Cula4

Cula 4
	Logo used since 2022
Country	Ireland
Broadcast area	Ireland, ; Northern Ireland, ; Worldwide (Online)
Network	TG4
Headquarters	Co. Galway
Programming
Language(s)	Irish
Picture format	576i ( SDTV ) 16:9 ; 1080i ( HDTV ) 16:9
Timeshift service	Cula 4 +1 (upcoming)
Ownership
Owner	Teilifis na Gaeilge
Sister channels	TG4
History
Launched	31 October 1996 (Programming block) ; 1 September 2009 (Simulcast channel) ; 8 September 2023 (Stand-alone channel)
Replaced	CITV (TV channel) (Northern Ireland only)
Former names	Culabula (1996?1999)
Links
Website	Cula4.com
Availability
Terrestrial
Saorview	Channel 18
Freeview (UK)	Channel 51 ; (Northern Ireland only)
Streaming media
TG4	Watch live (TG4)
Virgin TV Anywhere	Watch live (Ireland only)
AerTV	Watch live (TG4, Ireland only)

Cula4 ( Irish : Cula Ceathair ) is an Irish language programming block and a stand-alone television channel for Irish-speaking children in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland . It is operated by the Irish broadcaster TG4 . The channel airs from 6am to 7:54pm, timesharing with TG4 +1 (which starts at 8pm).

Development [ edit ]

The strand was first established in 1996 as Culabula ; with the rebrand of TnaG to TG4. In 1999, Culabula was renamed "Cula4". As of 1 September 2009, Cula4 is available as a separate channel to Virgin Media Ireland customers on channel 602. ^[1] A new schedule coincided with the launch on UPC.

The majority of programming is a mixture of homegrown and international programmes which are either dubbed or subtitled in Irish . Cula4 works with international broadcasters to produce Irish versions of hit TV series which are seen on Nickelodeon , Cartoon Network , PBS and Discovery Family . It also works with homegrown animation companies to produce localized series. Cula4 offers something unique in an already saturated kids television market in Ireland with the existence of RTEjr / TRTE , Nickelodeon , Cartoon Network and the Disney Channel . Cula4's programming is either in Irish or in Irish and English, unlike its competition where the majority of their programmes are entirely in English.

Cula4 ar Scoil [ edit ]

An educational programme, Cula4 Ar Scoil ("Cula 4 at School"), was created in April 2020, in response to the closure of all schools during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland in 2020. ^[2] This followed RTE 's launch of its Home School Hub in March 2020. It is recorded in Connemara , with teachers Caitriona Ni Chualain and Fiachra O Dubhghaill presenting daily lessons for the 30-minute show. ^[2] A second series began in September with teachers Orla Ni Fhinneadha and Micheal O Dubhghaill. ^[3]^[4] ·

Cula4 Channel [ edit ]

In November 2021, TG4 announced that it planned to make Cula4 as a channel available for all Irish TV providers. ^[5]^[6] The channel launched on September 8, 2023 At 4pm. The first program that aired on the channel was an episode of Pat The Dog . An ad campaign for the channel was launched in early September of that year and advertisements were played on TV and in cinemas.

The channel broadcasts from 6:00 AM until 7:40 PM and is a free to air channel.

Programming [ edit ]

Strands [ edit ]

Cula4 na nOg : Aired between 07:30 - 09:00, it was a programming block targeting pre-school children ages 2 to 5, and aired series such as Elmo's World , Sesame Street , Dora the Explorer (in Irish, teaching Spanish), Ni Hao Kai Lan , Franny's Feet , Inui , Helen's Little School , Rev and Roll , Timmy Time , Olobob Top , Kid-e-Cats , Florrie's Dragons , Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! , Zou , Dive, Olly, Dive , Mouk , Blaze and the Monster Machines and The Mr. Men Show . All programmes were in the Irish language. The block was discontinued on 11 April 2022 following Cula4's rebrand.
CULA4 : Airs in the afternoon between 14:00-16:50, targeting 6 to 11 year olds. Programmes include Ben 10 , Johnny Test , SpongeBob SquarePants , Scaredy Squirrel , Back at the Barnyard , Eliot Kid , The Mighty B! , Skunk Fu , Bog Stop , Fanboy & Chum Chum and Clarence .
PONC : Aired between 16:50-19:00, targeting 12 to 18 year olds, PONC hosted a number of live action drama series such as Aifric (which is also shown in Scotland on BBC Alba ), and international shows such as H ₂O , Life with Derek , 8 Simple Rules , Pimp My Ride , My Super Sweet 16 , The Hills , The City , Gossip Girl , South Park , One Tree Hill , Dance Academy , Switched at Birth , Wipeout and What I Like About You . It also showed a number of extreme sports shows such as Planet X and Groms Tour. This programming block was hosted by Maire Treasa Ni Dhubhghaill and Colman Mac Sealaigh. It was discontinued sometime in the early 2010s.

References [ edit ]

^ "TG4 - Irish language television channel - Teilifis Gaeilge - Corporate - Press Releases" . Archived from the original on 15 August 2009 . Retrieved 29 August 2009 .
^ ^a ^b Wall, Eva (10 April 2020). "TG4 to launch new school programme for children in Irish language schools" . Extra.ie . Archived from the original on 27 May 2020 . Retrieved 27 May 2020 .
^ Mongan, Martin (9 September 2020). "Limerick college teams up with TG4 for series two of Cula4 ar Scoil" . LimerickLeader.ie . Retrieved 16 November 2020 .
^ Lynch, Richard (2 September 2020). "MIC Teams Up with TG4 for Series 2 of Cula4 ar Scoil" . ILoveLimerick.ie . Retrieved 17 September 2020 .
^ "Tus Aite: Caineal nua Cula 4" [Tus Aite: New Cula 4 channel]. RTE Radio (in Irish). 19 November 2021.
^ Slattery, Laura. "TG4 to appoint kids' channel manager and boost current affairs content" . The Irish Times .

External links [ edit ]

Official website

Media related to Cula4 at Wikimedia Commons

[tg4.ie-1] "TG4 - Irish language television channel - Teilifis Gaeilge - Corporate - Press Releases" . Archived from the original on 15 August 2009 . Retrieved 29 August 2009 .

[Cula4_ar_Scoil-2] Wall, Eva (10 April 2020). "TG4 to launch new school programme for children in Irish language schools" . Extra.ie . Archived from the original on 27 May 2020 . Retrieved 27 May 2020 .

[3] Mongan, Martin (9 September 2020). "Limerick college teams up with TG4 for series two of Cula4 ar Scoil" . LimerickLeader.ie . Retrieved 16 November 2020 .

[Cula4-2-4] Lynch, Richard (2 September 2020). "MIC Teams Up with TG4 for Series 2 of Cula4 ar Scoil" . ILoveLimerick.ie . Retrieved 17 September 2020 .

[5] "Tus Aite: Caineal nua Cula 4" [Tus Aite: New Cula 4 channel]. RTE Radio (in Irish). 19 November 2021.

[6] Slattery, Laura. "TG4 to appoint kids' channel manager and boost current affairs content" . The Irish Times .

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