Aertv.ie, Ireland’s favourite online TV platform, has revealed that its newly launched channel dedicated to The Gathering is the fourth most watched channel on its service beating traditional favourites 3e and TG4.

The Gathering Channel, which launched a month ago, is a 24/7 channel available on the Aertv platform and The Gathering’s own website. It features content from real Gatherings around Ireland and from Irish stars who have been invited home to celebrate the year including Brendan Grace, Fionnula Flanagan, Bressie and Trevor Brennan.

“The Gathering Channel proves that there is a real appetite for good Irish content both at home and abroad. With so many Irish having to emigrate at the moment, it is great for people to have another link with home” says Director of Aertv, Philippe Brodeur.

 “We have been working with brands and organisations for the past year to give them a platform to broadcast their content to an online audience. With The Gathering Channel, we have shown brands that you don’t need to pay for an ad anymore; you can own a whole TV channel. The Gathering Channel is proving to be a successful concept with it getting more viewers than a live Man United v Real Madrid game on Aertv” continues Brodeur.

The Gathering Channel streamed The People’s Parade live on St.Patrick’s Day proving more popular than RTE and TV3. It is just one of many live events planned between Aertv and The Gathering Ireland in 2013. Aertv has seen a 30% increase in users since adding the channel, a worthy note to broadcasters that people still appreciate good Irish content. The fact that Aertv can distribute around the world is also a massive bonus.

The Aertv service, which launched just over a year ago, has brought close to 200 events live online and is leading the way in TV and Online convergence in Ireland. Unique exceptional events, such as The People’s Parade on St Patrick’s Day would never make it to traditional television but now they have a TV platform and a worldwide audience who want to see it.

Aertv is available to watch online on any device by visiting www.aertv.ie.  It currently streams 17 channels live: RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TV3, 3e, TG4, RTÉ News Now, RTÉjr, RTÉ one+1, France 24, DCTV, Dail Eireann, Aertv Music, Aertv Movies, Aertv Sports, The Gathering Channel Aertv Live and Unravel Travel. However due to some restrictions not all channels are available overseas.