The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1986.
Events January – RTE begins a six-week test of its teletext service Aertel, operating on RTE 1 between 2pm and closedown with a sample in-vision service broadcast on RTE2 between 2pm and 5,45pm.RTE launches regular teletext, January 1986 29 September – Long running Irish afternoon chat show Live at 3 begins on RTÉ 1. 29 September – RTÉ Television airs the first edition of Dempsey's Den, a series presented by Ian Dempsey with puppets Zig and Zag. Dempsey's Den presented children's afternoon programmes. 1 October – Welsh children's animation SuperTed begins its screening debut on RTÉ 1 as part of Dempsey's Den. The series is translated and dubbed into an Irish language. 9 November – The current affairs series Questions and Answers first goes on air. It is presented by Olivia O'Leary.
Debuts
RTÉ 1 14 January – Alvin and the Chipmunks (Ruby Spears version) (1983–1987) 10 April – Butterfly Island (1985–1987) 13 August – / The Campbells (1986–1990) 11 September – Pajo's Junkbox (1986–1988) 29 September – Dempsey's Den (1986–2010) 29 September – Live at 3 (1986–1997) 30 September – Rapid Roulette (1986–1990) 30 September – The Prisoner of Zenda (1984) 1 October – SuperTed (1983–1986) 13 October - Evening Extra (1986-1988) 25 October – Saturday Live (1986–1999) 9 November – Questions and Answers (1986–2009) Undated – Muppet Babies (1984–1991)
RTÉ 2 30 September – Spaceflight (1985) 8 October – Chocky (1984) 9 October – Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985–1991) 2 December – Starman (1986–1987) 25 December – Fox Tales (1986–1988)
Changes of network affiliation Shows Moved from Moved to Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears RTÉ 2 RTÉ 1 / Maya the Honey Bee RTÉ 1 RTÉ 2
Ongoing television programmes
1960s RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock (1961–present) RTÉ News: Six One (1962–present) The Late Late Show (1962–present)
1970s Sports Stadium (1973–1997) The Late Late Toy Show (1975–present) RTÉ News on Two (1978–2014) Bosco (1979–1996) The Sunday Game (1979–present)
1980s Today Tonight (1982–1992) Mailbag (1982–1996) Glenroe (1983–2001) MT-USA (1984–1987)
Ending this year 23 February – Davis at Large (1984–1986) 23 April – Leave It To Mrs O'Brien (1984–1986)
See also 1986 in Ireland
References