Tele-G
Encyclopedia
TeleG was established as the first daily digital Gaelic TV channel in Scotland
on 31 October 1999 and was available on the Freeview platform until 23 May 2011.
Programmes were transmitted on TeleG between 6–7pm each day. The channel slot was (as of January 2011) shared with the CITV Channel (which broadcasts from 6am to 6pm) and ITV2
+1 (which broadcasts from 7pm to 6am).
The Broadcasting Act 1996, required that programmes shown would be repeats of programmes transmitted on analogue channels (many of which are first shown outside peak hours). The Communications Act 2003
created the Gaelic Media Service which decides on the future development of Gaelic Broadcasting services.
The broadcaster and service provider of TeleG was SDN
, the company which holds the licence for DTT multiplex A. SDN, then owned by NTL
, S4C
and United Business Media
, was awarded the Multiplex A licence in May 1998. Part of the capacity on Multiplex A was reserved for services provided by Channel 5, S4C
in Wales
and Gaelic programming in Scotland. SDN was purchased by ITV plc
in 2005.
TeleG initially continued to broadcast after the launch of BBC Alba on 19 September 2008. At launch BBC Alba was only available on satellite television
before later being added to cable
. TeleG would continue to broadcast until the BBC Trust
had reviewed the performance of BBC Alba and announced their decision on whether they would recommend carriage of BBC Alba on Freeview.
In December 2010 the BBC Trust approved a plan put forward by BBC management which would see the thirteen BBC Radio
stations which broadcast on Freeview removed from the platform in Scotland during the hours of BBC Alba's broadcast, to free up capacity for the TV channel to operate. The radio services would not be affected outside Scotland, and the affected BBC radio stations would continue to be available on other platforms in Scotland including DAB digital radio, FM/AM (where applicable), satellite and cable TV and online. A date for the change to be brought in has yet to be confirmed, and as the service would broadcast on the BBC's public service multiplex, at the time the effect this would have on TeleG was not as yet clear. The plans were later revised to allow BBC Radio 1Xtra
, 5 Live
and 6 Music
to continue broadcasting alongside BBC Alba.
It was confirmed on 22 May 2011, that TeleG would close on 23 May, with BBC Alba launched on 8 June 2011, using its old EPG number on Freeview.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
on 31 October 1999 and was available on the Freeview platform until 23 May 2011.
Programmes were transmitted on TeleG between 6–7pm each day. The channel slot was (as of January 2011) shared with the CITV Channel (which broadcasts from 6am to 6pm) and ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
+1 (which broadcasts from 7pm to 6am).
The Broadcasting Act 1996, required that programmes shown would be repeats of programmes transmitted on analogue channels (many of which are first shown outside peak hours). The Communications Act 2003
Communications Act 2003
The Communications Act 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It gave regulation body Ofcom its full powers. Among other measures, it introduced legal recognition of Community Radio and paved the way for full-time Community Radio services in the UK; as well as controversially...
created the Gaelic Media Service which decides on the future development of Gaelic Broadcasting services.
The broadcaster and service provider of TeleG was SDN
S4C Digital Networks
SDN is a company that operates Multiplex A, one of the six groups of channels on digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom...
, the company which holds the licence for DTT multiplex A. SDN, then owned by NTL
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
, S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
and United Business Media
United Business Media
UBM plc is a magazine publisher, news distributor and events organiser providing business information services principally to the technology, healthcare, media, automotive and financial services industries...
, was awarded the Multiplex A licence in May 1998. Part of the capacity on Multiplex A was reserved for services provided by Channel 5, S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Gaelic programming in Scotland. SDN was purchased by ITV plc
ITV plc
ITV plc is a British media company that operates 12 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom...
in 2005.
TeleG initially continued to broadcast after the launch of BBC Alba on 19 September 2008. At launch BBC Alba was only available on satellite television
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
before later being added to cable
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
. TeleG would continue to broadcast until the BBC Trust
BBC Trust
The BBC Trust is the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is operationally independent of BBC management and external bodies, and aims to act in the best interests of licence fee payers....
had reviewed the performance of BBC Alba and announced their decision on whether they would recommend carriage of BBC Alba on Freeview.
In December 2010 the BBC Trust approved a plan put forward by BBC management which would see the thirteen BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
stations which broadcast on Freeview removed from the platform in Scotland during the hours of BBC Alba's broadcast, to free up capacity for the TV channel to operate. The radio services would not be affected outside Scotland, and the affected BBC radio stations would continue to be available on other platforms in Scotland including DAB digital radio, FM/AM (where applicable), satellite and cable TV and online. A date for the change to be brought in has yet to be confirmed, and as the service would broadcast on the BBC's public service multiplex, at the time the effect this would have on TeleG was not as yet clear. The plans were later revised to allow BBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1Xtra is a digital radio station in the United Kingdom from the BBC specialising in new black music, sometimes referred to as urban music. Launched at 18:00 on 16 August 2002, it had been codenamed Network X during the consulation period and is the sister station to BBC Radio 1...
, 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
and 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
to continue broadcasting alongside BBC Alba.
It was confirmed on 22 May 2011, that TeleG would close on 23 May, with BBC Alba launched on 8 June 2011, using its old EPG number on Freeview.
External links
- TeleG (Official website)
- Media UK info on TeleG