. It will provide an insight to the day to day life, business, investment, education, cultural, tourism resources and opportunities of Ireland, a dynamic European country that greatly values its very special relationship with the United States."