Tech
MPs have questioned plans for a new Gaelic-language digital television channel.
Plans for the Gaelic Digital Service, from a BBC Scotland and the Gaelic Media Service partnership, are currently being reviewed by Ofcom and the BBC Trust.
However, the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee yesterday questioned it after being told it would cost £17.9 million a year to run and in light of BBC cuts.
A spokesman for the BBC said since it is a partnership and because BBC Scotland already produced Gaelic content the actual cost increase would be £2.5 million.
But John Whittingdale, committee chairman, commented: "Given the number of people that speak Gaelic, and the proportion that are going to be watching at any one time, to spend that amount of money on a service that is going to be viewed by such a tiny number of people seems like a strange sense of priorities.
"It is difficult to justify how this represents public value."
The BBC spokesman said: "The partnership arrangement aims to provide Gaelic viewers and listeners with a culturally distinctive, innovative and inclusive broadcast service.
"But these figures are slightly misleading. As BBC Scotland already provides some Gaelic content, we will only be spending an increase of £2.5million on the new service."
Plans for the Gaelic Digital Service, from a BBC Scotland and the Gaelic Media Service partnership, are currently being reviewed by Ofcom and the BBC Trust.
However, the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee yesterday questioned it after being told it would cost £17.9 million a year to run and in light of BBC cuts.
A spokesman for the BBC said since it is a partnership and because BBC Scotland already produced Gaelic content the actual cost increase would be £2.5 million.
But John Whittingdale, committee chairman, commented: "Given the number of people that speak Gaelic, and the proportion that are going to be watching at any one time, to spend that amount of money on a service that is going to be viewed by such a tiny number of people seems like a strange sense of priorities.
"It is difficult to justify how this represents public value."
The BBC spokesman said: "The partnership arrangement aims to provide Gaelic viewers and listeners with a culturally distinctive, innovative and inclusive broadcast service.
"But these figures are slightly misleading. As BBC Scotland already provides some Gaelic content, we will only be spending an increase of £2.5million on the new service."
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