'Crimeline' to end but link to loss of sponsor denied

The production company behind the long-running Crimeline television programme has denied any connection between its decision to stop making the show and the loss of its sponsor.

Eclipse Productions, formerly Midas Productions, which has been making the programme for RTÉ for 12 years, announced yesterday the last one would be screened in December.

Crimeline is screened monthly between September and June and features crime re-enactments, interviews with members of the Garda and photographs of stolen items, recovered items and missing persons. It aims to involve the public in crime-solving and takes phone calls on featured items. The Garda estimates each 45-minute programme generates up to 250 calls. A five-minute update show is broadcast later in the night.

Crimeline is the longest-running, independently-produced programme on RTÉ and regularly attracts audiences of up to 390,000, representing an audience share of over 30 per cent. It is RTÉ's seventh most watched programme, and is presented by newsreader Anne Doyle and by David Harvey, who is also director of Eclipse Productions.

Mr Harvey said yesterday the decision to end the show was taken "because we've just come to the end of the road".

"I just think that after 11½ years of doing the programme it could do with a fresh approach. It's had a great old run and it seemed a good time to leave, as it is at its peak."

Ms Kela O'Riordan, spokeswoman for Hibernian Insurance, sponsor of the programme since 1993, said: "We gave notice about two weeks ago of our intention not to continue our sponsorship beyond the end of the year.

"Obviously there is some connection between that and the decision to end the programme, though I don't think it was the ultimate reason."

Mr Harvey, however, insisted the loss of Hibernian's support was not a factor. Mr Kevin Dawson, commissioning editor of factual programmes for RTÉ, issued a statement yesterday saying Mr Harvey had "told us he wishes to discontinue making the programme at the end of its present run. RTÉ has accepted this and thanked him for his contribution over the years. The station will now be looking at future plans to cover crime and will be discussing this with the gardaí."

The Garda, meanwhile, have expressed their disappointment at Crimeline's cancellation, and said they were not consulted. Supt John Farrelly, of the Garda Press Office, said the programme had been "hugely important" to the force and they were simply informed last week it would be finishing in December.