Gaelic Media Service
Encyclopedia
MG ALBA is the operating name of the Gaelic Media Service . The organisation’s remit, under the Communications Act 2003
, is to ensure that a wide and diverse range of high quality Gaelic programmes is made available to persons in Scotland
. In addition to the former mandate to fund programme production and development, training, audience research and related activities, the new Service was given new powers to make, schedule and commission programmes and the authority to seek a broadcast licence. This gave MG ALBA the impetus to pursue its vision of managing a sustainable Scottish Gaelic media service that is vibrant, comprehensive, cost-effective, contemporary, and reflective of the finest quality of public service broadcasting.
The Communications Act specifies that "the functions of the Service shall be to secure that a wide and diverse range of high quality programmes in Gaelic are broadcast or otherwise transmitted so as to be available to persons in Scotland".
MG ALBA has offices in Stornoway
and Glasgow
.
MG ALBA has formed a partnership with the BBC
to broadcast BBC Alba, Scotland’s Gaelic TV channel, which was launched on 19 September 2008.
MG ALBA's remit also includes training and development for people working in Gaelic broadcasting. One of its talent development initiatives is Film G, a Gaelic short film competition whose winners are given opportunity to develop their programme ideas to broadcast standard.
Communications Act 2003
The Communications Act 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It gave regulation body Ofcom its full powers. Among other measures, it introduced legal recognition of Community Radio and paved the way for full-time Community Radio services in the UK; as well as controversially...
, is to ensure that a wide and diverse range of high quality Gaelic programmes is made available to persons in 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...
. In addition to the former mandate to fund programme production and development, training, audience research and related activities, the new Service was given new powers to make, schedule and commission programmes and the authority to seek a broadcast licence. This gave MG ALBA the impetus to pursue its vision of managing a sustainable Scottish Gaelic media service that is vibrant, comprehensive, cost-effective, contemporary, and reflective of the finest quality of public service broadcasting.
The Communications Act specifies that "the functions of the Service shall be to secure that a wide and diverse range of high quality programmes in Gaelic are broadcast or otherwise transmitted so as to be available to persons in Scotland".
MG ALBA has offices in Stornoway
Stornoway
Stornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.The town's population is around 9,000, making it the largest settlement in the Western Isles and the third largest town in the Scottish Highlands after Inverness and Fort William...
and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow 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...
.
MG ALBA has formed a partnership with the BBC
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...
to broadcast BBC Alba, Scotland’s Gaelic TV channel, which was launched on 19 September 2008.
MG ALBA's remit also includes training and development for people working in Gaelic broadcasting. One of its talent development initiatives is Film G, a Gaelic short film competition whose winners are given opportunity to develop their programme ideas to broadcast standard.