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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Trust approves new Gaelic service | Trust approves new Gaelic service |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The BBC Trust has given its go-ahead for BBC Scotland and Gaelic Media Service (GMS) to launch their planned Gaelic Digital Service (GDS). | |
| The trust said its approval was subject to certain conditions - including that it launch on cable, satellite and broadband initially. | The trust said its approval was subject to certain conditions - including that it launch on cable, satellite and broadband initially. |
| A review of the service will be carried out before it is considered for broadcast on Freeview. | A review of the service will be carried out before it is considered for broadcast on Freeview. |
| The trust said it expected the GDS to launch early in the summer. | The trust said it expected the GDS to launch early in the summer. |
| BBC Scotland, GMS and Western Isles MP, Angus MacNeil, welcomed the decision. | |
| The trust believes this service will offer public value and be culturally significant for both Gaelic speakers and Scotland as a whole Jeremy PeatBBC national trustee | |
| Jeremy Peat, BBC national trustee for Scotland, said BBC Scotland and GMS must work towards markedly improving the quality and quantity of broadcasts to support the Gaelic language. | Jeremy Peat, BBC national trustee for Scotland, said BBC Scotland and GMS must work towards markedly improving the quality and quantity of broadcasts to support the Gaelic language. |
| He said: "The trust has given the go-ahead for the GDS to launch, but with conditions and some changes to the original plans, to ensure the best possible value for licence fee payers. | He said: "The trust has given the go-ahead for the GDS to launch, but with conditions and some changes to the original plans, to ensure the best possible value for licence fee payers. |
| "The trust believes this service will offer public value and be culturally significant for both Gaelic speakers and Scotland as a whole." | "The trust believes this service will offer public value and be culturally significant for both Gaelic speakers and Scotland as a whole." |
| HAVE YOUR SAYWhile the BBC is to be commended on this, I find it staggering that there are no proposals for a Scottish television channel alsoDisgruntled, Edinburgh Will you be watching? | |
| Neil Fraser, chairman of GMS, said approval was an important step and allowed work to continue on preparing the launch. | |
| Ken MacQuarrie, the controller BBC Scotland, said he was delighted by the trust's decision. | |
| He said: "BBC Scotland is looking forward to working with Gaelic Media Service to jointly deliver this innovative service." | |
| Mr MacNeil envisaged the GDS supporting children who were learning Gaelic and added that he hoped independent producers in the Hebrides would earn commissions to provide programmes for it. | |
| Distribution costs | |
| Before being considered for Freeview, the service will be subject to a review ahead of the digital television switchover in central and northern Scotland in 2010. | Before being considered for Freeview, the service will be subject to a review ahead of the digital television switchover in central and northern Scotland in 2010. |
| This will look at the performance of the GDS in achieving public value and how it has achieved an aim of reaching a wider audience. | This will look at the performance of the GDS in achieving public value and how it has achieved an aim of reaching a wider audience. |
| Meanwhile, the trust has concluded that the Gaelic Zone on BBC 2 will continue for the foreseeable future. | Meanwhile, the trust has concluded that the Gaelic Zone on BBC 2 will continue for the foreseeable future. |
| The GDS service will cost £20.8m-per-year in total, of which GMS will contribute £10.1m and the BBC £10.7m. | The GDS service will cost £20.8m-per-year in total, of which GMS will contribute £10.1m and the BBC £10.7m. |
| The BBC's total funding of £10.7m will consist of £7.2m already allocated to existing Gaelic services, £2.5m for new content and related spend and about £1m for distribution costs. | The BBC's total funding of £10.7m will consist of £7.2m already allocated to existing Gaelic services, £2.5m for new content and related spend and about £1m for distribution costs. |