BEGINS Andrew Whitaker, in The Scotsman (page 7): “The UK government is to withdraw [one million pounds of] funding for the Scottish Gaelic language digital television channel, BBC Alba, as part of Chancellor George Osborne’s spending plans.”
Assuming it goes ahead, that will leave the channel with just two funding sources: £12.8m from the Scottish Government and also backing from the BBC.
The story is also reported, here, in The Herald.
Kate Devlin begins: “Campaigners have warned of a ‘major blow’ to Gaelic television after George Osborne quietly axed UK Government funding.
“The Chancellor did not renew a £1 million-a-year grant from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
“S4C, the Welsh channel, has also seen a large chunk of its support cut as it also emerged that BBC Three is to move online from February.
“The £1m amounts to around five per cent of Gaelic channel BBC Alba’s budget, but 100 per cent of the cash it receives from UK ministers.”
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WIDELY reported, including here, in The Herald: “Crimewatch presenter, [Scot] Kirsty Young, is stepping down after seven years, saying it was a ‘privilege’ to host the show.
“The 47 year-old will take the helm of her last Crimewatch programme on BBC One in December.”
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BEGINS an announcement, issued today: “A new magazine covering Scotland’s £3.5bn events and festivals sector launches this month.
“EventsBase, from Edinburgh-based Canongate Communications, has been put together by award-winning journalists and magazine designers.
“Published quarterly, it goes behind the scenes to report on events and festivals through the eyes of organisers, suppliers and sponsors.”
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SAYS broadcasting regulators, Ofcom: “Community radio, which offers thousands of volunteers the chance to get involved in broadcasting across the UK, is now ten years old.
“The last decade has seen the number of community radio stations increase from just a handful to more than 230 stations, each reflecting the local needs and interests of its audience.
“Community radio is a not-for-profit sector, largely run by an army of 20,000 dedicated volunteers, who collectively work for around 2.5 million hours1 every year to bring original programming and locally-made content to listeners around the country.”
Read more, here.
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