Planners of TartanFest 2005 learned last week that new public television programming heralding Scotland will begin early next year. This will help event organizers promote the April 9 festivities at the SC State Museum.

Rick Peterson of SCETV explained the fast–paced, upbeat series will air over SCETV on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 pm beginning January 2, 2005. “The show will cover all things Scottish, from lochs and castles to celebrities, Celtic music, clans and battles, customs and crafts, food and drink, and, oh, did I say golf?”

During a planning meeting held in the third floor conference room at the SC State Museum, Peterson showed the marketing committee a clip of one of the early programs set to air on SC’s 11 public television stations.

Scots are the fifth largest ethnic group in the US, with more than 34 million on record. Hundreds of thousands of Scots–American join Scottish societies, visit Highland gatherings, and participate in Tartan Day celebrations in cities from New York and Chicago to Washington and Columbia, SC.

“There has never been a television series devoted to connecting all these Scots–Americans with their roots until now,” Peterson explained. Although Tartan TV will produce programming to appeal to Scots–Ameri– cans, its appeal is expected to extend to anyone interested in this eccentric, lovable country and all its connections to America and Americans.

Viewers should not be surprised to see Robin Williams running the hill race at a Scottish Highland Game or an intimate profiles of celebrities like Ewan McGregor or Billy Connolly.

Fiona Kennedy, one of Scotland’s best–loved singers and broadcasters, will share her love of her country by hosting the programs from outdoor locations across the island. Each half–hour program will be structured with five or six magazine–style segments focusing on intriguing information on this single part of America’s heritage.

For more information on TARTAN TV, visit www.tartan.tv.

Fiona Kennedy