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The BBC/MG ALBA partnership which operates the BBC ALBA channel today welcomed the decision by the BBC Trust to establish the channel on Freeview.

Speaking on behalf of MG ALBA, Alasdair Morrison, chairman, said: “We are absolutely delighted by the decision and most importantly it will provide the opportunity for people across Scotland to have access to the channel that they have been unable to enjoy to date.   

“Over the last two years BBC ALBA has done everything that was asked of it and we have created a raft of home-grown programmes appealing to both Gaelic and non-Gaelic speakers which has made a very positive contribution to Scottish broadcasting and the country’s creative industries.

“The viewers like what they see and viewing figures have remained steady around 220,000 per week which compares very favourably with other digital channels in Scotland.

“Until now, less than 50 per cent of households in Scotland had access to the channel. Now that barrier has been removed it means households across Scotland will be in a position to take advantage of the variety of programmes that viewers in Scotland have found attractive.

“We would like to bring absolute clarity to the issue of the effect on radio services in view of BBC ALBA being made available on Freeview. First and foremost Freeview is a television platform on airwaves set aside for digital television services.

“Radio stations were first carried on Freeview when demand for television programming on the service was much lower. That is no longer the case. Freeview is now the UK's main television platform. There are separate arrangements for digital radio and the development of that service is where the long term solution to radio lies.

“Secondly the BBC Executive estimates that the effect of removing some radio stations from Freeview will only affect in the region of 4,000 people who would have no radio-based access to the radio services and of which 2,500 can get access to digital radio via the internet.

“Thirdly the vast majority of the 51,000 who listen to radio on Freeview in fact are listening to FM/AM stations. These and all other stations will continue to be available on FM/AM and DAB radio frequencies where the overwhelming majority of people listen to radio. The radio stations are also available online and through Freesat and Sky TV and cable.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the political parties across Scotland for their overwhelming support for the channel throughout our Freeview campaign as well as the many organisations and individuals who have supported us.

In addition thanks also go to the BBC Management for their encouragement, as well as Jeremy Peat Trustee for Scotland at the BBC Trust. We look forward to bringing our service to a wider audience throughout the country.”

MG Alba welcomes Freeview decision         21/12/10

Tha a’ cho-bhanntachd eadar am BBC agus MG ALBA a tha a’ ruith BBC ALBA an-diugh air fàilte a chur air co-dhùnadh Urras a’ BhBC an t-seanail a chur air Freeview.

A’ bruidhinn as leth MG ALBA, thuirt an cathraiche, Alasdair Moireasdan: “Tha sinn anabarrach toilichte leis a’ cho-dhùnadh seo, agus is e an rud as cudromaiche gu bheil e a’ toirt do dhaoine air feadh na h-Alba cothrom an t-seanail fhaicinn nach eil air a bhith aca thuige seo.

“San dà bhliadhna a dh’fhalbh, tha BBC ALBA air a h-uile rud a dhèanamh a chaidh iarraidh air, agus tha sinn air roghainn math de phrògraman a chruthachadh dèante ann an Alba agus tarraingeach do dhaoine le Gàidhlig agus as a h-aonais, a’ cur gu mòr ri craoladh Albannach agus ris na gnìomhachasan cruthachail san dùthaich seo. Tha na prògraman a’ còrdadh ris an luchd-amhairc agus tha àireamhan an luchd-amhairc air a bhith seasmhach aig mu 220,000 gach seachdain, a tha math dha-rìreabh ann an coimeas le seanailean didseatach eile ann an Alba.

“Thuige seo, bha nas lugha na 50 dachaigh às a’ cheud ann an Alba a’ faighinn cothrom air an t-seanail. A-nis tha an cnap-starra sin air a thoirt air falbh agus bidh cothrom aig a h-uile dachaigh ann an Alba a bhith a’ faighinn nam prògraman a tha air còrdadh cho mòr ris na h-Albannaich a tha air a bhith gan coimhead.

“Bu mhath leinn a bhith gu tur soilleir mun bhuaidh air stèiseanan rèidio ri linn ’s gum bi BBC ALBA air Freeview. Sa chiad dol-a-mach tha Freeview na ùrlar airson telebhisean air tonnan-adhair air an gleidheadh airson sheirbheisean telebhisein didseatach. Chaidh stèiseanan rèidio a ghiùlain air Freeview nuair nach robh iarrtas cho mòr ann airson sheirbheisean telebhisein air an ùrlar sin. Chan ann mar sin a tha cùisean a-nis. A-nis tha Freeview na phrìomh ùrlar airson telebhisean san Rìoghachd Aonaichte. Tha goireasan fa leth ann airson rèidio didseatach agus is ann tro leasachadh na seirbheis sin san fhad-ùine a thig fuasgladh air ceistean mu rèidio.

“San darna àite, thathas a’ tomhas le luchd-stiùiridh a’ BhBC nach bi buaidh ach air mu 4,000 duine nach fhaigh seirbheisean rèidio tro innealan rèidio bho bhith a’ toirt air falbh cuid de na stèiseanan rèidio, agus gum faigh 2,500 de na daoine seo na stèiseanan sin tron eadar-lìon.

“San treas àite, tha a’ chuid as motha de na 51,000 duine a bhios ag èisteachd ri stèiseanan rèidio air Freeview ag èisteachd ri stèiseanan FM/AM. Bidh na stèiseanan seo agus a h-uile stèisean eile fhathast rim faighinn air FM/AM agus air triceadan DAB far a bheil a’ mhòr-chuid ag èisteachd ri seirbheisean rèidio. Tha na stèiseanan rèidio cuideachd rim faighinn tro telebhisean saideil agus càball.

“Bu mhath leinn taing a thoirt do na pàrtaidhean poileataigeach gu lèir ann an Alba airson an taic dhaingeann dhan t-seanail tron iomairt airson Freeview, agus cuideachd do na buidhnean agus na daoine fa leth a tha air taic a thoirt dhuinn. Ar taing cuideachd do luchd-stiùiridh a’ BhBC airson am brosnachaidh, agus do Jeremy Peat, Urrasair a’ BhBC airson na h-Alba aig Urras a’ BhBC. Tha sinn a’ coimhead le fiughair ri bhith a’ toirt ar seirbheis do luchd-amhairc nas farsainge air feadh na dùthcha.”