2011 in Irish television

• 1 January – Long running British-Irish sitcom Mrs. Brown's Boys begins on RTÉ One. It stars Brendan O'Carroll as the grumpy old woman.
• 4 January – Freeview announces details for the launch of ITV1+1, together with the possibility that both STV and UTV will launch their own timeshift services, STV +1 and UTV +1 in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.freeview.co.uk/Resolutions/About-Channels/Channel-changes/ITV1-1-to-launch-on-11-January-2011|title=ITV1 + 1 to launch on 11 January 2011|publisher=Freeview|accessdate=19 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109012433/http://www.freeview.co.uk/Resolutions/About-Channels/Channel-changes/ITV1-1-to-launch-on-11-January-2011|archive-date=9 January 2011}} UTV later confirms it will launch UTV+1 at 8pm on 11 January 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.cable.co.uk/news/virgin-media-viewers-get-access-to-itv11-tonight-800335321/|title=Virgin Media viewers get access to ITV1+1 tonight|publisher=Cable.co.uk|date=11 January 2011}}

• 21 February – British-Irish sitcom Mrs. Brown's Boys begins airing for the first time in the UK on the BBC.

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• May – Mission to Prey, presented by Aoife Kavanagh, is aired on RTÉ One, leading to the defamation of Fr. Kevin Reynolds.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/aoife-kavanagh-journalist-who-made-the-headlines-2942507.html|title=Aoife Kavanagh: Journalist who made the headlines|work=Irish Independent|accessdate=3 January 2012|date=23 November 2011}}{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15850770|title= Republic's government order probe into RTÉ Fr Reynolds libel case|publisher= BBC News|date= 23 November 2011|accessdate= 3 January 2011}} Justice and Defence Minister Alan Shatter supports the programme at the time.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/shatter-in-uturn-on-his-rash-support-for-prime-time-2946451.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804024520/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/shatter-in-uturn-on-his-rash-support-for-prime-time-2946451.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2012 |title=Shatter in U-turn on his 'rash' support for Prime Time |first=Michael |last=Brennan |work=Irish Independent |accessdate=3 January 2012 |date=26 November 2011 }}
• 23 May – Helen O'Rahilly, a former director of television at RTÉ launches a scathing attack on its flagship programme, The Late Late Show amid criticism that standards on the programme have slipped since Ryan Tubridy took over as host in 2009. In an online blog, O'Rahilly says, "If I was back in charge of RTÉ, you wouldn’t see this utter shite on Friday night".{{cite news|title=Ex-RTÉ chief condemns Late Late as 'utter sh*te' |url=http://www.joe.ie/entertainment/what-to-watch/ex-rte-chief-condemns-late-late-as-utter-shte-0012440-1 |accessdate=25 January 2012 |work=JOE.ie |date=23 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302191910/http://www.joe.ie/uncategorized/ex-rte-chief-condemns-late-late-as-utter-shte/24316?shortlink=1 |archive-date=2 March 2015 }}
• 25 May – RTÉ News Now revamps its on-screen identity, giving viewers more detailed content.
• 26 May – Saorview, the free to air digital television service is launched. The service has eight channels – RTÉ One, RTÉ Two HD, TV3, TG4, RTÉ News Now, 3e, RTÉjr and RTÉ One + 1 – and is available to 97% of households in Ireland. Saorview also carries a new digital RTÉ Aertel service and RTÉ's radio services.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0526/saorview.html |title=Free-to-air digital service Saorview launched – RTÉ News |publisher=Rte.ie |date=26 May 2011 |accessdate=3 January 2012}}

• 6 June – The BBC announces that the national variations of BBC One Northern Ireland, BBC One Scotland and BBC One Wales will become available in high definition in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/reports/pdf/workplan_0611.pdf|title=BBC Executive priorities and summary workplan for 2011/12|page=11|publisher=BBC|date=6 June 2011|accessdate= 4 January 2012}}

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• 6 October – BBC Director General Mark Thompson announces that BBC HD will close to be replaced by a high definition simulcast of BBC Two. This BBC Two HD will work much the same way as BBC One HD.{{cite news|title=BBC set to cut 2,000 jobs by 2017|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15165926|accessdate= 4 January 2012|publisher=BBC News|date=6 October 2011}} This move allows the corporation to save £2.1 million, used to count towards their budget deficit following the freezing of the license fee and the additional financial responsibility of addition services.{{cite news|title=BBC cuts at a glance|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15186116|accessdate=4 January 2012|publisher=BBC News|date=6 October 2011}}
• 8 October – TV3's Video on Demand (VOD) is relaunched as 3Player.{{cite news|url=http://blog.marketing.ie/?p=7467 |title=TV3 unveils new player « Blog |publisher=Blog.marketing.ie |date=7 October 2011 |accessdate=19 January 2012}} It replaces the original TV3 Catch-Up service previously available at tv3.ie and through its iPhone/iPad app. The new service was revealed at a press call the previous day1. It is estimated by the TV3 Group that the service will be worth about €7.5 million by 2015. 3Player is in HTML5 format which makes it available on the majority of operating systems.

• 15 November – The Houses of the Oireachtas Channel begins broadcasting on UPC Ireland channel 801, as part of a trial initiative for a period of six months.{{cite web|url=http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2011/11/15/00003.asp|title=Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 746 No. 3 Unrevised|publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas|date=15 November 2011|accessdate=25 May 2012}}
• 23 November – Prime Time Investigates is axed as Director-General of RTÉ Noel Curran describes the broadcasting of "Mission to Prey" as "one of the gravest editorial mistakes ever made" at RTÉ.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/1123/1224308004000.html?via=mr|title=RTÉ shelves investigative series and concedes 'grave mistake'|first=Paul|last=Cullen|author2=McGreevy, Ronan|newspaper=The Irish Times|accessdate=3 January 2012|date=23 November 2011}}

• 18 December – Golfer Rory McIlroy is named the 2011 RTÉ Sports Person of the Year.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/2011/1219/288863-sportsperson/ |title=McIlroy, Leinster and Trap win RTÉ awards |date=19 December 2011 |accessdate=17 December 2023 |journal=RTÉ News |publisher=RTÉ}}
• 19 December – Eugene Heary wins the fourth series of The Apprentice.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/apprentice-winner-reveals-his-secret-fears-for-mum-2968071.html|title= Apprentice winner reveals his secret fears for mum|date= 20 December 2011|work=The Evening Herald|accessdate=4 December 2012 }}
• 26 December – Launch of TV50, a series of special events throughout 2012, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the launch of RTÉ Television, then known as Telefís Éireann, on 31 December 1961.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/1226/tv50.html|title=RTÉ launches TV50|date=26 December 2011|accessdate=3 January 2012|work=RTÉ Ten|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}

• 1 January – Mrs. Brown's Boys on RTÉ One (2011–present)
• 25 May – The Committee Room on RTÉ Two (2011)
• July – Stars Go Racing on RTÉ One (2011)
• 15 July – For One Night Only on RTÉ One (2011)
• 8 September – MasterChef Ireland on RTÉ Two (2011–present)
• 18 September – Put 'Em Under Pressure on RTÉ One (2011)
• 6 October – The Big Interview with Mike Murphy on RTÉ One (2011)
• 13 November – Francis Brennan's Grand Tour on RTÉ One (2011)
• 15 November – Craig Doyle Live on RTÉ Two (2011–2012)
• 15 November – The Social on RTÉ Two (2011–2012)
• 17 November – Meet Your Neighbours on RTÉ One (2011)
• 25 December – OMG! Jedward's Dream Factory on RTÉ Two (2011–2013)
• Undated – Everything's Rosie on RTÉ Two (2010–2015)
• Undated – Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps on RTÉ Two (2009–2010)
• Undated – The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes on RTÉ Two (2010–2013)

• 8 April – Head Chef (2011)
• 3 June – The GAA Show (2011–present)
• 6 June – Come Dine with Me (2011–2013)
• 7 June – Paul Connolly Investigates (2011–2015)
• 11 December – Tallafornia (2011–2013)

• RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock (1961–present)
• RTÉ News: Six One (1962–present)
• The Late Late Show (1962–present)

• The Late Late Toy Show (1975–present)
• RTÉ News on Two (1978–2014)
• The Sunday Game (1979–present)

• Fair City (1989–present)
• RTÉ News: One O'Clock (1989–present)

• Would You Believe (1990s–present)
• Winning Streak (1990–present)
• Prime Time (1992–present)
• Nuacht RTÉ (1995–present)
• Nuacht TG4 (1996–present)
• Ros na Rún (1996–present)
• Premier Soccer Saturday (1998–2013)
• TV3 News (1998–present)
• Ireland AM (1999–present)
• Telly Bingo (1999–present)

• Nationwide (2000–present)
• TV3 News at 5.30 (2001–present)
• Against the Head (2003–present)
• news2day (2003–present)
• Other Voices on RTÉ Two (2003–present)
• Saturday Night with Miriam (2005–present)
• One to One (2006–2013)
• The Week in Politics (2006–present)
• Tonight with Vincent Browne (2007–2017)
• Xposé (2007–2019)
• Monday Night Soccer (2008–2013)
• At Your Service (2008–present)
• Championship Live (2008–present)
• Midday (2008–2016)
• Operation Transformation (2008–present)
• Raw (2008–2013)
• The Big Money Game (2008–2013)
• 3e News (2009–present)
• Dragons' Den (2009–present)
• The Frontline (2009–2013)
• Midweek (2009–2014)
• The Morning Show with Sybil & Martin (2009–2013)
• Republic of Telly (2009–2016)
• Two Tube (2009–present)

• Fade Street (2010–2011)
• Four Live (2010–2012)
• Jack Taylor (2010–present)
• Love/Hate (2010–present)
• Take Me Out (2010–2013)
• The Daily Show (2010–2012)
• The Saturday Night Show (2010–2015)

• 26 January – The Panel (2003–2011)
• 12 February – Brain Box (2009–2011)
• 11 April – Anonymous (2006–2011)
• 27 May – Head Chef (2011)
• 11 July – Traffic Blues (2009–2011)
• August – Stars Go Racing (2011)
• September – The Committee Room (2011)
• 19 November – The Apprentice (2008–2011)
• November – Mission Beach USA (2010–2011)
• 13 December – The View (1999–2011)

• 14 March – Gerald Barry, 63; broadcast and print journalist, following a long illness.[http://www.independent.ie/national-news/tributes-paid-to-brilliant-journalist-gerald-barry-2579346.html "Tributes paid to 'brilliant' journalist Gerald Barry"]. Irish Independent. 14 March 2011.[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0315/1224292162357.html "Tributes paid on death of Gerald Barry"]. The Irish Times. 14 March 2011.
• 3 June – Peter Murphy, 88; television presenter (RTÉ).{{cite news|url= http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0604/murphyp.html|title= Death of former RTÉ presenter Peter Murphy|publisher= RTÉ News|date= 4 June 2011|accessdate= 26 January 2012}}
• 22 October – Cathal O'Shannon, 83; journalist and television presenter.{{cite news|title=RTÉ journalist Cathal O'Shannon dies aged 83 |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1022/oshannonc.html |accessdate=22 October 2011 |newspaper=RTÉ News |date=22 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024081210/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1022/oshannonc.html |archive-date=24 October 2011 }}

• 2011 in Ireland

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?title_type=tv_series&release_date=2011-01-01,2011-12-31&countries=ie&adult=include&sort=num_votes,desc List of 2011 Irish television series] at IMDb

{{Years in TV by country|2011}}