The BBC has confirmed that BBC ALBA, the Gaelic language television channel, will launch on Freeview in Scotland from 8 June, replacing thirteen BBC radio services during evening hours to free up capacity.
The move, approved by the BBC Trust, means that from 5pm to midnight on weekdays, 4pm to 1am on Saturdays, and 4pm to midnight on Sundays, radio stations including BBC Radio 3, 4, and 5 Live will be unavailable on Freeview in Scotland. However, BBC Radio Scotland, Radio nan Gaidheal, and Radios 1, 2, 3, and 4 remain available on FM, while 5 Live can be heard on MW.
Three digital-only stations—BBC Radio 4 Extra, 5 Live Sports Extra, and 6 Music—will be retained on Freeview around the clock, as they have no FM or MW alternative. The other digital-only stations, including 1Xtra, Asian Network, and World Service, will be affected during the evening slots.
The BBC said the decision was driven by the requirement in the BBC Agreement to ensure universal access to services intended for specific audiences. BBC ALBA, already available on satellite and cable, will now reach all TV homes in Scotland. The corporation acknowledged that some listeners would be disappointed but argued it had prioritised the most popular digital-only stations based on evening listening habits.
Critics have questioned the justification for prioritising a minority language channel over widely listened-to radio services. The BBC defended its approach, stating that the trade-off was necessary to balance limited capacity against overall audience benefit.
