Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig - Gaelic Media Service originated as Comataidh Craolaidh Gáidhlig (CCG), the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee (1997) and the earlier Gaelic Television Fund (1990), which provided funding for Gaelic television programme production, training, audience research and related activities.

Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig was constituted by the Communications Act of 2003 to replace the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee. In addition to the former mandate to fund programme production and development, training, audience research and related activities, the new Service was given additional powers to make, schedule and commission programmes and the authority to seek a broadcast licence.

The vision of GMS is a sustainable Gaelic media service that is vibrant, comprehensive, cost-effective, contemporary, and reflective of the finest quality of public service broadcasting. GMS strives to ensure that high-quality Gaelic television programmes are available to viewers throughout Scotland at appropriate viewing times, and that the range and quality of Gaelic sound programmes are enhanced. The Service also has a consultative role in relation to Gaelic programmes on digital television.

A key objective of GMS is the establishment of a dedicated digital Gaelic-language television service, as recommended in the report of the Gaelic Broadcasting Task Force in 2000. GMS is currently working with BBC Scotland to realise this objective. In March 2007 Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson pledged an additional £3 million per annum towards the cost of this new service. Scheduled to launch in late 2007, the new channel, which is estimated to cost between £16 and £17 million, will combine television, radio and online, offering Gaelic speakers, learners and all who have an interest in the language access to a wide variety of programmes and resources distributed via a range of broadcast platforms.

GMS offers grant-aid funding to television and radio projects that have a UK commissioning broadcaster on board and that match GMS’s funding criteria. Grant-aid funding is available to independent producers or the in-house production arm of broadcasters. The level of grant-aid varies from co-production partnership funding to full grant-aid. GMS is keen to encourage co-funding and value added strategies which will enhance the onscreen value for the audience.

GMS is also responsible for training, a key thrust of which is the preparation of people and skills for channel development. Its full-time training programme is administered by Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, UHI which offers a Diploma in Television and Multimedia. The Service also commits a 53 per cent contribution to the cost of eight training placements provided annually by the industry, and funds short courses and short-term placements in the freelance, independent and broadcast sectors.

To fulfil its broadcast research remit the Service provides funding for the organisation and maintenance of a Gaelic Audience Research Panel, administered by Lèirsinn, the research faculty of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Lèirsinn reports on the Gaelic-speaking community’s programme preferences and reactions, viewing trends, qualitative analysis, and demographic factors. To supplement the Panel information Lèirsinn also conducts focus groups and undertakes specific research projects to help the appraisal of funded programmes and the formulation of future strategy, particularly in a digital environment and a new Gaelic broadcasting milieu.

The GMS headquarters contains the Studio Taigh Shiphoirt, a self-contained digital widescreen Studio area suitable for small to medium productions, with access to a large scene dock into which vehicles may be reversed, and two adjacent dressing rooms c/w showers. A sizeable green room provides a rest and refreshment area for studio guests. The studio facility is currently being upgraded in order to host the new Gaelic television service.

The Scottish Government recently granted an additional £100,000 to GMS towards the purchase of the SMG Gaelic archive. SMG has been preparing and broadcasting Gaelic programmes for many years and has built up a substantial archive.