STORNOWAY STUDIO PREPARES FOR NEW SERIES

A NEW chapter in the story of Gaelic broadcasting has opened with the announcement that Stornoway's Seaforth House Studio is about to be fully operational again as preparations begin for a new topical television magazine series set to go into production later this year.
The studio has been in intermittent operation since last January, when the news programme Telefios was discontinued. It is presently being used by the "Rocket Post" film production team.
Earlier this year the lease of the studio by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to Grampian Television was transferred to Comataidh Craolaidh Gaidhlig (CCG), with a view to the studio becoming an integral part of the media village envisioned for the Seaforth Road complex which includes Studio Alba, the digital television service TeleG, and independent production offices as well as the Seaforth House Studio.
After a recent tendering process CCG has chosen a local company, Tarlas Limited, as preferred bidder for technical management of the Studio. Upon completion of contract negotiations Tarlas will be responsible to CCG for general building management, organisation of technical facilities and staffing, and maintenance of studio equipment. The principal of Tarlas is Murdo Maclennan, former Grampian Television manager in Stornoway. CCG has also awarded a contract for a new topical magazine programme to the Stornoway based independent production company Eolas Media.
The 30-minute programme will run for 39 weeks and will be broadcast on Tuesday nights at 2330 by Grampian and Scottish Television. The new series, which will air in October, will be a mix of news review and discussion and will include analysis of the issues of the day by a range of contributors including young people. Finlay Macleod of Eolas Media said their production team was very pleased to have secured this contract and were looking forward to the challenge ahead to produce this new strand of innovative programming from Stornoway.
Announcing the new contracts, CCG Director John Angus Mackay said: "This development marks the begining of a new phase for CCG and Gaelic broadcasting, creating an opportunity to break new ground and bring fresh ideas to the audience in a schedule slot which has been tested successfully with other programmes. The Studio will require upgrading in the transition from analogue to digital technology, and this in turn will faciliate the development of the media village concept envisaged for the Studio. Its use by independent producers and broadcasters will provide employment opportunties locally, whilst servicing Gaelic broadcasting nationally. We are grateful for all those whose support made this development possible”.
(GB)