Irish film-makers join UPC for television venture

The leading Irish film-makers Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan have joined forces with United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) for…

The leading Irish film-makers Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan have joined forces with United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) for a new joint venture to develop television programming for distribution over television networks in Ireland and internationally.

They plan to produce programming for a new television concept called CityONE, which, according to a statement from the company, "will introduce a new type of `vox pop' style interactive programming to television viewers in Dublin, and it is hoped, throughout the country".

In addition to producing programming for CityONE, the new partnership intends to originate and develop programming for Tara Television, the cable TV channel dedicated to Irish programming and broadcast via Sky Digital and Telewest in the UK.

The Amsterdam-based UPC is the major shareholder in Tara Television alongside RTE, which currently provides most of the programming for Tara. In a joint statement Mr Sheridan and Mr Jordan said: "We have talked for many years about working together as we did almost 30 years ago in the Children's T Company.

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"We have found UPC an ideal partner which is prepared to support through its technological innovation and its commitment to quality and value for the consumer our particular aspirations for a fresh and new alternative for Irish TV viewers."