A crucial meeting will be held today during the 2008 Royal National Mod in Falkirk in a bid to expand the coverage of the new Gaelic digital channel, BBC Alba.
The £14m service, launched in August as a partnership between BBC Scotland and MG Alba, the administrators of Gaelic broadcasting money, is currently only available through a Sky subscription or on Freesat.
However, many households in the Highlands and Islands rely on the Freeview network, meaning many Gaels are unable to gain access to the new publicly funded service set up on their behalf. It is not available on cable either.
Despite sanctioning the launch of the new channel, the BBC Trust board of governors refused to make it available on Freeview on the grounds it would need time to prove its long-term worth.
MG Alba chairman Alasdair Morrison will meet BBC Trust Scottish representative Jeremy Peat in Falkirk this morning to thrash out talks on extending coverage of the channel.
The service is seen as an important tool in promoting the language, and Gaelic organisations represented at the Mod presented a united front to step up pressure for a move to Freeview. Allan Campbell, who was at the forefront of many Gaelic initiatives before retiring as the chief executive of national development agency Bord na Gaidhlig two years ago, said: "I believe MG Alba is a public service for the Gaelic community of Scotland and for that reason I urge everyone with an interest in the future of Gaelic to lend their support to the campaign to persuade the BBC Trust to make the service available on Freeview as soon as possible."
John MacLeod, president of Mod organisers An Comunn Gaidhealach, said that for the BBC to accurately gauge the effectiveness of the channel they had to ensure as many Gaels as possible were able to tune in.
Both Western Isles Council and Highland Council have also officially joined the Freeview campaign.
Councillor Hamish Fraser, chairman of Highland Council's Gaelic select committee, said: "We have been calling for the Gaelic channel to be made available as widely as possible from day one and we fully support any organisation which calls for this."
Results: Vocal solos A222 Oran Mor (women) (Mr and Mrs Archibald MacDonald Memorial Trophy) - 1. Kerrie Finlay, Inverness. 2. Ceitidh Smith, Kyle of Lochalsh. 3. Sineag MacIntyre, South Uist. 4. Joy Dunlop, Connel.
A223 Oran M or (men) (FS Cameron-Head Memorial Trophy) - 1. Lyle Kennedy, Stirlingshire. 2. John Howieson, Portree. 3. John Boa, Edinburgh. 4. Sandy Mollison, Blairgowrie.
A251 Learners (men) (Katie Stewart Memorial Trophy) - 1. Donald R MacIver, Poolewe. 2. Iain Gordon, Nairn. 3. Stuart Jackson, Argyll. 4. Donald A MacLeod, Edinburgh.
A253 Sea Song (Bank of Scotland Cup) - 1. Donald R MacIver, Poolewe. 2. Raghnall MacAoidh, Australia. 3. Stuart Jackson, Argyll. 4. Iain Gordon, Nairn.
A221 Fluent (men) (Caledonian MacBrayne Trophy) - 1. Kerrie Finlay, Inverness. 2. Eilidh J Davies, Invergarry. 3rd equal Ceitidh Smith, Kyle of Lochalsh. Satunum McElroy, Crosslee.
A250 Learners (women) (Margot Campbell Trophy) - 1. Kirsten Laurie, Isle of Islay. 2. Linn Phipps, Isle of Lewis. 3. Jackie Cotter, Edinburgh. 4th equal. Ellen L Beard, USA. Rena Gertz, Edinburgh.
A252 Working Song (Catherine MB Dunlop Quaich) - 1. Linn Phipps, Isle of Lewis. 2. Kirsten Laurie, Isle of Islay. 3. Ellen L Beard, USA. 4. Sandra Kennedy, St Andrews.
A220 Fluent (women) (Mary C. MacNiven Memorial Salver) - 1. Kerrie Finlay, Inverness. 2. Eilidh J Davies, Invergarry. 3rd equal Ceitidh Smith, Kyle of Lochalsh. Satunum McElroy, Crosslee.
John MacArthur Memorial Trophy (A220 and A221) - Kerrie Finlay, Inverness and John Boa, Edinburgh.
A234 Fluent (men and women) (Oban Times Gold Medal) - 1. F Ann MacLean, North Connel. 2. Brus Caimbeul, Crieff. 3. John Howieson, Portree.
A233 Puirt-a-Beul (Duncan Johnston Memorial Trophy) - 1. Kerrie Finlay, Inverness. 2. Ceitidh Smith, Kyle of Lochalsh. 3. Sineag MacIntyre, South Uist. 4. Joy Dunlop, Connel.
A248 Traditional (learners) (George Clavey Memorial Quaich) - 1. Nicola Pearson, Carnoustie. 2. Catriona Watt, Glasgow. 3. Linn Phipps, Isle of Lewis.
A272 Former Prizewinners, Local Mods (Lochewe Branch Cup) - 1. Emma AC Deans, Comar nan Allt. 2. John Howieson, Portree. 3. Brian Owen, Perthshire.
A274 Skye or Sutherland Song (John D Gillies Memorial Trophy) - 1. Alison Campbell, Erskine.
2. Nicola Pearson, Carnoustie.
3. Gordon McKeeve, Glasgow.
A273 Precenting a Psalm (Dr Alistair Barden Memorial Salver) - 1. Ailean Domhnullach, Inbhir Nis.
CLARSACH Solos Junior B320 With Gaelic Songs (Glendale Quaich) - 1. Mischa MacPherson, Sgoil Mhic Neacail. 2. Calum MacLeod, City of Edinburgh Music School. 3. Mairi Chaimbeul, St Mary's Music School.
B321 Beginners (Helmsdale Trophy) - 1. Alison Campbell, Erskine. 2. Nicola Pearson, Carnoustie. 3. Gordon McKeeve, Glasgow.
B322 Elementary (Florence Wilson Trophy) - 1. Brighde Chaimbeul, Bun-sgoil Shleite. 2. Daisy Nash, Sgoil MhicNeacail. 3. Zoe MacKay, Bun-sgoil Ealaghoil.
B323 Intermediate (K Barry Milner Trophy) - 1. Mairi-Louise MacDonald, Ard-sgoil Phort Rlgh. 2. Ada Francis, Edinburgh. 3. Elinor Evans, Edinburgh.
B332 Former Winners of B324 (Sir Philip Christison Trophy) - 1. Mairi Chaimbeul, St Mary's Music School. 2. Calum MacLeod, City of Edinburgh Music School.
Senior B326 Advanced (Elspeth A Hyllested Trophy) - 1. Janette Bain, Clackmannanshire..
Solos (Open) B328 Accompanying of a Singer (Jean C Campbell Memorial Trophy) - 1. Mairi Chaimbeul, St Mary's Music School. 2. Calum MacLeod, City of Edinburgh Music School. 3. Elinor Nicholson, Hamilton College.
B329 Original Composition (Margaret Balfour Trophy) - 1. Calum MacLeod, City of Edinburgh Music School. 2. Daisy Nash, Sgoil MhicNeacail.
Duets B330A (13-19) (Comunn na Clarsaich Cup) - 1. Calum MacLeod & Chloe Young, City of Edinburgh Music School. 2. Steaphanaidh Chaimbeul & Mairi Chaimbeul, Isle of Skye. 3. Helen Smith & Karen Pollard, Kirkcudbright.
B330 (under 13) (Lord Birsay Trophy) - 1. Blair Hendy & Fraser Munro, Bun-sgoil Innis an Uillt. 2. Ciorstaidh-Sarah Chaimbeul & Brighde Chaimbeul, Bun-sgoil Shleite. 3.Aimee Clark & Moilidh NicGriogair, Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu.
B333 Senior (Drumelzier Quaich) - 1. Janette Bain & Meg Carroll, Clackmannanshire.
B336 Voice and Clarsach (Comunn na Clarsaich, Edinburgh Branch, Trophy) - 1. Steaphanaidh Chaimbeul & Mairi Chaimbeul, Isle of Skye. 2. Karen Pollard & Callum MacLeod, Lockerbie. 3. Eilidh Munro & Heather Kindness, Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic Choir.
Ensembles B331 Open (Pilgrim Harps Trophy) - 1. Clarsaichean DiSathairne.
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