Gaelic Broadcasting Is Not a Luxury - It Is Part of Scotland's Cultural Infrastructure
As ministers, broadcasters and policymakers debate the future of Gaelic broadcasting and the next BBC Charter, one question deserves more attention: what would Scotland lose if Gaelic media disappeared?
For its critics, Gaelic broadcasting has long been an easy target. It serves a relatively small audience and relies on public funding. At a time of pressure on budgets, some ask whether that money could be better spent elsewhere.
But that debate starts from the wrong premise.
Gaelic media should not be viewed simply as a service for Gaelic speakers. It is part of Scotland's cultural infrastructure: supporting language revitalisation, strengthening the creative economy, challenging stereotypes and ensuring that one of Scotland's indigenous languages remains visible in public life.
Language revitalisation is not only about teaching people a language. It is also about creating opportunities to hear it, use it and encounter it in everyday settings. Without those opportunities, languages risk becoming something that is studied rather than lived.
That challenge is particularly relevant for Gaelic.
The 2022 Census recorded a modest but significant increase in people reporting Gaelic skills. More than 130,000 said they had some knowledge of the language, including 69,701 who reported being able to speak it. Growth was strongest among younger age groups, reflecting Gaelic Medium Education and wider revitalisation efforts.
Yet census figures tell us only who can speak Gaelic. They tell us little about whether people actually use it.
In the Western Isles, around half the population reports being able to speak Gaelic, but everyday use is considerably lower. At the same time, Gaelic has become more dispersed across Scotland. Many speakers now live in the Central Belt and other urban areas. A significant number are "new speakers": those who learned the language through education rather than family transmission. For them, opportunities to use Gaelic outside school or work can be limited.
This is where broadcasting becomes important.
BBC Alba and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal provide something classrooms cannot: a living linguistic environment where people can hear Gaelic used naturally in sport, news, drama and entertainment. For many speakers outside traditional communities, that connection is invaluable.
Linguists argue that languages thrive when they occupy modern domains. A language absent from media risks being seen as belonging only to the past. Broadcasting helps ensure Gaelic remains part of contemporary Scotland.
Visibility matters too.
Research from minority-language contexts shows that regular exposure increases familiarity and improves public attitudes. For Gaelic, this is particularly relevant because old prejudices persist, with the language still sometimes portrayed as irrelevant or an avoidable public expense.
Broadcasting offers a counter-narrative. When audiences watch drama, sport or current affairs in Gaelic, they encounter the language in a modern context.
The success of An t-Eilean shows this clearly. With over 1.6 million BBC iPlayer views, it reached audiences beyond the Gaelic community. Its appeal was not that it was a Gaelic programme but that it was excellent television. The use of Gaelic simply helped normalise the language for viewers who might otherwise never have encountered it.
That is one of the key contributions that minority-language media makes: it moves the language from the margins to the mainstream.
The benefits are also economic. Research suggests the sector generates £1.34 for every £1 invested and supports around 340 jobs, many in island communities where opportunities are limited.
Broadcasting also supports cultural events such as the Royal National Mòd and creates opportunities for young people through initiatives like FilmG, which attracts over 100 youth productions annually. These projects encourage Gaelic use beyond the classroom and develop creative skills.
Just as importantly, Gaelic media creates role models. Young people need to see presenters, actors and creators using Gaelic confidently in contemporary settings. Without the media, those examples are rare.
The importance of minority-language broadcasting has been recognised internationally. The Council of Europe has recommended that future BBC Charter arrangements support minority-language media and expand programming within mainstream broadcasting.
Broadcasting alone will not save Gaelic. Schools, families and communities all matter. But media remains a key tool for revitalisation. It reinforces learning, builds confidence, creates visibility and connects speakers who might otherwise feel isolated.
The debate over Gaelic broadcasting is not really about television. It is about whether Scotland believes its indigenous language has a place in its future as well as its past. If it does, Gaelic media is not a luxury. It is part of the infrastructure that keeps a living language alive.
Dr Inge Birnie is a senior lecturer in Gaelic Education in the Institute of Education at the University of Strathclyde. She is the member of the Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention of National Minorities in respect of the Netherlands.
