BBC ALBA SPÒRS’

Multi Year Production Contract Serving BBC ALBA’s Gaelic Audiences

THE CHALLENGE

When BBC Alba put out the call for its next three-year Live Sport coverage contract, they wanted more than just great TV—they wanted a cultural connector.

The goal? Create world class coverage of football, shinty, and rugby, with a spotlight on women’s sports, to serve their Gaelic-speaking audience while inviting new viewers to embrace the language.

From live linear broadcasts to on-demand iPlayer and social media content, this contract is about growing audiences and celebrating Scotland’s sporting heritage.

90
Live Matches
28
Stadiums
4
Different Sports

The Execution

From our Glasgow office, the Sunset+Vine Scottish team brought energy, expertise and innovation. Every game felt as alive on the screen as it did in the stands.

Expanding our team to include native Gaelic speakers, we produced high-quality Gaelic programming that captured the heart of the sports.

Partnering with an OB facilities team, we’ve smashed expectations in year 1:

• Covered 88+ live games in the first year (hitting 90 by season's end!).
• Mixed formats: from off-tube broadcasts to 7-camera OB setups, complete with halftime features, custom graphics, and closers.
• Live social media highlights for every game, extending the matches beyond the TV screen.
• Instant manager reactions during matches, with AirPods enabling our presenters to engage them live, giving action and insight in real-time.

The Impact

Results that speak for themselves.

We didn’t just hit targets—we exceeded them. 90 games. Unrivaled SWPL coverage. All in Gaelic.

Here’s what our client, MG Alba, had to say:

"Sport is central to our audience strategy, and MG Alba hugely values its contract relationship with Sunset+Vine. This contract delivers sports fixtures that they love to our audiences, all while promoting the Gaelic language and more SWPL fixtures than any other broadcaster in Scotland."

From pitch to screen, we’re proud to have delivered a world-class, culturally rich broadcast, uniting communities through sport.

CREDIT ROLL

Executive Producer
Grant Philips

Director/Producer
Craig Coughlan

Lead Producer
Amy Thabet

Technical Producer
Jack Payne

Presenter
Micheal Steele

Deputy head of Production
Sarah Bucknall

Production Managers
Amy Garrett
Grace Binnie

Our Partners

Let's Talk

Contact Our Scottish Office

Grant Philips