List of television channels in Celtic languages
Celtic-language television channels are available in France , Ireland and the United Kingdom. Many speakers of languages like Irish, Welsh and Breton have demanded television channels in their own languages for many years and have been successful, with Scottish Gaelic speakers joining them with the launch of BBC Alba in 2008, but languages like Manx and Cornish still don't have a full-time television channel.
Irish language
Current channels
- TG4: channel based in the Republic of Ireland and broadcasting to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. TG4 has been successful in broadcasting Irish and increasing Irish speakers even though it has a limited budget. TG4 is aimed at young speakers of the language with youthful programmes. TG4 is funded by advertising and the Government of Ireland with an annual budget of 40 million euro.
- Cúla 4: Irish-language children's channel broadcasting on Channel 602 on NTL as part of the TG4 franchise.
- RTÉ News Now: 24-hour live news service available on the RTÉ website. It offers a mix of Irish language, English language and Irish sign language TV news bulletins and political programmes.
- BBC Two Northern Ireland
BBC Two Northern Ireland has its own Irish-language department producing some well-known programmes such as: music programme for young people Imeall Geall, music programme Blas Ceoil, youth drama Teenage Cics, documentary Isteach Chun An Oileáin, cartoon Na Dódaí, interior-decor show Gaisce Gnó and community programme Féile an Phobail. It is funded by the Irish Language Broadcast Fund which has been given £12 million over a five-year period.
Future channels
- RTÉ International or RTÉ Idirnáisiúnta : new Digital TV station that is expected to be on air as of March 2009. It will also contain some Irish language programmes from TG4 and will be available in Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe and North America for the Irish ex-pat community.
- Houses of the Oireachtas Channel: proposed digital television channel in the Republic of Ireland from 2009, which will show live broadcasts from the both Irish houses of parliament Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann in Dublin. It will cover parliamentary debates in both Irish and English.
Scottish Gaelic
- BBC Alba: launched on September 19, 2008, the channel is available around the UK on Sky, Freesat and eventually Virgin Media also. Additionally, subject to the BBC Trust, the channel will be carried on Freeview in Scotland after the digital switchover. BBC Alba broadcasts various genres of programmes serving the Gaelic community, including drama, sport and daily news in the form of An La.
Welsh language
- S4C: channel broadcasting to Wales which has been successful in attracting new Welsh speakers. S4C is funded by the Government of the United Kingdom and advertising.
- S4C2: was a channel which broadcast from the National Assembly for Wales. S4C2 was closed in 2010.
Breton language
- TV Breizh: channel broadcasting in the Brittany region of France. Programmes in Breton have all but stopped.
- France 3 Ouest: regional service of the national France 3 channel, broadcasting mostly in French but with some local opt-outs in Breton.