BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal is a Scottish Gaelic language radio station owned and operated by BBC Scotland, a division of the BBC. The station was launched in 1985 and broadcasts Gaelic-language programming with the simulcast of BBC Radio Scotland. Its headquarters is located on Seaforth Road, Stornoway along with BBC Alba and MG Alba.
Scotland: FM, DAB and Television
United Kingdom: BBC Sounds and television
BBC GAEL
Scottish Gaelic,
English
News, music, sport, talk, entertainment
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
1 October 1985
BBC Radio Nan Eilean,
BBC Air A'Ghaidhealtachd
The station is available from FM transmitters throughout Scotland: its service licence states that "BBC Radio nan Gàidheal should be available every day for general reception across Scotland on FM";[1] it can also be heard on digital television platforms, DAB Digital Radio, and online.
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal programmes are also broadcast (with an in-vision graphical overlay) on the Scottish Gaelic digital television channel BBC Alba during periods when the channel is not carrying television programmes.[2]
Coverage[edit]
Radio nan Gàidheal broadcasts for over 90 hours every week,[2] and joins BBC Radio Scotland's medium-wave feed when they close transmission.[5] Since BBC Radio Scotland itself joins BBC Radio 5 Live when it signs off, the same applies to Radio nan Gàidheal as well during parts of Gàidheal's sign-off time. Radio nan Gàidheal now frequently broadcasts important Scottish football matches providing Gaelic commentary.
Radio nan Gàidheal shows are available for 30 days after most recent broadcast on the BBC Sounds app and on the BBC's website.[6]
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.[7] Both letters are also available at learngaelic.net, with transcripts.[8]
Funding[edit]
The service budget for 2009 was £3.9m with a change of any more than 10% requiring approval of the BBC Trust.[9] The service budget in 2011 was almost the same as 2009 at £3.8m and requires the same controls as previous licences.[1] This funding comes from the BBC Trust, the governing body of the BBC which is operationally independent of management and external bodies.[10] As is the same with all BBC Radio and TV stations, the channel is funded by the licence fees gathered.