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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Trust approves new Gaelic service | Trust approves new Gaelic service |
| (about 2 hours 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 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, and MSP, Alasdair Allan, 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 class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/naidheachdan/story/2008/01/080128_gaelic_digital.shtml">Gaelic report on the approval | |
| Minister of State at the Scotland Office, David Cairns, said it was right the trust had looked carefully at the plan, but added it would make an "invaluable contribution" to Gaelic. | |
| 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 SAYI wish we had been taught Gaelic along with Scots at schoolMarc Holt, London Will you be watching? | |
| Neil Fraser, chairman of GMS, said approval was an important step and allowed work to continue on preparing the launch. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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 | 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. |
| The cost of carrying the service on Freeview is estimated at about £4m a year. |