The Frontline (Irish TV programme)

The Frontline
Directed byDavid Donaghy[1]
Presented byPat Kenny
Country of originIreland
Original languagesEnglish, Irish
No. of seasons4
Production
ProducerDave Nally[2]
Production locationsStudio 4,[3] RTÉ Television Centre, Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkRTÉ One
Release21 September 2009 (2009-09-21)[4] –
28 January 2013 (2013-01-28)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

The Frontline is a topical debate television programme in Ireland, which aired for 60 minutes every Monday night on RTÉ One at 22:30. It debuted on Monday, 21 September 2009.[5] The Frontline replaced a similar political analysis show Questions and Answers.[6] The programme features around an invited audience and featured guests.[7]

Many public figures politicians have appeared on the programme.[4][8] Some incidents on the programme have attracted a large amount of media coverage.[9][10] The programme has generally received positive reviews.[11][12] The programme is broadcast from Studio 4 in RTÉ.[3] The first programme received an audience share of 43.4%, with a viewing audience of 464,000.[13] Later into the programme 100,000 fewer people watched it, watching The Apprentice instead.[14] It won "Best Current Affairs programme" at the 7th Irish Film and Television Awards in February 2010.[15]

The show returned in September 2012. However, RTÉ announced in October 2012 that the show would be revamped in early 2013. In November 2012, media reports indicated that this revamp would involve The Frontline being axed and replaced with Prime Time: Debate, and that the new show would be similar to The Frontline but under the Prime Time branding.[16][17] The Frontline aired for the final time on 28 January 2013.[18]

  1. ^ "RTÉ's New Political Series 'The Frontline' Begins". IFTN. 21 September 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  2. ^ "Kenny thumbs up for Tubridy's 'Late Late' debut". Sunday Tribune. 13 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  3. ^ a b Kenny, Pat (23 September 2009). "From the presenter's viewpoint..." RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Huge rush for tickets to Kenny's new show was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "The Frontline". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Recession leaves its mark on RTÉ schedule". The Irish Times. 14 August 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference RTÉ Guide: 13 August 2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gilmore: Frontline was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference You get €600,000 for 11 hours a week, audience member rants at Pat Kenny in show tirade was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference It's trial by television when the big names blow their top was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference ROSEMARY McCABE: Index was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Lynch, Declan (27 September 2009). "The camera steals my soul, O'Connor steals the show". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Viewers rate Kenny over Bowman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Let's hope TV3's ratings success forces RTÉ to step up its game was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "The Frontline wins award at IFTAs". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 21 February 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  16. ^ O'Connor, Niall (9 November 2012). "I'll be working more, but I'm delighted with RTÉ shake-up -- Pat". Evening Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  17. ^ Sweeney, Ken (9 November 2012). "Pat Kenny's 'Frontline' show to be axed in RTÉ shake up". Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  18. ^ "All eyes on tonight's revamped Prime Time as O'Callaghan and Kenny to co-host first show". Irish Independent. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.