26 May – At its annual general meeting in BelfastUlster Television plc formally changes its name to UTV plc, taking the decision because it believes that the existing name no longer reflected the full scope of the company's business.
Juneedit
No events
Julyedit
No events
Augustedit
23 August – ITV secures a deal to sell its 45% stake in TV3 for £70m.[3]
29 August – Scottish Media Group – owners of the STV network – officially rejects a merger offer from Northern Irish ITV franchise holder UTV. The merger approach from would have given SMG shareholders a 52% stake in the combined company.[4]
Septemberedit
No events
Octoberedit
31 October – Sky announces plans to end its nightly Sky News Ireland broadcasts from 30 November.[5]
Novemberedit
3 November – Ray Kennedy presented the final Sky News Ireland programme at 10.00pm.[6] No further Sky News Ireland bulletins were broadcast after this because the staff walked out.
24 November – An edition of The Late Late Show is briefly interrupted by an intruder who makes his way onto the stage to hurl abuse at host Pat Kenny. An individual is arrested and released, but re-arrested on 2 December for driving his car into the entrance of RTÉ's Donnybrook headquarters.[7]
Decemberedit
4 December – The UK's Channel 4 becomes available to viewers in Ireland via Sky.
Unknownedit
Launch of Setanta Ireland, a channel dedicated to sport, showing both local and international sporting events.
^"Canwest to sell share in TV3". RTÉ News. 16 January 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
^Welsh, James (28 March 2006). "Surprise government posting for Gay Byrne". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
^Wray, Richard (24 August 2006). "ITV sells £70m stake in Irish broadcaster TV3". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
^Day, Julia (29 August 2006). "SMG turns down UTV merger bid". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 1 May 2006.
^"Sky News Ireland operation cut back". RTÉ News. Rte.ie. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
^"Ray Kennedy presents the final Sky News Ireland programme". 3 November 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
^Murphy, Cormac; Nolan, Larissa (3 December 2006). "Late Late intruder in second RTÉ arrest". Sunday Independent. Independent News and Media. Retrieved 15 April 2012.