Section 208: The Gaelic Media Service
450.This section renames the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee (Comataidh Craolaidh Gàidhlig), originally the Gaelic Television Committee (Comataidh Telebhisein Gàidhlig) established under section 183 of the Broadcasting Act 1990, as the Gaelic Media Service (Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig). It also inserts new subsections (3B), (4), (4A) and (4B) into section 183. These set out the functions and powers of the Gaelic Media Service who must secure that a wide and diverse range of high quality programmes in Gaelic are broadcast or otherwise transmitted so as to be available for reception in Scotland.
451.The Gaelic Media Service may apply the Gaelic Broadcasting Fund for the purpose of, or any purpose connected with, the carrying out of their functions: new subsection (4). In carrying out their functions, the Gaelic Media Service may finance, or engage in, the making of television and sound programmes in Gaelic to be broadcast or transmitted so as to be available for reception in Scotland, provide or arrange training in relation to programme-making and carry out research to discover the types of television and sound programmes that the Gaelic-speaking community would like to be broadcast. The Gaelic Media Service may not provide any of the services specified in subsection (4B).
452.Paragraph 28 of Schedule 18 provides for transitional provisions in respect of the membership of the Comataidh Craolaidh Gàidhlig. Paragraph 29 of that Schedule provides for the continuation of the Multiplex Licence (Broadcasting of Programmes in Gaelic) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/2758).