BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
Encyclopedia
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal is a British radio station, broadcasting in Scottish Gaelic. It is operated by the BBC
as part of its portfolio of television and radio services broadcasting to Scotland
.
The station is available on FM transmitters in Scotland with its service licence stating that "BBC Radio nan Gàidheal should be available every day for general reception across Scotland on FM"; it can also be heard on digital television platforms, DAB Digital Radio
, and online.
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal also broadcasts alongside a graphical overlay on the Scottish Gaelic digital television channel BBC Alba during downtime
periods when the TV service is not broadcasting programmes.
's medium-wave feed when they close transmission. now frequently broadcasts important Scottish football matches providing Gaelic commentary.
Podcasts of some shows are available from the BBC website and on iTunes for some time after transmission. These include two programmes aimed at learners of the language, entitled Letter to Gaelic Learners and The Little Letter, the latter being a more basic version of the former.
, the governing body of the BBC which is operationally independent of management and external bodies. As is the same with all BBC Radio and TV stations, the channel is funded by the licence fees gathered.
Shows containing other local and national news include:
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as part of its portfolio of television and radio services broadcasting to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The station is available on FM transmitters in Scotland with its service licence stating that "BBC Radio nan Gàidheal should be available every day for general reception across Scotland on FM"; it can also be heard on digital television platforms, DAB Digital Radio
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
, and online.
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal also broadcasts alongside a graphical overlay on the Scottish Gaelic digital television channel BBC Alba during downtime
Downtime
The term downtime is used to refer to periods when a system is unavailable.Downtime or outage duration refers to a period of time that a system fails to provide or perform its primary function...
periods when the TV service is not broadcasting programmes.
History
Scottish Gaelic-language programming has been transmitted in Scotland since 1923, and the BBC's Gaelic-language department was established in 1935. BBC Radio Highland produced a range of Gaelic programming – – and on 5 October 1979 the Scottish Gaelic service was established in Stornoway. In 1985 these two separate services united to form .Coverage
Radio nan Gàidheal broadcasts for over 90 hours every week, and joins BBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
's medium-wave feed when they close transmission. now frequently broadcasts important Scottish football matches providing Gaelic commentary.
Podcasts of some shows are available from the BBC website and on iTunes for some time after transmission. These include two programmes aimed at learners of the language, entitled Letter to Gaelic Learners and The Little Letter, the latter being a more basic version of the former.
Funding
The service budget for 2009 was £3.9m with a change of any more than 10% requiring approval of the BBC Trust. The service budget in 2011 was almost the same as 2009 at £3.8m and requires the same controls as previous licences. This funding comes from the BBC TrustBBC Trust
The BBC Trust is the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is operationally independent of BBC management and external bodies, and aims to act in the best interests of licence fee payers....
, the governing body of the BBC which is operationally independent of management and external bodies. As is the same with all BBC Radio and TV stations, the channel is funded by the licence fees gathered.
Programming
A full list of programmes broadcast on Radio nan Gaidheal is available on the BBC Website, this section contains a list of prominent programmes.News
The news is broadcast in three minute bulletins five times a day during the week and three times a day on a Saturday.Shows containing other local and national news include:
- Aithris an Fheasgair - Local and national news.
- Aithris na Maidne - The main morning news and current affairs programme of Radio nan Gàidheal. Presented by Seumas Dòmhnallach, Dòmhnall Moireasdan, Iain MacIlleathain, Angela NicIlleathain and Innes Rothach. It covers a wide news agenda, encompassing national and international affairs, Highland and Island issues and issues pertaining specifically to the Gàidhealtachd.
Current affairs and Drivetime
- Coinneach MacÌomhair - Daily topical programme with light-hearted reflections and fun along with debates, discussions and deliberations about the news. Presented by Kenneth Maciver (Coinneach MacÌomhair) from the Stornoway studio.
- Siubhal gu Seachd le Pluto - Drive timeDrive timeDrive time is the daypart analog to prime time for radio broadcasting. It consists of the morning hours when listeners wake up, get ready, and/or head to work or school, and the afternoon hours when they are heading home and before their evening meal. These are the periods where the number of...
show containing entertainment and the latest news with Derek 'Pluto' Murray.
Music programmes
- A' Mire ri Mòir - Presented by Mòrag Dhòmhnallach (MacDonald). Traditional Gaelic music and general chat every weekday from BBC studio in Inverness.
- Caithream Ciùil - Daily afternoon programme featuring Celtic music and interviews with many famous Celtic musicians including Mary Ann Kennedy from their Stornoway studio.
- Fàilte air an Dùthaich (Welcome to the country) - Country music from the NessRiver NessThe River Ness is a river flowing from Loch Ness in Scotland, north to Inverness and the Moray Firth. On a hill above the river in Inverness stands Inverness Castle. The river is overlooked by the Eden Court Theatre, one of the largest theatres in Scotland. St. Andrews Cathedral also lies along...
to Nashville from Radio nan Gàidheal's studio in Pacific QuayPacific Quay StudiosBBC Pacific Quay is BBC Scotland's television and radio studio complex at Pacific Quay, Glasgow, Scotland. Opened by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in August 2007, the studios are home to BBC Scotland's television, radio and online services and the headquarters of the BBC in Scotland.The...
in GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
every week.
- Mac'illeMhìcheil - Weekly Gaelic and country music show presented by Iain Mac'illeMhìcheil (John Carmichael), with his guests from the Glasgow studio.
- Na Dùrachdan (The Wishes) - Music request show where listeners can request songs by telephone, internet and email. Presented from Inverness.
- Oran an Là - Five minute broadcast containing a "Song for the Day".
- RapalRapalRapal is a BBC Alba music television programme and radio show on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. Rapal broadcast its first programme on the radio on the 28th of May, 2001, presented by Niall Iain McDonald. Rapal expanded to TV in 2007, and added Anndra Robasdan and Michelle NicDhomhnaill to the presenting...
- show dedicated to new music including rock and pop, currently presented by Emma MacInnes.
Other programmes
- Aileag - Gaelic children's programme featuring modern-day and Celtic music, interviews and information. It is a weekly show, first broadcast on Friday then repeated on Saturday. Aileag is broadcast from the BBC's Stornoway studio and first started in 1992. It is presented by Karen Mhoireasdan (Morrison) & Janice Anne Mackay.
- Feasgar - Lunchtime show including news, debate, music and entertainment.
- Dèanamaid Adhradh - Weekly religious programme from SkyeSkyeSkye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
. - Spòrs na Seachdain (Week's Sport) - Weekly sports programme. It broadcasts local, national and international sport with John Morrison. It is presented from Pacific Quay in Glasgow. Guests include Radio Personality of the Year 2008, Derek MurrayDerek Murray (sports presenter)Derek Murray a.k.a. Derek "Pluto", is the sports presenter on BBC Alba's flagship news programme, An Là. He also provides football commentary on the channel and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and is an occasional reporter on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound. He was also commentator on "An Caman", a shinty...
, former EòrpaEòrpais long-running current affairs programme broadcast on BBC Two Scotland and BBC Alba. The series has been running since 1993, and has covered political and social issues affecting Europe and Europeans over that time including issues affecting the Western Isles. It is broadcast weekly in Scottish...
reporter and spòrsSpòrsBBC Alba has the rights to various sporting events, which it covers in the medium of Scottish Gaelic and under the umbrella of its Spòrs sports television programme....
commentator Derek Mackay and Ailig O'Henley and Ailean "Shabby" Macdonald.
See also
- List of Celtic language media
- RTÉ Raidió na GaeltachtaRTÉ Raidió na GaeltachtaRTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta , abbreviated RnaG, is the Irish-language radio service of the public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. The station is available on FM in Ireland and via satellite and on the Internet.- History :...
– An Irish-Gaelic sister station. - BBC AlbaBBC AlbaBBC Gàidhlig is the department of BBC Scotland that produces Scottish Gaelic language programming. This includes TV programmes for BBC Alba and BBC Two Scotland, the BBC Radio nan Gàidheal radio station and the BBC Alba website.-Television:...
- The BBC's Gaelic television channel.