7. 6. Statement: Broadcasting in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:51 pm on 21 June 2016.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 4:51, 21 June 2016

(Translated)

Just a few words from me and a question, as one who was an employee with the BBC for 20 years, and that’s just to remind us of what our broadcasters should be providing to the Welsh audience. S4C, of course, carries out two jobs in a way. First of all, it broadcasts through the medium of Welsh to an audience that wants to view Welsh language programming, but, in so doing, it broadcasts about Wales to the people of Wales and that’s what’s missing in the English language, of course. We got it by accident at one point in the last years of analogue, through BBC Choice and BBC 2W, where you had two BBC2s running concurrently. I remember, as a young broadcaster, taking part in programmes that filled those peak hours and that was programming about Wales. I do hope that the Minister will give a commitment that he will push, in future, to get us back to that situation where we can have two channels—one Welsh and one English—for Welsh audiences.

I endorse what was said about the film and drama industries in Wales. We have been very successful in developing the drama industry in Wales, but we haven’t been particularly successful in developing a Welsh drama industry, and I hope that the Minister would agree that that should be the next step forward. I will also welcome the Minister’s commitment to press the BBC in London on a new attitude to what exactly its function is in Wales and on a budget to ensure that that ambition can be achieved.