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{{short description|Series of special events (RTÉ Television)}}
{{distinguish|Channel 50 (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Irish English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
'''''TV50''''' was a series of special events throughout 2012, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the launch of [[RTÉ Television]], then known as [[RTÉ Television|Telefís Éireann]], on 31 December 1961.

==Launch==
''TV50'' was officially launched on 26 December 2011 when a pre-launch placeholder website went online at RTÉ. The full ''TV50'' site went live at noon on New Year's Eve 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/1226/tv50.html|title=RTÉ launches TV50|date=26 December 2011|accessdate=26 December 2011|work=RTÉ Ten|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304004714/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2011/1226/434531-tv50/|archivedate=4 March 2015}}</ref> The broadcaster intended TV50 to be a year-long celebration.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/rte-to-open-archives-to-celebrate-50th-anniversary-314776-Dec2011/|title=RTÉ to open archives to celebrate 50th anniversary|date=27 December 2011|accessdate=27 December 2011|work=TheJournal|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303223022/http://www.thejournal.ie/rte-to-open-archives-to-celebrate-50th-anniversary-314776-Dec2011/|archivedate=3 March 2015 }}</ref> The festivities saw as many as twenty archive programmes launched each month on [[RTÉ Player]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1227/1224309522410.html|title=New Year's Eve broadcast to start RTÉ celebrations|date=27 December 2011|accessdate=27 December 2011|first=Joanne|last=Hunt|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust}}</ref>

==List of ''TV50'' programmes==
The following is a list of programmes broadcast under the ''TV50'' label.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/tv50/programmes.html|title=TV50 Programmes|work=TV50|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304003644/http://www.rte.ie/tv50/programmes.html|archivedate=4 March 2015}}</ref>
{{inc-tv|date=October 2021}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Date !! Programme !! Description
|-
| 31 December 2011 || ''New Year's Eve Show Live''  || A special programme of music and chat presented by [[Miriam O'Callaghan (media personality)|Miriam O'Callaghan]]. The programme promoted many of the upcoming ''TV50'' events.
|-
| 1 January 2012 || ''Kneeling in the Years''  || [[Mary Kennedy]] and Fr. Dermod McCarthy look at the role of televised worship
|-
| 1 January 2012 || ''The Entertainers''  || Documentary looking back at 50 years of entertainment
|-
| 2 January 2012 || ''Country Brass – Cork Butter Exchange Band''  || Documentary first aired in 1979 following a [[Cork City|Cork]] brass band
|-
| 2 January 2012 || ''Rural Portrait: King of the Road''  || First broadcast in 1968, this is a profile of Michael Cleary, a road-worker from near Cahir in County Tipperary and his father<ref>{{cite news|url=https://presspack.rte.ie/2012/01/01/tv50-highlights-from-the-rte-tv-archives/|title=TV50: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE RTÉ TV ARCHIVES|date=1 January 2011|accessdate=27 September 2019|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}</ref>
|-
| 2 January 2012 || ''50 Years in the Glow''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0102/tv50.html|title=Viewers recall special TV memories|date=2 January 2012|accessdate=2 January 2012|work=RTÉ Ten|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304003856/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2012/0102/434622-tv50/|archivedate=4 March 2015}}</ref> || [[Pat Shortt]] explores the history of RTÉ through the eyes of the viewers and the importance of television in the lives of ordinary people and families
|-
| 2 January 2012 || ''The Philip Lynott Archive''  || Profile of the [[Thin Lizzy]] frontman, exploring his life and career
|-
| 3 January 2012 || ''Terminus: Gola Island''  || Documentary from 1970 highlighting the magic island of the song
|-
| 3 January 2012 || ''Oileán: Anam Cloch''  || Broadcast in 2008 as part of the Oileán series, this show brings us up to date with [[Gola Island]]
|-
| 5 January 2012 || ''[[A Little Bit TV]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0105/alittlebittv.html|title=A Little Bit TV starts on RTÉ One|date=5 January 2012|accessdate=5 January 2012|work=RTÉ Ten|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}</ref> || The first in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: [[Bill O'Herlihy]]
|-
| 5 January 2012 || ''John Molloy's Dublin'' || Actor John Molloy provides a combination of comedy sketches and mime in a specially restored and remastered programme from 1976
|-
| 5 January 2012 || ''Self-Portrait – Sylvia Beach'' || An archive interview from 1962 with [[Sylvia Beach]]
|-
| 6 January 2012 || ''Scope – the Four Roads'' || A 1973 film which follows the life of 70-year-old Winnie Mongan
|-
| 6 January 2012 || ''Wheels of the World – Life in North Kerry'' || Filmed in 1974, this documentary captures the sounds and rhythms of rural life
|-
| 12 January 2012 || ''A Little Bit TV'' || The second in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: [[Gráinne Seoige]]
|-
| 19 January 2012 || ''A Little Bit TV'' || The third in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: [[Bunny Carr]]
|-
| 26 January 2012 || ''A Little Bit TV'' || The fourth in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: [[Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh]]
|-
| February 2012 || ''Music Makers Month''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0206/tv50.html|title=It's Music Makers month on RTÉ TV50|date=6 February 2012|accessdate=6 February 2012|work=RTÉ Ten|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304004042/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2012/0206/435318-tv50/|archivedate=4 March 2015}}</ref> || Classic performances from [[Boyzone]], [[Paul Brady]], [[Joe Dolan]], [[The Dubliners]], [[Rory Gallagher]], [[Horslips]], [[Dolores Keane]], [[Christy Moore]] and [[Westlife]]
|-
| 2 February 2012 || ''A Little Bit TV'' || The fifth in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: [[Derek Davis]]
|-
| 9 February 2012 || ''A Little Bit TV'' || The sixth in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: [[Mark Cagney]]
|-
| April 2012 || ''Children's Classics Month''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0403/tv50.html|title=Kids' classics on RTÉ TV50 Player|work=RTÉ Ten|date=3 April 2012|accessdate=3 April 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304004133/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2012/0403/436571-tv50/|archivedate=4 March 2015}}</ref> ||
|-
| ''TBA'' || ''Into the Light: the Battles that Shaped Our TV''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0116/ocarroll.html|title=RTÉ launches Spring Season on TV|date=16 January 2012|accessdate=16 January 2012|work=RTÉ Ten|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|quote=John Bowman's two-part documentary charting RTÉ's relationship with church and state, provisionally titled ''Into the Light: the Battles that Shaped Our TV'', will be screened as part of TV50 later in the Spring.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304004239/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2012/0116/434922-ocarroll/|archivedate=4 March 2015}}</ref> || The first in a two-part series in which [[John Bowman (broadcaster)|John Bowman]] charts RTÉ's relationship with church and state
|-
| ''TBA'' || ''Into the Light: the Battles that Shaped Our TV'' || The second in a two-part series in which [[John Bowman (broadcaster)|John Bowman]] charts RTÉ's relationship with church and state
|-
| 22 July 2012 || ''Weather Permitting''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0721/weather.html|title=Weather folk for TV50 documentary|work=RTÉ Ten|date=21 July 2012|accessdate=21 July 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304004338/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2012/0721/438959-weather/|archivedate=4 March 2015}}</ref> || Why are the Irish so obsessed with the weather?
|-
| 23 July 2012 || ''Battle Station'' || Featuring [[John Bowman (broadcaster)|John Bowman]]
|-
| 24 July 2012 || ''Battle Station'' || Featuring [[John Bowman (broadcaster)|John Bowman]]
|-
| 21 October 2012 || ''Fleadh Cheoil Thurles'' || The Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann at Thurles in 1965
|-
| 22 October 2012 || ''Flights of Fancy World of the Pigeon Men'' || Margaret Gleeson's 1985 documentary offering a revealing insight into the world of pigeon fanciers as they prepare for a big race.
|-
| 22 October 2012 || ''What's Happening to Television?'' || A one-hour documentary on the future of TV, presented by [[Miriam O'Callaghan (media personality)|Miriam O'Callaghan]].
|-
| 22 October 2012 || ''Bells and Blue Berets'' || John Skehan's 1966 Christmas visit to Irish UN troops in Cyprus.
|-
| 23 October 2012 || ''Isles of Aran'' || Louis Lentin's documentary revealing life in the Aran Islands in 1963 before mass tourism, new employment initiatives and the building of an airstrip helped the islanders to modernise.
|-
| 24 October 2012 || ''Country Brass Boherbuoy Brass and Reed Band'' || A film highlighting the [[Boherbuoy]] Brass and Reed Band, including its respect for musical traditions and reverence for the landscape of urban Limerick.
|-
| 24 October 2012 || ''Maam Cross'' || The impact of a poor day of trading at a County Galway horse fair in 1990, presented by Mairéad Ní Nuadháin.
|-
| 26 October 2012 || ''Lifestyle: Living Like Lords'' || 1971 documentary examining the lifestyles and West of Ireland ancestral homes of three Irish lords, with [[Cathal O'Shannon (TV presenter)|Cathal O'Shannon]].
|-
| 4 December 2012 || ''The Radharc Squad'' || Part one of a two-part documentary revealing the story of film-making priests who planned to project a Catholic influence by offering programmes to Telefís Éireann.
|-
| 6 December 2012 || ''Radharc: Down and Out in Dublin'' || A story of social exclusion in Dublin, exploring the lives of people who slept rough on the capital's streets. First broadcast in 1964.
|-
| 11 December 2012 || ''The Radharc Squad'' || Concluding part of a documentary revealing the story of a group of film-making priests, featuring selections from the [[Radharc Films|Radharc Archive]] and interviews with key figures.
|-
| 13 December 2012 || ''Radharc: Pain Is the Price'' || A classic episode of the documentary series exploring the work of missionary priest [[Shay Cullen]], a priest who was nominated for the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] three times.
|-
| 18 December 2012 || ''Stripped'' || Broadcast on [[RTÉ Two]], ''Stripped'' won the RTÉ TV Documentary Unit/Filmbase TV50 "Doc on the Box" award. It follows a week in the life of 29-year-old [[Sligo]] bodybuilder Joe Gallagher who, jobless and in negative equity, becomes a stripper for birthdays, hen parties and nightclubs.
|-
| 20 December 2012 || ''God on the Box'' || Contributors including [[Alice Taylor (writer)|Alice Taylor]], [[David Quinn (Irish journalist)|David Quinn]], [[Arthur Mathews (writer)|Arthur Matthews]], [[Patsy McGarry]], [[Biddy White Lennon]], [[David McSavage]], [[Bill O'Herlihy]] and [[Maureen Gaffney]] look back at the impact of fifty years of TV on religion in Ireland. This was also the last ''TV50'' programme broadcast before the [[2012 phenomenon|Mayan apocalypse]].
|-
| 23 December 2012 || ''The School Around the Corner'' || The only known copy of the original series of the show, first broadcast exactly fifty years ago on this day.
|-
| 27 December 2012 || ''Nighthawks Rehashed'' ||
|-
| 28 December 2012 || ''Sup as an Tobar'' ||
|-
| 30 December 2012 || ''Weather Permitting'' || Repeat of programme broadcast earlier in the year.
|-
|}

==Associated events==

===Books===
*''Window and Mirror: RTÉ Television 1961–2011''

===Nationwide search===
There was a nationwide search initiated by RTÉ.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0112/toptvshows.html|title=50 Years of TV Favourites|date=12 January 2012|accessdate=12 January 2012|work=RTÉ Ten|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304004448/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2012/0112/434844-toptvshows/|archivedate=4 March 2015}}</ref>

===''Doc on the Box''===
RTÉ described this as "a forward-looking initiative designed to encourage a fresh, emerging voice in video documentary direction and production". However, it was only open to those over the age of eighteen years and with experience.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0123/rtefilmbase.html|title=RTÉ, Filmbase offer documentary opportunity|date=23 January 2012|accessdate=23 January 2012|work=RTÉ Ten|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304004547/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2012/0123/435051-rtefilmbase/|archivedate=4 March 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[2012 in Irish television]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.rte.ie/tv50/ TV50] at [[RTÉ.ie]]

{{RTÉ Television}}
{{RTÉ}}

[[Category:2011 in Irish television]]
[[Category:2012 in Irish television]]
[[Category:RTÉ controversies]]
[[Category:RTÉ history]]
[[Category:RTÉ Television]]