BBC Radio nan Gàidheal

BBC Radio nan Gàidheal

Broadcast area	Scotland FM, DAB, TV United Kingdom BBC iPlayer, TV Worldwide BBC iPlayer
Frequency	FM: 103.5-105 MHz DAB Freeview: 720 (Scotland only) Freesat: 713 (110) Sky (UK only): 0139 (143) Virgin Media: 934
First air date	1985
Format	News, Entertainment, Speech, Showbiz
Language(s)	Scottish Gaelic
Former callsigns	BBC Radio Nan Eilean BBC Air A'Ghaidhealtachd
Owner	BBC Scotland
Website	www.bbc.co.uk/radionangaidheal

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 in Scotland.

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"; 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.

History

Main article: BBC Home Service

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 – BBC Radio na Gaidhealtachd – and on 5 October 1979 the Scottish Gaelic service BBC Radio nan Eilean was established in Stornoway. On 1 October 1985, these two separate services united to form Radio nan Gàidheal. The main base for Radio nan Gaidheal is on Seaforth Road in Stornoway, having moved in June 2014 from the Church Street studios.

Coverage

Radio nan Gàidheal broadcasts for over 90 hours every week, and joins BBC Radio Scotland's medium-wave feed when they close transmission. Radio nan Gàidheal 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 Trust, 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

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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 and talk programmes

News

The news (Scottish Gaelic: Naidheachdan) 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 time 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 presented by Mairead MacLennan and Seonag Monk.
• Fàilte air an Dùthaich (Welcome to the country) - Country music from the Ness to Nashville from Radio nan Gàidheal's studio in Pacific Quay in Glasgow 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".
• Rapal - 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, presented by Cathy MacDonald.
• Dèanamaid Adhradh - Weekly religious programme.
• 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 Murray, former Eòrpa reporter and spòrs commentator Derek Mackay and Ailig O'Henley and Ailean "Shabby" Macdonald.

See also

• List of Celtic-language media
• RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta – An Irish Gaelic sister station.
• BBC Alba - The BBC's Gaelic television channel.

External links

• BBC Radio nan Gàidheal at BBC Online