Up to 25,000 people are expected to watch Ulster-Scots television, the organisation funding the programmes has revealed.

The Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund has a budget of £1m for this year and the Government has committed to support the venture from 2010 to 2015.

Northern Ireland Screen is appealing for applicants to the new fund, which intends to deliver 20 additional hours of programming a year involving heritage, culture and language.

The Government has also pledged £20m towards the development of the Irish language, some earmarked for the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, which will also secure its future until 2015.