Gaelic TV channel goes live

Published on Saturday 20 September 2008 01:03

THE UK's first Gaelic language television channel went live last night.

BBC Alba, which has been ten years in the making, launched by taking over BBC2 for 90 minutes.

Programme makers hope that documentaries about US tycoon Donald Trump and French footballer Zinedine Zidane will attract new viewers and have signed up Chewin' The Fat star Greg Hemphill to play Elvis in a 1970s drama.

The head of service for BBC Alba, Margaret Mary Murray, said: "The Gaelic audience will benefit first and foremost, but we also hope that the channel will appeal to an audience across Scotland.

"Our programmes will be subtitled in English, and we hope we will deliver programmes on subjects that will appeal to mainstream Scotland."

The culture minister, Linda Fabiani, said:

"The channel will play a key role in promoting Gaelic and making it accessible to a national audience. It will also make a significant contribution to ensuring a sustainable and successful future for Gaelic."

It will be available on satellite and cable throughout the UK, with content available online. It will not be available on Freeview before 2010.