GROWING DEMAND FOR STRENGTHENED BBC ALBA CAN REAP AUDIENCE AND ECONOMIC DIVIDENDS
Meeting the growing demand for increased resources for BBC ALBA can deliver for both audiences and the Scottish creative economy, MPs were told today.
MG ALBA – which operates the BBC ALBA in partnership with the BBC – said the opportunity to achieve parity for the Gaelic language channel with Welsh counterpart S4C had the potential to unlock substantial benefits for independent production sector as well as secure the future success of the channel amongst its core audience.
At a parliamentary event held at Westminster today (Monday 18 July), MPs were told about the desire from Gaelic audiences for the new Royal Charter to enshrine a commitment from the BBC to commit to 10 hours of new programming for BBC ALBA per week – up from the current level of 4.2 hours.
This commitment would bring BBC ALBA into line with S4C, which has enjoyed 10 hours of new programming per week from the BBC for the last 30 years.
It would also have a positive knock-on impact for the creative sector, which continues to benefit heavily from BBC ALBA. During 2015-16, BBC ALBA commissioned 454 hours of content from 26 different production companies.
MG ALBA chairperson, Maggie Cunningham, said: “Since the publication of the White Paper on Charter Renewal, we have seen growing momentum gathering behind a fairer deal for BBC ALBA.
“I’m pleased and grateful that MPs from across the political spectrum attended today to hear the compelling reasons why that deal is needed: to serve our audience properly and to boost the production sector in Scotland.
“BBC ALBA is currently allocated 3p of the £12.13 monthly licence fee. By comparison, the BBC spends more than 10 times that on S4C. However, we are not simply asking for more money. Existing BBC resources could and should be used more effectively to deliver for Gaelic audiences.”
Ms Cunningham highlighted last week’s publication of the Scotland Annual Review 2015-16 by the BBC Trust as evidence for the growing demand for improved BBC ALBA content.
Maggie Cunningham continued: “BBC ALBA has been an outstanding success since it launched in 2008 but it is clear that the channel has now reached a juncture where it needs more resources to continue its development. We have a repeat rate of 74% and it needs to be tackled.
“The recent BBC Trust Annual Review report acknowledged that whilst the channel is continuing to outperform viewership targets, it suffers from under-funding which may not be sustainable in the longer term.
“It is our firm belief that one mechanism to address this issue is by increased sharing of content from other BBC departments. We have seen excellent examples such as the Hebrides series that was successful across both BBC ALBA and BBC Scotland.
“This is not to say that BBC ALBA simply requires more content handed down from the main channels – a more responsive system of programme-making within the BBC may allow us to collaborate far easier across a range of genres including children’s programming, music and documentaries. Increasing original content to 10 hours per week does not have to mean a hugely increased pot of cash.”
The success of BBC ALBA’s Gaelic drama Bannan is one of a number of productions to provide a boost to the Highland & Islands creative economy and Ms Cunningham added its success could be built upon if BBC ALBA was strengthened with more original programming.
Ms Cunningham added: “The channel has had a very positive impact on the independent production sector: around half of all independent production commissions in Scotland are made by BBC ALBA and a recent economic impact report confirmed that almost 300 jobs result from MG ALBA’s activities, 40% of which are based in the Highlands and Islands. This includes BBC ALBA drama Bannan which has undertaken the majority of its production on the Isle of Skye.
“We are determined to improve even further on that and we are determined to ensure the next generation of creative talent has a platform to flourish. With a better base of original programming from the BBC for the channel – some of which may be conceived in cooperation with independent producers – there is more scope for enhancing Scotland’s creative sector and the economic benefits that brings.”
BBC ALBA BUILDS ON SUCCESS WITH NEW DRAMA EPISODES
Filming of Bannan a major boost for independent TV production sector
A new series of episodes of the popular BBC ALBA drama Bannan has been commissioned, it was announced today.
The filming of a further five episodes of the programme will give a significant boost to the creative industries in Scotland.
Funded by MG ALBA – the Gaelic Media Service – Bannan is filmed on the Isle of Skye and is produced by The Inbetweeners’ Chris Young and directed by Tony Kearney.
To date, 18 episodes have been filmed and the drama has proved to be one of the most watched programmes on BBC ALBA.
Announcing the new episodes at a preview screening at the Edinburgh Film Festival today (Sunday), Chris Young said: “As we host the premiere of the latest series of Bannan at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, there is no better way to celebrate the show’s continuing success than with this tremendous news. With these new episodes Bannan will be heading in an exciting new direction. Shooting starts in August so watch this space.”
As well as the new Bannan episodes, MG ALBA said today its vision remains to ‘build on the success of the channel’.
Launching its annual report in Edinburgh, chairperson Maggie Cunningham, said: “We’re delighted the channel enjoys very high levels of awareness in Scotland, offering both Gaelic speakers and non-Gaelic speakers unique programmes of interest and value.
“We continue to work on increasing our already significant impact on the independent production sector in Scotland, as we increase our expenditure on the sector and help create a culture of ambition and aspiration in our creative community and nowhere is this most evident than in our commitment to Bannan.”
However, Ms Cunningham said the channel needs further investment to develop.
She said: “Our audience is over-reliant on repeat material and this is the most serious deficit in our service on BBC ALBA. In our discussions with the UK Government and with the BBC, we have made clear that an increased level of content is essential in service development and it is vital that elements of our content are a “must watch” for the younger Gaelic demographic. We need a greater number of original programmes and a wider variety of content.
“This is an ideal time to invest in BBC ALBA, with the renewal of the BBC’s Charter at the end of this year. We have made strong representation to both the BBC and the UK Government over the past year. We believe that the BBC must make the same core commitment to BBC ALBA as it has done to S4C in Wales for the past 30 years, that is, a minimum of 10 hours per week of original BBC programming. For BBC ALBA, that means a commitment of an additional five hours per week.”
Donald Campbell, chief executive of MG ALBA, said: “In 2015-16 we made a significant investment in high quality new or original Gaelic production, with a spend of £9.9m generating 454 hours from 26 different production companies. Of that, £8.6m was spent with the independent production sector. An economic impact report confirmed that almost 300 jobs result from MG ALBA’s activities, 40% of which are based in the Highlands and Islands.
“Over the last year the channel has maintained a very strong performance. It is continually evident that the greatest demand is for new or original programmes. With only 13.3 hours of first-run programmes on average each week – a repeat ratio of 74% – it was significant that the core audience increased their average weekly viewing time from 4.4 to 4.8 hours and the national audience from 1.7 to 1.8 weekly hours.
“BBC ALBA was not exempt from the wider trends affecting linear television viewership, with average weekly reach in Scotland falling slightly to 15%, still well ahead of the benchmark expectation of 10%. Online viewing of our Gaelic media content continued to face the double challenge of discoverability on a densely populated iPlayer and poor broadband provision in many areas of core viewership. Many Gaelic-speaking communities still do not enjoy the necessary bandwidth or reliability required for the streaming of audio-visual content on the iPlayer.”
Read the annual report here
COVETED MG ALBA TV WRITING SCHOLARSHIP UP FOR GRABS
Talented Gaelic writers are being given the opportunity to apply for a coveted MG ALBA scholarship to study television fiction writing at Glasgow Caledonian University.
The MA Television Fiction Writing course is the only dedicated one year postgraduate programme of its type in the UK, providing aspiring screenwriters with the tools to embark upon or strengthen their career in television fiction writing, and MG ALBA are supporting a placement on the course for one Gaelic speaker.
Taught by a combination of leading TV scriptwriters and academic staff including course lecturer Professor Ann Marie Di Mambro whose credits include EastEnders, Casualty and River City, students on the course will work intensively on at least two drama series currently transmitting on British television, learning how to story conference, storyline, write scripts and edit these dramas.
Seumas MacMillan was the MG ALBA scholar in 2014 and is now one of the writers on BBC ALBA’s Gaelic drama Bannan.
Reflecting on the course, Seumas said: “The MA in TV Fiction Writing is unique in that tutors are TV writers themselves and their guidance and support allows students to develop the craft skills necessary to pursue a screenwriting career.
“The course provided me with not only the skillset but the mindset to take my profession forward and I have been fortunate to work on BBC ALBA’s first drama series Bannan which has been a huge development in my career and I would encourage all talented Gaelic writers to apply.”
The MG ALBA scholarship will be awarded to one person, fluent in Gaelic, who will join the programme in September 2016. Applications need to be submitted before Thursday 26th May.
For more information on the MA TV Fiction Writing programme and how to apply for an MG ALBA scholarship visit: www.tvfictionwriting.com or follow @MATVGlasgow on Twitter.
NEW BOARD MEMBERS NAMED FOR MG ALBA
MG ALBA (The Gaelic Media Service) has welcomed the news that Ofcom has today (Friday 6 May) appointed two new Board members with Mairi Kidd and Calum Ferguson taking up their respective roles with effect from 1/5/16 for a period of 4 years.
Maggie Cunningham (Chairman), David Brew, Jo MacDonald and Dugald MacAulay have also been reappointed with terms running for four years. MG ALBA also bid farewell to Alasdair MacCaluim whose term on the board has come to an end after eight years.
Follow this link for more information on the new members.
FRESH DESIGN AND HOME FOR GAELIC LEARNERS’ SITE, ‘LITTLE BY LITTLE’
The BBC ALBA Gaelic learners’ website, Little by Little, has been redesigned as new on LearnGaelic.Scot with an attractive new interface with more information.
The website aims to give learners an opportunity to learn basic Gaelic, little by little. Amongst other things, people will get the chance to listen to Gaelic words, phrases, proverbs and songs.
The website was first published in 2001 became one of the most-loved websites for learners on the BBC Gaelic website.
The learning content for Little by Little was written by Roddy MacLean who is well-known through the radio series Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (Letter to Gaelic Learners) and An Litir Bheag (The Little Letter) programmes for learners that are broadcast on BBC Radio nan Gaidheal.
This all gives the learners an opportunity to learn the Gaelic sounds, learn about grammar and gain an understanding of how the sounds are created. You can also learn five Gaelic songs with Sineag MacIntyre.
To view the new site here
MG ALBA SUPPORTS GAELIC MEDIA APPRENTICESHIP WITH BBC AND GLASGOW KELVIN COLLEGE
MG ALBA, the Gaelic media service, is to participate for the first time in an innovative apprenticeship scheme designed to nurture the next generation of broadcast media talent.
The partnership, run by Glasgow Kelvin College and BBC Scotland, is about to enter its sixth programme, with 11 students participating in the 2016/17 course.
For the first time, one student – with the support of MG ALBA – will have the opportunity to work across Gaelic platforms such as BBC ALBA and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.
In doing so, the candidate will have the chance to gain experience in many of the departments providing content to the channel, including children’s, news-gathering, factual and sport.
With BBC ALBA also accounting for around 50% of the total programme making output from Scotland’s independent production sector, there will also be the opportunity for the apprentice to spend time working with a number of the channel’s independent programme suppliers.
The busy schedule will also see apprentices spending two days per month at Glasgow Kelvin College learning many of the technical and vocational skills they might require in the broadcast media industry, as well as personal development and core skills.
There will also be the opportunity for the apprentice to spend time on placement at the Creative Industries Media Centre in Stornoway – home of MG ALBA and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.
By September this year, 50 young people will have already completed this exciting apprenticeship programme over the previous five programmes. The apprenticeship programme has provided a springboard to careers in TV production and journalism, with some of the former young students going onto degrees in higher education and others moving onto further work at the BBC or other media production organisations.
Iseabail Mactaggart, Director of Development and Partnership at MG ALBA, said: “The BBC Apprenticeship programme has been proven to be an excellent route for young people to enter the broadcasting sector so we are pleased that MG ALBA is supporting the partnership this year and offering one of the apprentices the chance to learn their trade within Gaelic media.
“The apprenticeship is a good fit for MG ALBA, with our partners at BBC Scotland and Glasgow Kelvin College – which is the only further education institution to deliver full-time Gaelic classes on the Scottish mainland – both experienced in training high-quality graduates from the scheme.
“We have been committed to offering opportunities for the next generation of talent to flourish through initiatives such as FilmG, placements we sponsor with companies within the creative sector and through awards such as the Celtic Media Festival bursaries we announced recently.
“MG ALBA was recognised in 2015 as an Investor in Young People and we are committed to building upon this and providing more and more routes for training and development in the years ahead.”
DOUBLE SUCCESS FOR GAELIC RADIO AT MEDIA AWARDS
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal has been celebrating a double success after winning two awards at the Celtic Media Festival 2016 which was held in Dungarvan near Waterford and which came to a close last weekend.
Spors na Seachdain, the weekly Sports programme won the Best Sports category for its programme from the 2015 Island Games in Jersey while Mire ri Mòir won the Best Radio Music category for its broadcast on the final day of the Royal National Mod 2015 held in Oban.
Marion Mackinnon, Managing Editor for BBC Radio nan Gàidheal said: “Winning these two awards is a real thrill, recognising as it does, the creativity and commitment of the presenters and the production teams as well as the very special connection they have with the audience.”
This year’s festival saw over 500 entries from throughout the different Celtic nations while the 2017 Celtic Media Festival will be staged for the first time ever in its history on the Isle of Man.
BBC ALBA PROGRAMMES SHORTLISTED IN ROYAL TELEVISION SOCIETY AWARDS 2016
A number of BBC ALBA programmes have been shortlisted in this year’s Royal Television Society (RTS) Scotland awards.
The RTS awards are the gold standard of achievement in the television industry recognising excellence across the entire range of programme making and broadcasting skills.
Three BBC ALBA programmes have been nominated in the RTS Scotland Awards after a number of the channel’s programmes were submitted in a variety of award categories.
Vilte Vaitkute, editor of media co-op’s ‘The Wee Govan Pipers / Pìobairean Beaga Bhaile Ghobhainn’ documentary which was produced for BBC ALBA, is in the running for the Best Post Production: Editing award. The hour long documentary (broadcast, New Year’s Day) charts the first 18 months of the new Govan Schools Pipe Band. It was narrated by Ewen Henderson of the band Mànran who also wrote the original music for the film.
‘Tartan Pride’ and ‘Jim Baxter’, both films produced by purpleTV for BBC ALBA, are competing against each other in the Best Sports Programme category alongside BBC Scotland’s ‘Sportscene at 40’.
Presented by Alex O’Henley, ‘Tartan Pride’ (broadcast, January 2015) is a factual entertainment documentary film about the historical, emotional and cultural impact of the Scotland v England ‘Auld Enemy’ football fixture.
The ‘Jim Baxter’ film, also presented by Alex O’Henley, (first broadcast September 2015 and repeated tonight, 14th April 2016, at 9pm) explores the life of the legendary Crossgates Primrose, Raith Rovers, Rangers and Scotland footballer who died of pancreatic cancer in 2001 at the age of 61.
Margot McCuaig of purpleTV who wrote, produced and directed both films, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved two nominations in this year’s awards. Both films were a pleasure to work on given the emotive content of each and to gain this level of appreciation for them is a real honour. Our Jock Stein documentary scooped the Best Sports Documentary Award 2015 so to be in the running again this year is fantastic for the entire team at purple.”
Louise Scott, producer from media co-op, said: “I am so thrilled that my colleague Vilte, who came to media co-op first for mentoring when she was an apprentice on an ethnic minorities film scheme, is now getting the industry recognition she deserves for her editing talent. Whether we win or not, we are enormously proud to be one of only three films shortlisted for the editing craft category.”
Alan Esslemont, head of content for BBC ALBA said: “To have three programmes shortlisted in this year’s RTS Scotland awards is a huge testament to the high quality content available on BBC ALBA across a variety of programme genres.
“The Wee Govan Pipers was a real hit with our viewers and is a heart-warming documentary which used some of the footage filmed by the pupils featuring in the film, so it is particularly pleasing to see it in the running for Best Post Production award for editing.
“Having been involved in the initial commissioning stages of the two purple TV sports films it is hugely rewarding to see them gaining recognition within the highly competitive television industry, and I wish the nominees the very best of luck at the prestigious award ceremony.”
The winners will be announced at a ceremony hosted by newsreader, Catriona Shearer and popular TV actor, Sanjeev Kohli on Wednesday 25th May at the Òran Mòr, Glasgow.
BBC ALBA TO MOVE UP THE CHANNEL LISTINGS ON SKY, FREESAT AND FREEVIEW
BBC ALBA is set to move up the electronic programme guide (EPG) listings on Sky, Freesat and Freeview.
The channel will move up one place with the new EPG slots for BBC ALBA being as follows:
BBC ALBA will remain on Virgin Media 161 and will continue to be available on BBC iPlayer.
Some viewers may have to retune their equipment to update their on-screen programme guide if changes are not picked up automatically and it is unlikely that programme recordings will be affected.
Other BBC channels will also be moving slots with BBC One HD moving to Sky 115 and Freesat 106, BBC Two moving to Sky 141 and Freesat 108 and BBC Four moving to Sky 143 and Freesat 110.
Margaret Mary Murray, Head of Service at BBC ALBA said: “BBC ALBA has steadily moved up the EPG channel listings since it first aired almost eight years ago and now enjoys prominent positions across each viewing platform. The enhanced listings offer great accessibility for audiences across Scotland to enjoy the channel’s rich and diverse programme content.”
BBC ALBA has been successful in attracting both Gaelic and non-Gaelic viewers, with factual documentaries, popular lifestyle series, music and events coverage, as well as live sports coverage being amongst the most popular genres on the channel. The regular daily schedule of local, national and international news and current affairs content also continues to attract audiences.
New and exciting programmes have been introduced across all genres including the channel’s new drama, Bannan, popular children’s TV programmes including Ceitidh Morag and Ben & Hoilidh, to new sports coverage over the past year including live curling and orienteering championships. Key strands of the channel’s offering remain including Trusadh documentary series, popular music show Port and long standing children’s series ‘Dè a-nis?’. Programmes on the channel are also broadcast for learners of Gaelic and those interested in Gaelic language and culture.
Over 22 production companies produce programme content for BBC ALBA, contributing to and stimulating Scotland’s creative industries.
MG ALBA LISTED AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN TELEVISION
One of the partners behind BBC ALBA has been ranked as one of television’s best places to work alongside eminent industry names such as Bloomberg, Hat Trick Productions and Talkback.
MG ALBA, the Gaelic media service – which operates BBC ALBA in partnership with the BBC – has been recognised by sector journal Broadcast for industry-leading culture alongside 16 other UK-based corporations in ‘The Best Place to Work in TV 2016’ league.
The shortlist is compiled through independent research carried out by the magazine, with executive management and staff members at companies across Britain asked to give their views about their own organisation and its culture which is then rated against a series of established benchmarks.
As the only Scottish-based company to feature in the league, being ranked seventh ahead of Bloomberg in eight, MG ALBA was also noted to have the highest average number of training development hours per year – 97 – of any company that made the final selection.
Donald Campbell, chief executive of MG ALBA, said: “It is a great accolade for MG ALBA to be recognised at one of the best places to work in television in the UK. As the only Scottish representative in the shortlist – and with the majority of staff based on the Isle of Lewis – we are very different from the rest of the companies that are listed by Broadcast magazine.
“Yet, that difference we believe is one of our strengths and the community ethos we have in Stornoway is fostered across the organisation as part of our culture.
“We are delighted that our commitment to developing the potential of staff members through our training programmes, has been recognised and this augments our wider work with the next generation of creative talent through many of our initiatives such as FilmG as well as industry placements.
“BBC ALBA acts as the public face of much of the work MG ALBA carries out but it is a credit to everyone within the organisation that they each contribute so much to a positive atmosphere that makes our jobs so enjoyable during that process.”
Fiona MacKenzie of MG ALBA, who first started working in the reception and who is now the face of BBC ALBA, said: “MG ALBA is definitely a brilliant place to work with a good mix of people and talents and we are all encouraged and supported to think about how we can progress within the organisation.
“In my time with MG ALBA I have moved from an admin role to fronting various BBC ALBA programmes such as coverage of major Scottish music festival Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, the motoring show ‘Air an Rathad’ and having a recurring role in comedies ‘Dà Là san Dàmhair’ and ‘Gaol @ Gael’. There has always been great support from colleagues and management which has allowed me to do these things and I’m grateful for each of these opportunities.”
The Best Places to Work in TV research found that of those companies making the shortlist, 95% of respondents believed their company was a “fun” place to work with 91% of employees questioned said they “look forward” to going to work.
The 17 companies making the grade varied in size from 19 staff to 97 and include 13 independents, two facilities companies and two specialist broadcasters.
This industry-focused ward is another to add to MG ALBA’s accolades having recently been recognised as an Investor in Young People, being the first Gaelic organisation in Scotland to have achieved silver status and one of only nine organisations from throughout Scotland to have been accredited at this level.
