Up-to-the-minute financial data and weather are also broadcast on-air. Outside of these hours the most recent show is repeated, looped, unless interrupted by live feeds of breaking news stories. During other periods, live current affairs programmes such as Prime Time are shown. The channel airs live news programmes such as Six One, as they are broadcast on other RTÉ channels, along with weather forecasts. In 2017, Head of News and Current Affairs at RTÉ Jon Williams suggested that he could discontinue RTÉ News Now to save money and therefore in August 2020, he re-branded the channel as RTÉ News. Upon the announcement in February 2011 that RTÉ News NOW would become a permanent fixture to the Saorview line-up a number of media organizations criticized such a move claiming RTÉ would continue to have a monopoly over news output within Ireland. Since Octothe channel is available free-to-air to 98% of homes throughout the Republic of Ireland through Saorview. Previously, Sky News provided such a service. The channel was made available since May 2010 on train services within Dublin city and surrounding regions under a special agreement between CIÉ and RTÉ. Availability of the channel improved during test trials of Saorview in December 2009. Russian military continued to blast missiles across Kyiv, as army tanks moved through the city, with locals seeking shelter in the underground travel system, for fear of the air raids.RTÉ News NOW was originally available only to online users of the RTÉ website and on mobile phones when the channel launched on 12 June 2008. “There was a call last night for men aged 18-60 not to leave the country, to be available for territorial defence.” There are reports that people have spent up to 18 hours trying to flee the city.” He added: “A lot of people left yesterday, tens of thousands thronging the roads heading west. “The Ukrainian government say they shot down a Russian military airplane and it, in turn, crashed into an apartment block, which has been on fire since then. There were air raid sirens throughout the night, missile strikes on various locations inside the capital. On Friday morning, RTE editor Tony told Morning Ireland, “It was a fairly disruptive night last night. President Zelenskiy in an early address says 137 dead so far across the country” he said. “People staying in shelters and in the metro system. Tony revealed on Twitter that two children were dead and discussed the ongoing developing situation, “Early morning picture in Kyiv: a number of heavy airstrikes overnight, air-raid sirens going off throughout the night. It is reported Tony and the RTÉ team were moved to a basement due to fears of air raids in the capital city, Kyiv.
Ukrainian officials are preparing for a Russian assault on the capital, Kyiv, as the full-scale attack enters a second day. It comes as Mr Connelly was on the ground reporting speaking to local people in Kyiv about how they are coping during the Russian invasion.