[JMT1985]

Sci-fi does do well in Ireland just not on RTE or TV3. If you were a fan of any Sci fi you were watching Sky One or other Satellite channels, Not RTE. Doctor Who would be the exception to that rule. It really didn't have a following in Ireland in general. When Alan Shatter the former Justice Minster (and big Doctor Who fan) made a joke about being Minster for Time back in 2013, it went right over the head of most people.

Star Trek, The Next Generation was only a few days/weeks behind US transmission for most of it's run on RTE. Generally US shows in the 80's and 90's from the states were only weeks behind and a few times were shown before US transmission.

How could RTE afford to get US shows so ahead of the UK? Star Trek, The Next Generation took until 1990 before it premiered on BBC 2, meaning come 1990 the BBC were three seasons behind the US.