Back
Newsletter Archive
July 2010
A chàirdean,
Wimbledon and the World Cup may have been grabbing the headlines, but BBC ALBA’s viewing figures have been holding up throughout the early summer, which is encouraging to report at one of the most competitive times of the TV year.
As you’ll be aware, our aim is that everyone in Scotland should be able to receive BBC ALBA. The switch to digital continues, and from the end of July there will no longer be any analogue television broadcasts in the Highlands and Islands.
In the autumn, we will find out whether the BBC Trust is willing to put the channel on Freeview, as proposed by ourselves and officials at the BBC. We also hope that the BBC will have found a solution to the problem that has prevented BBC ALBA being available on cable. The channel has proved that it deserves to be available as an option for every television viewer in Scotland, and we hope – although there is still a lot of campaigning required – that this will be the case before the end of the year.
In the meantime, if you’re buying new digital equipment, remember that BBC ALBA is available on satellite only at this stage – on Sky 168 and Freesat 110.
Read more in this newsletter about the digital switchover and about Digital UK’s help scheme.
We hope you are enjoying BBC ALBA. You can find all the latest news at www.mgalba.com.
Le gach dùrachd,
Donald Campbell
Chief Executive
Music and summer highlights
Programmes to look out for in the coming weeks on BBC ALBA include:
There’s lots more in store on BBC ALBA during the summer. Keep an eye on www.mgalba.com and www.bbcalba.co.uk for the latest news and schedules.
And as we look to the autumn, the musical theme continues, with Piping Live, the Royal National Mòd, the Blas Festival and the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. We’ll be bringing you news about all this later in the summer.
Magners League comes to BBC ALBA
MG ALBA has signed an exclusive four-year deal to broadcast live Magners League Rugby starting from Season 2010-2011. The package will include live coverage of home games involving Glasgow and Edinburgh Warriors in addition to coverage of selected away fixtures.
July is a busy month for shinty. Having already brought you the Glasgow Celtic Society Cup Final and the Marine Harvest Premier 6’s Final, BBC ALBA will be providing live coverage of the Balliemore Cup Final on Saturday 17 July 2010 and also the Sutherland Cup Final on Saturday 31 July 2010. All the latest schedule information and news will be available at www.mgalba.com.
A Feast of Football – now at 5.30pm on Saturdays
BBC ALBA’s coverage of SPL Football will resume on Saturday 14 August 2010 with a new “kick-off” time of 17.30 through Season 2010/2011. A minimum of 38 SPL games will be shown “as-live”.
And there will be live football too, with the final of the Unite Scottish Women’s Cup on 14 November 2010, and coverage of semi-final and final matches of the ALBA Challenge Cup.
FilmG
FilmG 2010 was launched at events in Ardnamurchan and Inverness in June and the training workshops are now getting under way. If you’re thinking of making a film this summer, check out www.filmg.co.uk for opportunities to learn about story development, front-of-camera work and other film-making skills at the workshops in Skye, Dundee, Elgin and Glasgow.
TàlantG is also up and running, bringing together actors, writers, producers and crew members who want to collaborate to make a film for FilmG. Find out more at www.filmg.co.uk.
Digital Switchover
The Highlands are going digital this month. As part of the staged process of moving to digital TV broadcasting throughout the UK, transmitters in the Highlands and Islands are being switched off during July.
Digital UK has a help scheme for elderly and disabled people who may need assistance in making the switch to digital. Information about the scheme is available from www.helpscheme.co.uk or by calling 0800 40 85 900. Other information about the switchover is available at www.digitaluk.co.uk.
Remember, BBC ALBA is currently available only on satellite (Freesat 110 and Sky 168). We are working to secure a place for BBC ALBA on Freeview and Cable, and we will keep our stakeholders up to date with progress.
Behind the camera … getting to know Kerry Anne MacLeod I’m 18, from Outend Coll in Back, Lewis, and intend to go to the University of Edinburgh in September to study MA Scottish Ethnology and Celtic. How did you come to work in the broadcasting industry? I began doing bits and pieces for Radio nan Gaidheal from very early primary, and have always enjoyed it. I have always loved drama and acting in school plays and pantomimes and took part in the FilmG competition both years too. From an early age I always knew I wanted to be a part of the broadcasting industry. It’s a dream come true to get this job! What do you enjoy most about working at MG ALBA? I love the atmosphere and the people I’ve met are all lovely. It’s a fantastic place to work and I’m going to be sad when I have to leave to go to University! |
 |