Created by TV3 News Original language(s) English Running time 30 minutes Final episode date 19 October 2012 Distributor TV3 | Country of origin Ireland Camera setup Multi-camera First episode date 19 March 2001 Language English Genres News, Sports | |
Location(s) TV3, Westgate Business Park, Dublin 24, Ireland Presented by Alan Cantwell, Colette Fitzpatrick Similar 3News Ireland, Midday, Tonight with Vincent B, The Restaurant, Red Rock | ||
TV3 News at 5.30 was the flagship evening news programme on the Irish television network TV3. It was produced by the TV3 News division.
The TV3 News at 5.30, presented by main newscasters Alan Cantwell and Colette Fitzpatrick, was a thirty-minute news programme covering Irish national and international news stories, broadcast at 5:30pm from Monday to Friday.
On Bank Holidays, the main evening bulletin usually aired at either 5:30pm, running for just five minutes.
History
When TV3 launched on 20 September 1998, its early evening news programme was called TV3 News @ 6. It provided a comprehensive view of the day's main international and national news stories, was presented by Alan Cantwell and Gráinne Seoige and was in direct competition with RTÉ News: Six One. This period of direct rivalry with RTÉ only lasted for a year as TV3 decided to break up the hour-long programme. As a result of this, two new programmes - First Edition at 5:30 pm and TV3 News @ 7 - were launched. Both programmes were still fronted by Cantwell and Seoige, while First Edition became Ireland's first early-evening news programme.
On 19 March 2001, First Edition was relaunched as TV3 News at 5.30 with Cantwell and Seoige still remaining at the helm. It was also around this time that TV3's second early evening news programme moved from 7:00 pm to 6:30 pm, becoming the TV3 News @ 6.30.
In 2004, Gráinne Seoige left TV3 News to become the new face of Sky News Ireland. She was replaced as the main female presenter of TV3 News at 5.30 by Claire Byrne, who had been working with TV3 for a number of years at that stage.
Two years later in 2006, Byrne left TV3 to front the new breakfast show on Newstalk. Her departure was not a happy one as a lengthy legal battle was played out. Colette Fitzpatrick took over from Byrne.
In 2007, TV3 dropped their 6.30 news bulletin, leaving TV3 News at 5.30 as their only flagship evening news bulletin.
In 2010, Elaine Crowley became the latest co-presenter of TV3 News at 5.30 to join Alan Cantwell. She replaced Colette Fitzpatrick, who was on maternity leave. Fitzpatrick returned in 2011.
The last edition of the TV3 News at 5.30 was broadcast on 19 October 2012.