Newsletter January 2010

A chàirdean,

Happy New Year! We hope you’ll have a good year in 2010.

The BBC Trust consultation on BBC ALBA remains open until Monday 18 January 2010, so you still have an opportunity to send the Trust your views if you haven’t done so already. We are greatly encouraged by the number of people who have so far backed the proposal to put BBC ALBA on Freeview, and we are indebted to our viewers and friends for showing such strong support. We hope that everyone who wants to see BBC ALBA on Freeview will be willing to write or e-mail the BBC Trust or to fill in the online form at www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust.

In this newsletter, there’s information about our Gaelic shorts competition, FilmG, and about new programmes coming soon to BBC ALBA, and we go behind the camera for an interview with Donnie MacKay, our Technical Services Director.

Remember that you can get all the latest news about MG ALBA and about programmes on BBC ALBA at www.mgalba.com. We’re sure you’ll enjoy the programmes we have scheduled for you in the next few weeks.

Le dùrachd,
Donald Campbell
Chief Executive

FilmG

FilmG logo image

The awards ceremony for FilmG will be held in Inverness on 05 February 2010, and we’ll find out then which short films have won this year’s competition.

Have you voted for your favourite film yet? You can see all the films at www.filmg.co.uk. But you’d better hurry, because voting closes on Friday 15 January.

At Christmas we saw a new half-hour drama, Siubhlachan: Mòr Mineag, on BBC ALBA. Based on the five-minute short, Siubhlachan, which won the FilmG prize for best film last year, the new drama was commissioned as a result of the competition. What can we expect from this year’s finalists?

Keep an eye on www.mgalba.com and www.filmg.co.uk for all the latest news.


BBC ALBA and Gaelic learners

If you’re learning Gaelic, perhaps you’re following Speaking our Language on BBC ALBA, or reading and listening to Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh and An Litir Bheag and on www.bbcalba.co.uk and Radio nan Gaidheal. The broadcast media can help with language learning in many different ways, and BBC ALBA has a specific remit for promoting Gaelic education and learning.

MG ALBA has now been promised £50k of new funding from the Scottish Government to begin improve resources for learners, and we’ll be working with the BBC and with Bòrd na Gàidhlig to develop these resources over the coming months.

Visit our website for the latest on this and other projects, and remember that we always want to hear your views.


Live football kicks off a year of sport on BBC ALBA

Despite the ‘big freeze’ and heavy snowfall throughout Scotland forcing the postponement of many football fixtures, BBC ALBA was delighted to kick start their year of sports offering with live coverage of Partick Thistle v Greenock Morton from Firhill Stadium. BBC ALBA is providing a package of exclusive coverage of the IRN-BRU Scottish First Division which will see a further two matches from the SFL broadcast live on the channel during April and May, as well as coverage of the first division play-off finals at the end of this season.

Coverage of the SPL also continues and while games are weather dependent, there are several matches set to be screened this month. These include:

  • St. Mirren v Aberdeen - Tuesday 12 January at 22.00
  • Dundee United v Hibernian - Saturday 16 January at 20.00
  • St. Johnstone v Hibernian - Wednesday 20 January at 22.00
  • Aberdeen v Kilmarnock - Saturday 23 January at 20.00

Club TV, our football magazine programme, will be back on BBC ALBA every month, bringing exclusive news and action from behind the scenes at Rangers FC and Celtic FC. So keep an eye on www.mgalba.com for the latest TV schedules.


Upcoming events on BBC ALBA ...

Program highlights banner

Programme highlights this month include:
  • A new series of Thuige Seo where Donald Morrison meets some notable Gaels including Lachie MacLeod, Kenneth Matheson and Norma MacLeod.
  • Farpais Fhallain (Islands on a Diet) features three teams from Lewis as they embark on a 12 week regime of fitness and fun to see who can lose the most weight.
  • Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach returns to bring us coverage of the best sheepdog trials from throughout the UK.
  • Featuring top Gaelic singers and musicians, Seudan a’ Chuain on Saturday 23 January @ 22.00 and Saturday 30 January @ 22.00 will be broadcast from Celtic Connections 2010 as part of Bliadhna nan Oran on BBC ALBA and Radio nan Gaidheal.

You can find out about these events and get all the latest news at www.mgalba.com.



Getting to know ... Donnie MacKay

Donnie MacKay is our Technical Services Director. A Ness man born and bred, Donnie’s now back in South Dell after a year working at the Fàs media facilities in the Isle of Skye, and is based at MG ALBA’s Stornoway studios.

Tell us about your work at Fàs and your new job in Stornoway.

I really enjoyed the job in Skye because there was so much to do getting all the equipment installed in the new building. Now I’m looking after both studio teams, in Skye and in Stornoway, making sure everything runs smoothly.

How did you start out in broadcasting?

I got my first job in the industry after doing a Television and Multi-media course at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. I worked for Hammerhead TV in Glasgow for two years before joining STV who were then at Cowcaddens. After my time at STV I worked as a freelance camera assistant working on various television and film productions. Before I came to MG ALBA I was working for STV in Aberdeen. I was based partly in the studio and the rest of the time I was out and about with the satellite truck. It meant hard work and long hours but I enjoyed it, especially when we were broadcasting SPL football matches every Saturday.

Would you say that the football coverage was your favourite job?

The football was great, but I’d have to say Top Gear was the best thing I’ve done. They would close off a stretch of road and I’d have to drive as fast as possible past the camera. That’s a tough job for a petrol-head like me!!

 Donnie MacKay