Virgin Media to reduce The Tonight Show to just two nights a week
by Michelle Townsend · RSVP LiveVirgin Media is cutting The Tonight Show from four nights a week to two from next week.
The station's flagship current affairs programme, hosted by Claire Brock and Ciara Doherty, currently airs Monday through Thursday on Virgin Media One.
But a statement from Virgin Media this afternoon confirmed that bosses have been forced to reduce weekly output.
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"Virgin Media Television remains committed to public service broadcasting and will continue to invest in our news and current affairs output," managing director Aine Ni Chaoindealbháin told the Irish Independent.
"However, due to challenging market conditions and the fact that our ask of government to financially support our public service content has not been met, we have been forced to make the difficult decision to reduce The Tonight Show weekly output."
The station declined to comment when asked about the impact this decision would have on staff.
Virgin Media's Director of News and Sport Mick McCaffrey told staff yesterday that from next Tuesday, The Tonight Show will air twice a week, the publication reports.
"The show will air each Tuesday and Wednesday at 10pm as we continue to evolve our current affairs offering," he said in the internal announcement.
The Tonight Show first aired in 2017, replacing current affairs programme Tonight with Vincent Browne.
Ivan Yates and Matt Cooper were the original hosts. Ivan left in 2020, while Matt decided to step down in 2021.
Ciara Doherty left Ireland AM to replace Ivan in 2020, resulting in Tommy Bowe joining the flagship breakfast show.
Former Virgin Media News anchor Claire Brock stepped into the role to co-host with Ciara when Matt left one year after Ivan.