NEW GAELIC DIGITAL TV CHANNEL LAUNCHED

A decade long campaign for a dedicated Gaelic TV channel bears fruit as BBC Alba is launched on satellite Sky 168 and FreeSat 110.

The channel goes went live last night to a fanfare of a re-jigged version of the classic Runrig song Alba.

The inaugural programme was a concert from Skye followed by a hop across the Minch where Elvis has been discovered in 1970s Lewis.

The channel is not available on terrestrial TV but the launch show was transmitted on BBC2 Scotland.

The channel offers a wide variety of shows with a regular news programme An Là broadcasted from Inverness daily at 8pm. Niseach Angela Maclean and Hearach Iain Maclean will anchor the news bulletins.

Saturday afternoons sees sports coverage with a SPL football match broadcasted. Live Scottish rugby and shinty will be featured later in the calendar.

Speaking before the launch Minister for Culture, Linda Fabiani MSP said: "This is a momentous day for the Gaelic community, as well as for Scottish broadcasting. Thanks are due to everyone who has worked so hard over the years to get us to where we are today, ready for the launch of BBC ALBA. The channel will play a key role in promoting the Gaelic language and making it accessible to a national audience. It will also make a significant contribution to upholding our commitment to ensuring a sustainable and successful future for Gaelic.”

BBC ALBA is a partnership service between MG ALBA and BBC Scotland which will deliver high quality, distinctive home-produced programming.

Speaking at the Glasgow Gaelic School, Alasdair Morrison, Chairman of MG ALBA said: “This is a tremendous day for all of those with the interest of Gaelic at heart. The channel has been a long time coming and I am now delighted that the launch day has finally arrived. The channel will be a high quality channel that will serve Scottish broadcasting well with a premier package of new programmes that will be attractive to viewers throughout Scotland, reaching out across all target audiences.”

MSP for the Western Isles, Alasdair Allan, and Angus MacNeil, SNP MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, have both welcomed the launch of BBC Alba.

Commenting Mr Allan said:

"This is a great day for Gaelic and for Scottish broadcasting.  

"Gaelic is only going to survive it is used in the widest possible range of settings, and  this new channel, which has been given significant backing from the Scottish government has the potential to do just that.

"It will bring Gaelic to Scotland as a whole, boost the broadcasting sector in Scotland and act as a real confidence boost for the language at a critical point  in the language's history. It will also show that a Scottish Six is perfectly feasible.

"The channel promises  programmes of real quality and the next campaign must surely be to get BBC Trust to put the channel on freeview."

Speaking from Cambodia, where he is currently on a two week volunteer placement with Voluntary Service Overseas, Mr MacNeil said:

"This is great news for Gaelic speakers and for Gaelic broadcasting.

"Not only will BBC Alba boost the Gaelic broadcasting sector greatly, it will also provide a window into the Gaelic speaking world for viewers far and wide.

"Equally welcome is the channel's evening news programme - a dedicated Scottish , UK and international news  for Scotland  at long last.

"This will show that bringing viewers in Scotland national and international news from a uniquely Scottish perspective is easily done."