Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig’s response to Ofcom announcement
The Director of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (The Gaelic Media Service) has welcomed today’s announcement by Ofcom of support for the principle of SMG’s providing £1.2m worth of support to the Service over a three year period for the establishment of a Gaelic digital channel. The content of this support package is currently the subject of negotiation between SMG and the Gaelic Media Service. Ofcom had previously indicated in June 2005 in their review of public service television broadcasting, Statement on programming for the Nations and Regions, that £300,000 - £500,000 a year for three years should be provided by SMG in cash or in-kind in return for diminution in their obligations to broadcast Gaelic programmes in peak-time.
The Gaelic Media Service had previously expressed appreciation of Ofcom’s support in the review for the concept of a Gaelic channel, and of Ofcom‘s indication that a budget of £13m - £16m would be available for the establishment of the channel.
Gaelic Media Service Director, J.A. MacKay said: “We have been working hard on a number of fronts to secure a funding package for the establishment of a channel, and have made some progress, but the funding is not yet confirmed. The SMG contribution will be of some help, but it will not be long term, and we will really need to have a sustainable package in order to take the next major step towards the new channel.”
A wide range of bodies and individuals involved in Gaelic development, whilst fully supportive of plans for a digital satellite channel, have been anxious to retain a strong presence for Gaelic in broadcasters’ analogue schedules until digital switchover in the SMG regions in 2010. Some sections of the Gaelic community have purchased Freeview digital terrestrial receivers, and will not be able to access the channel without further cost unless space can be found for it on Freeview. The scarcity of spectrum, and the related cost of buying spectrum space at commercial rates on digital terrestrial television is a major barrier to progress in this respect.
Mr MacKay said: “The Board of GMS has not had an opportunity to comment collectively on this news. Our Board has to weigh the significance of today’s announcement. On the one hand they wish to move as quickly as possible to establish a digital channel, where the main obstacle is uncertainty over funding.
On the other hand, our Board respect the wishes of the audience who do not wish to be deprived of their analogue programmes in the transition to digital switchover. Imposition of the SMG deal will trigger an immediate reduction in the number of peak time hours of Gaelic programmes shown on Grampian and Scottish Television. Thus the number of programme hours shown in peak-time on these channels will drop from 26 hours a year on Sunday evenings to 6 hours a year, four years before analogue switchover. We had hoped that this could be avoided but that does not now seem likely.
We hope that this news will now provide a stimulus to speedy, successful conclusion of negotiations with the other potential funders identified by Ofcom so that we can offer the audience a viable Gaelic digital channel service that will encourage people to make the transition from analogue to digital viewing as soon as possible.”
Ends…….
1/11/05
For further information:
John Angus MacKay
Director, Gaelic Media Service
Tel: 01851 705550
