WELSH LANGUAGE broadcaster S4C received £400,000 as Culture Secretary John Whittingdale confirmed new Exchequer funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for 2016/17.
This means that the S4C budget in 2016/17 will be maintained at the levels set out in 2015/16.
In October 2010 the then coalition government slashed the grant for S4C – the only Welsh language television channel in the world – by 94% over four years from £101min 2010/11 to £7m in 2014/15.
The channel now receives the bulk of its money from the BBC licence fee, but it has seen a loss of £20m in the last five years.
The UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport had announced its intention to cut £1.7m from the broadcaster’s funding from £6.7m to £5m by 2019
In order for S4C to continue to provide a first-class service and have a sustainable future, the Government also intends to carry out a comprehensive review in 2017. This will look at the remit, governance and funding of S4C to ensure the broadcaster can continue to meet the needs of Welsh speaking audiences in the future and invest in high-quality programming. The additional funding announced today will ensure financial stability through the review process.
UK Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: “I’m very pleased the UK Government has been able to continue its level of funding for S4C who are a huge supporter of independent producers from across Wales and the only Welsh language television channel in the world.”
Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns said: “S4C is a longstanding and significant part of the UK’s rich public service broadcasting landscape. Both the channel and its content make an important contribution to the cultural and economic life of Wales, to the prosperity of the Welsh language and to the strength of our creative sector.
“The announcement underlines this commitment. We want to see the channel continue to evolve to meet the needs of the digital age, and develop some of the UKs most innovative, authoritative and entertaining programming.
“This additional funding comes as Government continues to review all aspects of the BBC, in which wider minority language broadcasting is being considered. This will ensure any changes are taken into account when looking at options for S4C to continue to provide its valuable Welsh language service.”
Huw Jones, S4C Authority Chairman said: “We welcome this announcement today by DCMS. The principle of holding a review of the service, before the funding is finally decided, is a decision that we and members of parliament across every party have called for.
“In the meantime, freezing our current level of funding is a clear and important sign of support from the Government and we welcome this very much. We look forward in time to receiving more detail about the scale and scope and timing of the review and to contribute fully to it.”
Plaid Cymru MP, Jonathan Edwards, has welcomed the u-turn to not implement a 26% funding cut to broadcaster S4C.
Carmarthenshire MP Jonathan Edwards – successor to the late Carmarthen MP Gwynfor Evans who campaigned for the creation of the channel – hailed today’s u-turn as a victory for the people and welcomed and the establishment of the a review, but said long-term security for the channel was needed so that S4C didn’t face “year on year battles for its survival.”
Jonathan Edwards MP said: “The establishment of a comprehensive review of the channel’s remit, governance and funding is something Plaid Cymru has requested for a long time. Until the Conservative party took an axe to the channel’s funding in the last Parliament S4C always had security in its finances. It is the actions of the Westminster government that has created these uncertainties today.
“There are big battles ahead to achieve a long-term funding solution and secure the independence and political accountability of the channel. S4C should not have to face year on year battles about its funding and indeed its very survival.
“It is clear that the future of S4C will remain uncertain for as long as broadcasting stays within the hands of Westminster. ”
As S4C prepares for its move to Carmarthenshire, Plaid Cymru will continue to make the compelling case in favour of devolving broadcasting to Wales so that those who treasure our national channel the most will play a greater role in determining its future.”
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