The Irish government has promised that an RTÉ channel will be on Freesat by St Patrick's Day next year.
Diaspora TV will be the first service for the Irish community in Britain since Tara TV closed nearly six years ago for financial reasons.
The new service will be a hybrid of RTÉ One and RTÉ 2 with additional programming from TG4. It will carry the One, Six-One and 9 o’clock news bulletins live. It will aim to provide "home-grown Irish programming that will be of real interest to Irish communities abroad".
Communications minister Eamon Ryan said: "The 2001 Census in Britain records a figure of 850,000 Irish born people living in Britain. There are many more of direct Irish descent. I know that many of these people have been looking for an RTÉ channel in the UK for some time.
"This new channel will be up and running by next St Patrick’s Day [and] will provide the Irish abroad with a valuable link to home."
More: Tech, Satellite TV
More Tech News
Apple News
Apple will build Macs in Texas, says CEOApple CEO Tim Cook reveals more details about the firm's new US factory.
Satellite TV News
Sky to add Channel 4's 4oD, More4 HD4oD arrival means Sky will offer catch-up TV from all the major UK broadcasters.
Cable News
ITV HD channels finally launch on VirginITV2 HD, ITV3 HD and ITV4 HD expand to cable TV after multi-year Sky exclusive.
Freeview News
Freeview 4G interference body launchesThe at800 body launches live trials of 4G interference in the West Midlands.
