BBC Trust to probe Gaelic Digital Service

[BGonaSTICK]

The BBC's governing body, the BBC Trust, is to conduct a public value test (PVT) on plans put forward by the BBC's management team to create a Gaelic Digital Service.

The PVT will be launched later this month when a full timetable will be published, along with full details of the service. A 21-day consultation will then be held into the Trust's public value assessment, and a market impact assessment, which will be conducted by media regulator Ofcom.

A final decision on whether the BBC Gaelic Digital Service goes ahead will be published by December 19.

According to BBC News Online, the Gaelic channel will be run as a partnership between BBC Scotland and Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (Gaelic Media Service), and could be on air by March 2008.

A spokesman for BBC Scotland was quoted as saying: "We are delighted that the BBC Trust is proceeding with the public value test. BBC Scotland and the Gaelic Media Service will continue to work together on the development of the proposal over the coming months."