News > 2008

BBC ALBA CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL FIRST MONTH OF BROADCASTING

BBC ALBA, the new Gaelic television channel today (Wednesday) announced that it has enjoyed “hugely encouraging” support from across Scotland in its first month of broadcasting.

BBC ALBA is the result of a partnership service between MG ALBA and BBC Scotland and is dedicated to delivering high quality, distinctive home-produced programmes. BBC ALBA’s schedule includes:

  • 16 hours a week of new Scottish produced content
  • Premier sports package with at least 125 hours of SPL and SFL football, Scottish club rugby and shinty throughout the season
  • Music programmes providing at least three hours a week of high quality Scottish and international music
  • Daily national and international news from Inverness and the acclaimed current affairs programme, 'Eorpa'
  • Two hours a day of quality Children's programming
  • Compelling documentaries from Scotland and abroad

Minister for Culture, Linda Fabiani MSP said: “I have been very impressed at the positive response to BBC ALBA’s exciting and varied schedule during its first month on air.

“As we consider the recommendations of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission’s report, it’s great that BBC ALBA has launched with such distinctive and high quality programming. It has underlined what can be achieved on a dedicated Scottish channel.

“I look forward to hearing of the channel’s continued success and am fully behind efforts to BBC ALBA securing Freeview coverage.”

Alasdair Morrison, Chairman of MG ALBA, the Gaelic Media Service said: “I am delighted that our first month of broadcasting has proved to be a success and the feedback has been hugely encouraging. It is clear that there is a demand for this service not just from the Gaelic community but from across Scotland.

“Our ethos is ensuring we deliver an excellent range of home-produced programmes, sports coverage, news and current affairs, which appeal to both the Gaelic community and right across Scotland.

“As well as continuing to deliver an excellent service, we will also be working hard towards achieving greater access to BBC ALBA by securing transmission on Freeview.”

The channel’s premier sports package is one of the key strands of programming available. The sports coverage is being provided in association with MNE MEDIA, with funding coming from MG ALBA in partnership with BBC Scotland.

Lex Gold, Executive Chairman of the SPL said: “We are delighted to be in partnership with BBC ALBA. BBC ALBA’s ‘as-live’ full match coverage of one of our matches every Saturday night delivers a valuable service to our fans across the country. We will be working hard with everyone involved to continue to offer a great package of SPL coverage every weekend.”

Live coverage of the weekend’s ALBA Challenge Cup semi final between Partick Thistle and Airdrie United brought SFL football back onto the screen for first, second and third division clubs, and was the first time in 12 years that a live game has been broadcast. The final will also be broadcast live on BBC ALBA on Sunday 16 November.

Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive Gordon McKie said: “We’re delighted at the real enthusiasm from BBC ALBA to work with us to increase the exposure of our game. I very much hope we will be able to announce further details shortly of our relationship with BBC ALBA and the benefit it will generate for rugby at a number of levels.”

BBC ALBA’s first month of broadcasting has proven that it is a really exciting time for Gaelic broadcasting. The channel is also expected to benefit from new creative talent uncovered through MG ALBA’s innovative Gaelic online short film competition, FilmG. The competition has a prize fund of £35,000 as well as opportunities for winning shorts to be developed as broadcast pilots on the new channel.

FilmG is supported by many of Scotland’s most successful film makers and script writers including Don Coutts, Robbie Fraser and Ian Finlay MacLeod. The closing date for entries is 1 December 2008, for more information please visit www.filmg.co.uk