RTE One is Ireland’s flagship public service channel, bringing together must-see drama, national and regional news, current affairs, entertainment and live events. On this page you can watch the RTE One live stream free of charge and follow a clean, always-current daily guide showing exactly what’s on now, what’s next and when tonight’s big programmes begin. The player loads quickly on mobile and desktop, and the listings update through the day so you can plan your viewing with confidence.
As a regionalised national service, RTE One runs brief local news windows within a unified national schedule. That means your evening line-up remains consistent across the country while still making space for area-specific updates. The guide here reflects those opt-outs where relevant so you catch the right bulletin without digging through menus.
Where to find RTÉ One
on Ireland’s digital terrestrial platform Saorview, RTÉ One HD is at channel 1, with RTÉ One+1 typically at 11. On pay-TV platforms, Sky Ireland maps RTÉ One HD to 101, and Virgin Media Ireland also places RTÉ One HD at 101, with RTÉ One+1 in the +1 range. In Northern Ireland, Freeview carries RTÉ One on channel 54 in covered areas. If you prefer app-based viewing, the broadcaster’s own streaming service carries a live simulcast of RTÉ One on supported devices (availability may vary by rights and location).
How today’s guide typically flows
mornings blend news and topical features before daytime factual, lifestyle and quiz formats. Late afternoon leads into early-evening magazines and news, building towards prime-time drama, entertainment, premium documentaries and live sport. If a live programme overruns or the broadcaster shifts the grid, the listings here follow suit so you always see the latest start times and durations—no guesswork around now/next/later.
Programmes you’ll often find on RTÉ One
long-running Dublin-set soap Fair City; flagship current-affairs strand Prime Time; Friday-night institution The Late Late Show; nationwide magazine Nationwide; property favourite Room to Improve; and the main RTÉ News bulletins including Six One and the Nine O’Clock News. These staples sit alongside seasonal series, Irish films and special events through the year.
Picture quality and reliability
RTÉ One is widely available in HD on terrestrial, satellite and cable line-ups, which is why you’ll see it in low, easy-to-find positions (1 on Saorview; 101 on major pay-TV platforms). On compatible devices expect crisp studio output and smooth motion for live coverage. Streaming typically trails over-the-air reception by a few seconds; that latency is normal and helps keep playback stable on variable connections.
Availability notes
live streams on the broadcaster’s service are primarily intended for viewers in Ireland and can be restricted outside the country depending on rights. Availability may change if you travel, and some devices enforce regional settings automatically.
TV Licence reminder (Ireland):
if you have a television set—or receiving equipment capable of decoding broadcast TV—Irish law requires a TV Licence for live television. The standard annual fee is €160. If you only ever watch on-demand and have no TV receiving equipment, different rules may apply.
Why this page is useful
most visitors want two things immediately—a reliable live stream and today’s accurate schedule. This page puts the player first so you can start watching in seconds, and keeps the day’s listings alongside to show the current programme, what follows and tonight’s highlights at a glance. Programme blurbs are concise and refreshed as the broadcaster updates theirs; start times are written clearly and adjust automatically if a live event shifts the running order. The layout is lightweight and responsive, so the experience stays fast on phones, tablets and desktop.
Start watching
Press play to join RTÉ One live now. Then scan today’s guide below to see when your programme begins—whether it’s Six One, a new drama premiere, Prime Time, Nationwide, Room to Improve, Fair City or The Late Late Show. The schedule here keeps pace with the channel so you can plan your evening precisely.
