BBC's Gael farce

Published on Thursday 19 November 2009 21:30

I find it strange that Lesley Riddoch (Opinion, 16 November) can write: "BBC Alba began transmitting last year and has done well in critical and popular terms."

Viewing figures have fallen from 610,000 in the four weeks after launch to 220,000 recently, and the hope of those who started the channel is that Freeview exposure can halt the decline. Critics have also noted that figures are artificially boosted by the station's screening of material that will attract non-Gaelic speakers.

The current BBC Trust consultation is about whether BBC Scotland will be allowed to sacrifice all 13 of its Freeview radio channels to extend the Gaelic channel's reach – ditching English-language programming that people want to give them Gaelic programming they don't.

I have nothing against Gaelic – let Gaelic speakers speak it – but let's not pretend the rest of us want to pay them to do so.

CRAWFORD MACKIE

Aitken Street

Kirkcaldy, Fife