IRGE TV

IRGE TV, abbreviated from the former backronym created for the network, Institut Radio-Genetička Elektrifikacija (Institute of Radio-Genetic Electrification) is an Omdalian television network owned by the state-run broadcaster Omdalian Radio and Television. The channel normally targets teenagers and young adults ages 15-34.

The channel has must carry status.

History

Odiblav Vedebeček started his independent record label in 1986. Odiblav, facing the rise of MTV, decided to plan a then-upcoming television network combining music from his label and music videos recorded off the Jaherian program Rhytmicks.

This dream came to fruition in 1991, as a local TV station in the New Constitution area. Broadcasts then started on October 1, 1992.

1992-2004

On October 1, 1992, at 16:00, IRGE TV started its first broadcast with a backdrop of fireworks accompanied by the finale of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and the text "WE ARE HERE". Odiblav Vedebeček introduced the channel to its viewers and was followed by the Dire Straits music video Money For Nothing, emulating the launch of MTV Flarland a couple years earlier. The channel was widely available on cable but only had terrestrial coverage in New Constitution at first. It wasn't until 1994 that the network started growing its terrestrial coverage to near-nationwide scale.

During its initial phase, IRGE TV was a mixed music and entertainment channel, and one of its main perks was of introducing new talents to the Omdalian music scene. Though by the second half of the 90s, the format has changed to a broader format, featuring television series whose ideas wouldn't be accepted by the main channels. Another key aspect was the buying in of "uncommon" series, mostly from Nashland, Hopeland and especially Flarland.

In 2000, an IRGE Music channel was launched on cable systems. The channel later started terrestrial broadcasts in 2007 when the digital terrestrial platform began.

2004-2007

The channel made a massive rebrand on June 14, 2004, dropping the channel's initial logo and concentrating on a new concept: Television + Nonsense = Satisfaction (an all-English slogan, despite efforts made by Omdalian scholars to prevent the slogan from being used).

2007-2010

A scandal damaged IRGE TV's reputation in February 2007, causing its president to renounce.

2010-2011

The channel announced a massive rebrand in May 2010.

2019-present

On March 4, 2019, the former intellectual unit of IRGE TV would finish its transfer to Omdalian Radio and Television.

Signals

IRGE TV Omdalia

The national version of IRGE TV, the one that started in 1992, is a terrestrial must-carry channel, broadcast on channel 23 of the digital terrestrial television platform of Omdalia. IRGE before the 2013 reorder was on channels 10 or 11, the move was later attributed to regional channels claiming the slots.

IRGE Music

IRGE Music is the sister channel, broadcasts started on April 1, 2000. The channel has limited updates to its playlist, yet dedicates most of its playlist to alternative tracks.

IRGE TV Jaheria

IRGE TV Jaheria is owned by ORT's Jaherian sub-branch, Jaherian Radio and Television, and has been under ORT's editorial control since March 2018, half a year before the annexation of Jaheria. Broadcasts started on April 17, 1993.

Programming

IRGE TV broadcasts national and international (especially Flarlandian) television series, as well as programming devoted to music (especially alternative) with less attention to the mainstream scene. Flarlandian content on IRGE TV was also one of the primary factors of its success.