BBC Alba

This article is about the forthcoming Gaelic-language television service. For general Gaelic-language services from the BBC, see BBC Alba.

BBC Alba

Country	Scotland
Headquarters	Stornoway and Pacific Quay, Glasgow
Programming
Language(s)	Scottish Gaelic
Ownership
Owner	BBC and MG Alba

BBC Alba is an upcoming Scottish Gaelic language television channel. The channel will launch on 19 September 2008.

It will broadcast throughout the UK on satellite (Sky & Freesat) and cable from launch. Subject to review by the BBC Trust, it will be broadcast on Freeview, in Scotland only, from the digital switchover (2010). The channel is being funded by the MG Alba and the BBC.

Gaelic Media Service and the BBC will run the channel in partnership. Gaelic programming on BBC Two Scotland is to continue at least until the Digital switchover. The Gaelic Digital Service will also include BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and online content.

Content

BBC Alba will combine television, radio and on-line programme content, is anticipated to have a positive impact at many levels including increasing artistic and technical skills, extending economic opportunities, stimulating parents' interest in Gaelic medium education, appealing to and serving the adult learners and strengthening Gaelic usage in extremely important media. It holds significant potential to assist with the development of positive attitudes to the acquisition and transmission of Gaelic.

Now Testing

On July 29th tests appeared on 11.953 V under the banner 6736.

On August 12th video test appear showing CBBC Channel/BBC Three. until August 13 after 10.30am the BBC Alba info screen appear with sound from BBC Radio nan Gàidheal for some time but at 11.45am is was testing with BBC Alba shows.

As of August 13th at 10.30am the EPG now and next banner is as followed:

This is BBC Alba - Scotland's Gaelic language channel. Archive programmes begin at 8.00pm and a full service will begin at 9.00pm on September 19

Sport

BBC Alba will concentrate on three sports, Football, Rugby and Shinty.

BBC Alba will broadcast one full SPL game every Saturday for two seasons. The games will be broadcast three hours after the game has ended. The game shown will be a selected one not covered by either live Setanta Sports or on an on-demand basis by BT Vision. The match will only have Gaelic commentary along with English subtitles.

BBC Alba will also broadcast two games this season (One Semi Final and Final) from the Scottish Challenge Cup from this season until 2012-2013.

Programming

MG Alba and the BBC have announced that around 1.5 hour of television content daily will be new material. An outline schedule in the service proposition submitted to the BBC Trust in 2007 included the following genres:

Genre	No, days shown	Days	duration Daily(hrs)	notes
Children's	5	Mon-Fri	1	includes programmes like De a-Nis?
News	5	Mon-Fri	0.45	Broadcast 3 times a day. Including Weather reports.
Sport	5	Mon, Thu-Sun	4	Includes SPL matches
Lifestyle	5	Mon-Fri	1- 1.30
Music	2	Wed, Sun	1.30-4
Religion	1	Sun	2.30
Education	2	Tues, Sat	1-4	includes learning resources for Learners of Gaelic
Factual	3	Tue, Thu,Sun	4

Source:BBC trust Note: these are only Guidelines on what the schedule will be like.

Funding

BBC Alba will be funded by the MG Alba, which is financed by the Scottish Government, and BBC Scotland.

The BBC's existing spend is £3.2 million on radio content and £2.1 million for TV and online. The BBC will contribute an additional £2.5 million to BBC Alba. (BBC figures exclude distribution costs.) The Gaelic Media Service will apply the majority of its budget (£12.4 million in 2008/09) to the Gaelic Digital Service.

See also

• BBC Alba
• MG Alba
• Bòrd na Gàidhlig
• List of Celtic language media

External links

• Gaelic Digital Service proposals at bbc.co.uk