TV3’s much-anticipated €7m soap Red Rock made its successful debut this week with an average of 323,000 viewers on its first night and 302,900 on the second night.
The twice-weekly soap-drama saw its audience peak at 371,000 on Wednesday according to TAM Ireland ratings While it still has some way to go to overtake the likes of Fair City, Coronation Street and Emmerdale Farm, both of which are broadcast by the recently launched UTV Ireland, media commenters were unanimous in their praise for the new soap.
Red Rock’s storyline is based around a fictional Garda station and two warring local families and the Ballymount-based broadcaster has commissioned 160 episodes of the soap, 60 of which have already been scripted.
According to Jeff Ford, TV3 group director of content, “It’s been a fantastic week for TV3 with a very positive start for ‘Red Rock’. I’m delighted the viewers are so welcoming to our on screen families. As the weeks go on there are great twists and plots that I am certain will grip Irish viewers and keep them entertained.”