The BBC is proposing, in partnership with the Gaelic Media Service (GMS), the following service called the Gaelic Digital Service (GDS):
- A dedicated digital TV channel in Gaelic – on-air for up to seven hours per day (concentrated in, but not confined to, late afternoons and evenings). This would comprise 1.5 hours per day of originated programming (including existing output from the BBC), narrative repeats and archive content. The service may also draw on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal as a sustaining service when the TV channel is off-air. There would also be significantly enhanced Gaelic content for users of bbc.co.uk.
- The channel will offer Gaelic-language news and weather as well as a wide range of other genres, including comedy and drama as resources permit. A total of 1.5 hours of original content (either original production or reversioned foreign language shows) will be provided on a daily basis. Until switchover, this will include the two hours commissioned weekly for the BBC2 Gaelic zone.
- At least half of the programme fund contributed by GMS will be spent in the independent sector.
- A dedicated Gaelic-language digital TV channel offered in 2008 initially on satellite and broadband, and cable TV across the UK later that year. After digital switchover, the service will also be offered on digital terrestrial TV (Scotland only) and at this time, regular Gaelic programming will be withdrawn from BBC2.
- Subject to the completion of this PVT by Christmas and consequent BBC Trust approval, it is expected that the service would launch before the end of March 2008.
- The service would be licensed and regulated by the BBC Trust, and would be subject also to Ofcom regulation to the same extent as any other BBC service. The BBC proposes to manage the service jointly with GMS, although ultimate responsibility for editorial standards would rest with the Director-General of the BBC.
This document asks for views to allow Ofcom to assess whether it should be undertaking a simplified form of the market impact assessment process (MIA) for new BBC licence-fee funded services and substantial changes to existing services. Please note that if this consultation raises issues, Ofcom will follow the more normal process and longer timetable for an MIA including more extensive information gathering from stakeholders. In this event, a full MIA would inevitably cause some delay to the planned launch of the GDS. We are keen to receive the views of stakeholders whose businesses may be directly affected by the GDS and those who have a cultural or political interest in the Gaelic language. The key issue Ofcom needs to understand is what services, current or planned, are likely to be affected by the GDS and what will be the nature of these impacts.
Tha am BBC, an co-bhanntachd ri Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig, a’ moladh na seirbheis a leanas, ris an canar Seirbheis Dhidseatach Ghàidhlig (SDG):
- Sianal telebhisean ann an Gàidhlig – a’ craoladh suas ri seachd uairean san latha (gu h-àraidh, ach gun a bhith air a chuingealachadh ris a sin, anmoch feasgar agus air an fhionnairidh). Bhiodh seo a’ toirt a-steach uair gu leth san latha de phrògraman ùra (a’ cunntais phrògraman a’ BhBC an-dràsta), ath-chraoladh aithriseach agus stuth as an tasg-lann. Faodaidh an t-seirbheis cuideachd Radio nan Gàidheal aig a’ BhBC a chleachdadh mar sheirbheis chunbhalach nuair nach bi prògraman telebhisean rim faicinn. Cuideachd bhiodh mòran a-bharrachd de stuth Gàidhlig air a thairgse dhaibhsan a tha cleachdadh bbc.co.uk.
- Tairgidh an sianal naidheachdan is sìde ann an Gàidhlig agus raon farsaing phrògraman de chaochladh gnè, comadaidh is dràma ‘nam measg ma cheadaicheas airgead is goireasan. Gheibhear uair gu leth gach latha de stuth ùr (an dàrna cuid prògraman ùra no feadhainn air an tionndadh gu Gàidhlig o chànanan eile). Gus an gluaisear gu craoladh didseatach a-mhàin, bidh seo a’ toirt a-steach an dà uair a thìde san t-seachdainn de phrògraman Gàidhlig air BBC2.
- Thèid, air a’ char is lugha, dàrna leth de mhaoin nam prògraman a tha tighinn o Sheirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig a chosg anns an roinn neo-eisimeileach.
- Theid sianal telebhisean Gàidhlig a thairgse an toiseach ann a 2008 air saideal agus bann-leathann, agus air càbal thairis na Rìoghachd Aonaichte nas anmoiche den bhliadhna. An dèidh gluasad gu telebhisean didseatach a-mhàin, theid an t-seirbheis a thairgse air telebhisean didseatach talmhaidh (an Alba a-mhàin), agus aig an àm sin cha tèid prògraman Gàidhlig a shealltainn air BBC 2.
- Ma theid crioch a chur air an Deuchainn Luach Poblach (DLP) ro Nollaig agus gu bheil Urras a’ BhBC riaraichte gum faod an t-sèirbheis tòiseachadh, tha dùil gun tachair sin ro dheireadh a’ Mhàrt 2008.
- Bhiodh an t-seirbheis air a ceadachadh agus air a riaghladh le Urras a’ BhBC, ach bhiodh i cuideachd fo riaghladh Ofcom chun na h-aon ìre ‘s a tha seirbheisean eile a’ BhBC. Tha am BBC a’ moladh gu stiùir iad an t-seirbheis an co-bhanntachd ri Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig, ged is ann an urra ri Àrd-Stiùiriche a’ BhBC a bhios deagh-ghnè nam prògraman aig a’ cheann thall.
Tha am pàipear seo a’ sireadh bheachdan a bheir cothram do dh’Ofcom measadh a dheanamh air am bu chòir dhaibh a bhith cleachdadh modh sìmplidh son measadh na buaidh air a’ mhargadh (MBM) a bhios aig seirbheisean ùra pàighte le cìs-craolaidh a’ BhBC agus atharraichidhean susbainteach air seirbheisean th’ann an-dràsta. Ma thogas an co-chomhairleachadh seo ceistean, leanaidh Ofcom an dòigh àbhaisteach, le clar-ama nas fhaide, son MBM far am bheilear a’ sireadh barrachd fiosrachaidh bhuapasan aig a bheil ceangal ris a’ chuspair. Nan tachradh seo chan eil teagamh nach biodh dàil ann an cur SDG air chois. Tha sinn son beachdan fhaighinn bhuapa-san air am faodadh SDG buaidh a thoirt ann an seadh gniomhachail agus bhuapa-san aig a bheil ùidh cultarach no poiliticeach ann an Gàidhlig. ‘Si a’ cheist chudromach a dh’fheumas Ofcom a thoirt fanear dè na seirbheiseann, an-dràsta no ‘s an amharc, air a bheil SDG buailteach buaidh a thoirt agus dè an seòrsa buaidh a bhios ann.