BBC Alba to launch on Freeview

The BBC is to launch Gaelic-language channel BBC Alba on the Freeview digital-terrestrial platform on June 8.

The move will make the channel available to all homes in Scotland. It is already available on the BSkyB platform and Freesat, and launched on Virgin Media’s cable platform last week.

In order to make room for BBC Alba, the BBC is controversially removing 13 radio services from 24-hour carriage on Freeview, retaining only three 24-hour radio services that lack FM coverage in Scotland – BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 1 Xtra and BBC Radio 6 Music.

BBC Alba will air from 05:00-2:00 weekdays and 04:00-24:00 on Saturdays and Sundays respectively. The existing radio services will be available on the platform outside these hours.