The boss of Scotland’s Gaelic television service has blasted the BBC over high repeat rates, a lack of investment and not providing high definition (HD) picture quality on its dedicated channel.
Allan MacDonald, the recently appointed chairman of MG Alba, the body that operates the BBC Alba channel in partnership with the national BBC, claimed there was “no acceptable basis” for a “second-class service”.
In his message in the company’s annual report, published yesterday, he said the Gaelic channel was being “severely challenged” by a 75% repeat rate.
He also highlighted that BBC Alba only had standard definition (SD) picture quality, not HD which, in comparison, is currently enjoyed by Welsh TV channel S4C.
MG Alba received £7.9million last year from the BBC – compared to S4C’s £75m – while an additional £12m comes from a Scottish Government subsidy.
The chairman has called on the BBC, regulator Ofcom, and the Scottish and UK governments to engage in a dialogue and reach a new settlement for Gaelic broadcasting.
Mr MacDonald said: “We will encourage the BBC to be open and transparent about the principles and protocol on which it bases its allocation of resources to Gaelic broadcasting, and how it ensures parity of approach between the indigenous minority languages which are part of its overall cultural responsibility across the UK.
“The overall framework for Gaelic media provision urgently needs to be reviewed and invigorated.
“The existing funding settlement, which has no long-term security, will not be sufficient to meet the public service rights of those we serve or to fully address the challenges ahead of us.”
He added: “Even as it currently stands, it is only capable of sustaining 25% of the schedule as first-run programmes (75% are repeats).
“This is in stark contrast to the new BBC Scotland channel to which the BBC has made a commitment that no more than 50% of its output will comprise of repeats.”
“It is disappointing that after 10 years of success in programme-making, BBC Alba remains technically disadvantaged in that it is broadcast with lower picture quality than other public service channels.”
Margaret Mary Murray, BBC Scotland’s head of Gaelic services, said: “We are ambitious for the service and, working in partnership with MG Alba, we look forward to participating in dialogue about its on-going development.”
“In the last year alone, news programme An Là has been extended into the weekend [and] a deal has been struck with CBeebies and CBBC, which has substantially increased the amount of original Gaelic children’s content on the channel.”
A Scottish Government spokesman added it was “a strong supporter” of BBC Alba and has been a principal funder of the channel since its launch, added: “The Scottish Government recognises the points made in the MG Alba annual report and is fully supportive of the request for dialogue and would be happy to participate in a review along with other parties.”