A new television series starting next Tuesday is promising to bring information and communications technology developments to a national primetime audience. Tech TV on Network 2 will fill an 8 p.m. time slot - one of the most sought-after airing times available in the new autumn schedule. It will run for 13 weeks.

This is the first time RTE has addressed the information technology (IT) revolution, and the station commissioned Tech Arts Media in association with the Information Society Commission to assist in the creation of the series. The show will be presented by screen newcomer, Mr John Collins, editor of PC Live! and veteran of technology coverage, and by Ms Keelin Shanley, former reporter on arts programme Black Box.

The aim of the series - to reach the broadest audience possible - is central to the role of the Information Society Commission, which was established in 1997 to build awareness of the information society in Ireland and highlight its growing importance.

According to the commission's chairman, Ms Vivienne Jupp: "We have worked hard with RTE and Tech Arts Media to ensure that the content of the programme is both dynamic and practical for anybody who uses or would want to use technology in their daily lives."

The series will be edited by Ms Sheila McDonald, editor of .ie, the Irish Internet magazine, and produced by Mr Andy Hudson of Tech Arts Media and associate producer, Mr Frank Quinn, publisher of PC Live and ComputerScope. Each programme will feature recent technology developments and issues, website reviews, a gizmo of the week and interaction with the programme website, www.techtv.ie. The first programme will examine global positioning system satellites, digital television, cyberpubs and how PC users can get the most out of their audio record functions.