WITH THE 100th anniversary of its sinking firmly on the horizon, it's a case of all aboard the RMS Titanicto commemorate the centenary.

Well positioned in the queue is our commercial broadcaster TV3, which has signed a significant joint venture deal with a British company to produce a three-part television drama of the Titanic's only journey across the Atlantic.

Given the ship’s enduring appeal, it’s sure to be a ratings success for TV3 when it hits our screens in 2012.

TV3 is investing €400,000 in the venture, a chunky number given the Irish broadcaster made a surplus last year of about €2 million. It will be a key part of the Ballymount-based station’s schedule that year as it seeks to increase its home-produced output to 50 per cent from its current 40 per cent level.