Consultation questions
Part 1 - How well is the channel performing?
The Scottish Government welcomes the BBC Trust's support for Gaelic media and the current interest in detailed matters related to the operation and availability of the BBC ALBA channel. The BBC Trust's review is welcome, as is the consultation which is attached to this review.
The Scottish Government recognises Gaelic as an integral part of both Scotland's heritage and current cultural life and aims to secure a sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland. The Scottish Government has put in place a number of initiatives which are aimed at achieving this outcome and recognises the significant potential that radio, on-line services and television have both to advance this aim and support other associated initiatives.
As a co-funder of BBC ALBA (through MG ALBA), the Scottish Government is pleased to note that BBC ALBA has demonstrated an ability to attract a wide range of Scottish residents as viewers of Gaelic television. Furthermore it supports the aims of BBC ALBA to:
- serve Gaelic speakers, those learning the language, those who might wish to learn, and those interested in the language and culture; and
- reflect and support Gaelic culture, identity and heritage.
The Scottish Government's own knowledge of BBC ALBA's operations confirms the viewing figures produced by the BBC Trust, indicating a successful beginning for BBC ALBA since its commencement in September 2008. Particular highlights include that:
· the service has the greatest reach in the Highlands and Islands (11%) and appeals to a broad range of backgrounds;
· approximately 35,000 Gaelic speakers are watching each week; and
· viewing is highest in peak-time, for an average of six hours per week.
Overall, the Scottish Government maintains a close and keen interest in all Gaelic and broadcasting matters. As an active partner through MG ALBA, the Scottish Government regularly reviews various forms of management information as submitted by BBC ALBA in the form of documents such as quarterly reports, annual reports and summaries of board minutes. There is also regular dialogue between officials and representatives of BBC ALBA. Based on this, the Scottish Government's views on issues relevant to the current BBC ALBA consultation are summarised in the paragraphs below.
- the Scottish Government is persuaded that BBC ALBA has demonstrated that its appeal extends beyond its core audience of Gaelic speakers and learners;
- the Scottish Government is also persuaded that BBC ALBA adds value to a range of other initiatives that are in place to support and promote the Gaelic language in Scotland;
- the Scottish Government is persuaded that BBC ALBA has demonstrated that it has contributed both directly and indirectly to Gaelic education initiatives at all levels;
- the Scottish Government is persuaded that BBC ALBA has demonstrated that it has significant potential to support learners at all stages of learning the Gaelic language;
- the Scottish Government is persuaded that BBC ALBA has increased its effectiveness by the use of effective partnerships in the different sectors of broadcasting, technology, education and training;
- the Scottish Government is persuaded that BBC ALBA has operated effectively in terms of use of current funds, relations between BBC and MG ALBA, commissioning strategy, attracting talent, developing skills and working in partnership with other Gaelic interests; and
- the Scottish Government is persuaded that the commissioning structures of BBC ALBA are working effectively, enabling a broad array of producers of Gaelic programmes to regularly pitch projects in a timely and informed manner.
However, the Scottish Government has identified that urgent action is required to ensure a secure future for the Gaelic language. It has recently announced a number of measures, some involving BBC ALBA, to create a new generation of Gaelic speakers and thus maintain Gaelic culture. These include:
· in August 2009, the Scottish Government and Bord na Gaidhlag began work to develop an Action Plan of radical steps to deliver an increase in Gaelic speakers and users;
· in August 2009, an extra £800,000 for Gaelic education was announced, bringing Scottish Government investment in the Gaelic Schools Capital Fund to £2.15M for 2008/09; and
· in December 2009, the Scottish Government commited £50,000 for MG ALBA, working with Bord na Gaidhlig, to provide a new website providing extra resources and support for Gaelic learners.
Consequently, the Scottish Government recognises the vital role which BBC ALBA has in promoting Gaelic language and culture and commends the broadcaster's activities so far in contributing to this aim. As principal funder of BBC ALBA the Scottish Government considers that the performance of the channel has been successful so far. As such the Scottish Government strongly favours that BBC ALBA be widely available and would like to see this extended to both cable and Freeview as soon as possible. We see it as being unfortunate, however, that provision of BBC ALBA on Freeview, at least for the foreseeable future, will be at the expense of some radio stations.
Part 2 - How should the channel be made available in the future?
1. Would you like to see BBC ALBA on Freeview?
Yes, the Scottish Government has maintained since the launch of BBC ALBA that the network should be made available to all viewers in Scotland via Freeview.
2. In Scotland, on Freeview only, when BBC ALBA is on air (usually between the hours of 17:00 and 23:30 each weekday and after 16:00 at weekends), would you prefer to have either:
a) BBC ALBA or;
b) BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 live, 5 live Sports Extra, BBC 1Xtra, BBC Asian Network, BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 7, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio nan Gaidheal and BBC World Service
In the event that option a) is chosen the radio stations would still be available on a combination of FM/AM/LW, DAB and online. In the event that option b) is chosen BBC ALBA would still be available via satellite and online through BBC iPlayer.
Given Scottish Ministers have consistently maintained that BBC ALBA should be made available on Freeview, the Scottish Government is sympathetic to Option A as a short-term option. However, the Scottish Government would prefer in the long-term if a more satisfactory option could be developed.
This would enable radio listeners in Scotland to once again enjoy full access to radio stations, including through Freeview, in the same way that radio listeners throughout the rest of the UK are able to enjoy. Furthermore, the Scottish Government is aware that for some individuals and communities within Scotland, Freeview is the preferred platform for radio listening and/or broadcasting, particularly for digital stations that can only be accessed through more costly DAB radios. Consequently there is the potential for, an albeit small, proportation of the Scottish population to be disadvantaged by the removal of radio stations from transmission on Freeview, during the broadcasting hours of BBC ALBA. In the long term Scottish Ministers would be keen to see an effective resolution to this difficulty.
3. Do you currently listen to BBC Radio Stations on Freeview?
Not applicable.
4. Should Gaelic programming continue to be shown on BBC Two in Scotland instead of the programming received in the rest of the UK?
Yes, Scottish Ministers would see value in continuing to screen Gaelic programming on BBC Two in Scotland.
Considering the high profile of BBC Two, screening of Gaelic programming would prove beneficial to promoting Gaelic culture, identity and heritage by ensuring the widest possible audience is reached.. Additionally, as pointed out by BBC Management, the current arrangement is that all Gaelic programming shown on BBC Two is originated on BBC ALBA. Continuing this practice would afford producers of Gaelic content, as commissioned by BBC ALBA, an additional platform for showing their work.
It is also worth noting that the Scottish Broadcasting Commission found, in written and oral evidence and at public meetings, a consistent level of praise for the Gaelic current affairs series Eòrpa, which the Commission identified as an ambitious and purposeful programme of interest to both Gaelic and wider audiences. This demonstrates that some Gaelic series may well be of sufficient interest and quality to merit exposure to a wider audience by being broadcast on BBC Two.
5. Are there other ways in which we could put the channel on Freeview that you believe we should consider?
It may be worth exploring further the option of acquiring digital terrestrial television capacity from commercial providers. The Scottish Government the BBC Management observation that commercial multiplexes currently cover a significantly lower proportion of Scotland's population than the public service multiplexes that could be used under its existing proposal. Nonetheless, Scottish Ministers would encourage the BBC to more thoroughly investigate this option, to find out if a creative solution could be found through this mechanism.
6. Do you think distribution via broadband is an alternative to Freeview?
No. As highlighted in the response by BBC Management, Scottish Ministers are aware that there are currently limitations to this option. These revolve around lower levels of take-up in Scottish households, broadband speeds and more generally that audience behaviour is still maturing towards consuming content over broadband, in particular older, 'core' Gaelic audiences.
There is also the issue of broadband 'not-spots' in Scotland, where it is not possible for users to receive broadband services that have a broadband speed that meets the Universal Service Commitment minimum level of 2Mb/s. Those living in these 'not-spots' cannot properly access, online services such as the BBC's iPlayer or Skype.
According to Ofcom, out of the UK total of 28 BT local exchanges that did not meet this minimum speed at the end of 2008, 21 were in the Western Isles of Scotland. Consequently, broadband is not yet sufficiently developed to enable it to be considered a viable distribution option of BBC ALBA.
7. How could the service develop to provide better value for licence fee payers?
As a co-funder (through MG ALBA) of BBC ALBA, the Scottish Government is pleased to note that in a relatively short space of time and with funding of only approximately £15M, BBC ALBA has already made a successful contribution to the Gaelic community and Gaelic programme makers. Scottish producers, in their response to the Digital Britain consultation, expressed similarly positive remarks in relation to the contribution of BBC ALBA.
Scottish Ministers will encourage BBC ALBA to continue finding efficiencies in the way it funds and manages its operations. They would also wish to see BBC ALBA maintaining its active role as a publisher-broadcaster of Gaelic content.
8. Any other comments?
Nil.