Broadcasting in Wales

Welsh Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 19 Jul 2022 Closed: 22 Jan 2024 Parliament page
The Welsh Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into broadcasting in Wales. It will consider how to ensure a successful and dynamic broadcasting sector in Wales; the future of public service broadcasting and the place of free-to-air sports broadcasting in Wales; and the impact of the privatisation of Channel 4 … Read more
20 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
2 Reports
9 Oral sessions
7 Letters
9 Events
Activity timeline 28 events
13 Mar
2024
Correspondence
24 Jan
2024
Correspondence
24 Jan
2024
Correspondence
22 Jan
2024
Report published
22 Jan
2024
Correspondence
16 Nov
2023
Correspondence
27 Oct
2023
Report published
27 Oct
2023
Report published
9 Oct
2023
Correspondence
28 Jun
2023
Oral evidence
28 Jun
2023
Correspondence
28 Jun
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 9 sessions
28 Jun 2023
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Efa Gruffudd Jones · Comisiynydd y Gymraeg / Welsh Language Commissioner Lowri Williams · Welsh Language Commissioner Robert Specterman-Green · Department for Culture, Media and Sport Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP · Department for Culture, Media and Sport
7 Jun 2023
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Dyfrig Davies · S4C Ian Davis · Football Association of Wales Nigel Walker · Welsh Rugby Union Siân Price · Yeti Television Sioned William · Cwmni Da
10 May 2023
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Giles Derrington · TikTok Megan Thomas · Meta Tomos Grace · YouTube Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
19 Apr 2023
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Eleanor Marks · Ofcom Kate Biggs · Ofcom
1 Mar 2023
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Martin Mumford · Nation Broadcasting Terry Mann · GTFM Radio Toby Ellis · Pure West Radio
18 Jan 2023
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Adam Minns · COBA Benjamin King · Netflix
7 Dec 2022
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Phil Henfrey · ITV Cymru Wales Rhuanedd Richards · BBC Cymru Wales Siân Doyle · S4C
7 Dec 2022
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Phil Henfrey · ITV Cymru Wales Rhuanedd Richards · BBC Cymru Wales Sian Doyle · S4C
9 Nov 2022
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Guto Harri
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales HC 620 27 Oct 2023 27 Responded
Darlledu yng Nghymru - Crynodeb HC 620 27 Oct 2023 0 Overdue
Recommendations & Conclusions
13 results
Clear
4 Recommendation Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Develop digital platforms to enhance prominence of Welsh content and report progress by March 2024.
Public service broadcasters must modernise to survive in the digital age. We welcome the investment by PSBs in their digital platforms, which is needed given the growing proportion of people in Wales using them to watch PSB programmes. However, accessing … Read more
Government Response
The government announces a review of the licence fee funding model to ensure fairness and sustainability for the BBC and S4C, including funding for Welsh language broadcasting, but does not address the recommendation for public service broadcasters to develop their digital platforms for Welsh content or report on progress.
Wales Office
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5 Conclusion Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Global streaming services challenge traditional dialogue between Welsh policymakers and broadcasters
The success of Welsh broadcasting has rested on the close dialogue between broadcasters and Welsh policy makers. This relationship is now being challenged by 42 Broadcasting in Wales the shifts in global power in the broadcasting landscape with the growth … Read more
Government Response
The government states that partnerships between the BBC and S4C are a matter for them, welcoming the BBC's commitment to modernise their relationship and detailing how the Media Bill will provide flexibility in content contribution, but does not address the committee's concern regarding global streaming services' engagement with Welsh policymakers.
Wales Office
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6 Conclusion Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Opportunities for public service broadcasters to partner with streaming services exist
Companies such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video provide competition to public service broadcasters. However, there are also opportunities for PSBs to work in partnership with them, and there are good examples where PSB providers have developed effective partnerships with … Read more
Government Response
The government discusses the Media Bill's requirements for public service broadcasters to contribute to the public service remit and then extensively details the listed events regime for sport, affirming the Secretary of State's power over the list, but does not address the recommendation about opportunities for PSBs to partner with streaming services for content development.
Wales Office
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11 Recommendation Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Require UK Government to collaborate on amending listed events regime for specific Welsh events
We are disappointed that the current listed events system does not include any Welsh events in Category A, prioritising and protecting sporting events that are of significant national and cultural significance. We recommend that the UK Government works with the … Read more
Government Response
The government responds by discussing proposed changes to commercial radio licensing and support for local and Welsh language programming on radio, and commits to working with the Welsh Government and Ofcom to explore supporting more community radio services, but does not address the recommendation to amend the listed events regime for sport to include specific Welsh events.
Wales Office
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13 Conclusion Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Require FA Wales to report on broadcasting for men's football qualifying matches by February 2024
Fans of Welsh football will be understandably concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the future broadcasting of the qualifying matches of Wales’ men’s football team given the planned withdrawal of Viaplay from UK broadcasting. This has the potential to also jeopardise … Read more
Government Response
The government discussed its general support for the radio sector, including digital radio multiplexes and small-scale DAB, and changes in the Media Bill, completely missing the recommendation's focus on TV broadcasting of football matches and S4C Welsh language commentary.
Wales Office
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14 Conclusion Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Place European Championships 2028 in Group A with Welsh language commentary for Wales matches
With the UK and the Republic of Ireland having recently been awarded the hosting of the European Championships in 2028, we would further request that this tournament is placed in Group A of the Listed Events Regime and that there … Read more
Government Response
The government responded by detailing its support for the Community Radio Fund, including its annual distribution and recent uplifts, completely ignoring the recommendation about placing the 2028 European Championships on the Listed Events Regime for TV and requiring Welsh language commentary.
Wales Office
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15 Conclusion Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Require Government to review Ofcom's remit regarding Welsh language commercial radio content
We are extremely concerned at the apparent decline in the use of Welsh language on commercial radio. The ability to listen to the Welsh language on a daily basis is vital to maintaining the Welsh language and to encouraging new … Read more
Government Response
The government explained that the Community Radio Fund's purpose is to promote self-sustainability for stations, and its guidance prioritises long-term financial security, thus retaining this focus is appropriate, but did not address the adequacy of Ofcom's remit for Welsh language content on commercial radio.
Wales Office
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17 Recommendation Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Amend Draft Media Bill to retain Ofcom's duty for diverse analogue radio services
The Government’s proposal to remove the duty on Ofcom to provide for a diversity of national and local analogue services on AM/FM also appears premature, especially given the difficulties in some areas of accessing DAB services. We recommend that the … Read more
Government Response
The government agreed that community radio stations are valuable for public messaging and highlighted past successful targeted campaigns, but did not address the recommendation to amend the Draft Media Bill to retain Ofcom's duty regarding analogue radio services.
Wales Office
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18 Recommendation Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Increase Community Radio Fund to match demand and link to future inflation
Community radio plays a vital role in serving local people, and we welcome the growth in this sector. However, we are concerned with the current levels of funding for the sector in Wales. Funding available through the UK Government’s Community … Read more
Government Response
The government defers a decision on increasing the Community Radio Fund and linking it to inflation, stating that any increase will be considered in the context of wider economic conditions at the next Spending Review. It highlights current funding and past uplifts.
Wales Office
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19 Recommendation Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Amend restrictions on Community Radio Fund spending for greater station flexibility
The current UK Community Radio Fund is too restrictive and does not allow small community radio stations to spend funding where they best feel it is needed. We recommend that the Government amends the restrictions on where funding from the … Read more
Government Response
The government noted the recommendation, stating it is also for the Welsh Government, then proceeded to discuss the UK's film and high-end TV production spend, tax reliefs, studio infrastructure, and skills development, completely ignoring the recommendation about the Community Radio Fund's flexibility.
Wales Office
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20 Recommendation Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Urge Welsh Government to reinstate financial support for community radio in Wales
The Welsh Government’s Community Radio Fund played an important role in supporting community radio in Wales. We urge the Welsh Government to reinstate support for community radio in Wales. This support was discontinued in 2014.
Government Response
The government's response detailed measures to support Channel 4's sustainability and independent production sector, including increased independent production quotas and regional spending commitments, entirely unrelated to the recommendation for the Welsh Government to reinstate support for community radio.
Wales Office
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21 Recommendation Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Develop and publish strategy for placing government advertisements on community radio stations
Advertising on community radio would benefit their development and enable the Government to reach a wider audience with its advertisements, potentially increasing the pool of applicants for public sector jobs. We call on the Government to develop and publish by … Read more
Government Response
The government responded by outlining apprenticeship reforms, the Apprenticeship Levy, improvements to the apprenticeship system in England, and new technical training routes like creative T Levels and Skills Bootcamps, not addressing the recommendation to publish a strategy for advertising on community radio.
Wales Office
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22 Conclusion Deferred
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wal…
Require BBC Cymru Wales to explain differences in commissioning approach for Wales
PSBs are crucial to the continual success of the independent production sector in Wales. However, we are concerned that the lack of network-level commissioning power at BBC Cymru Wales is leading to commissions being given to companies outside Wales. In … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that public service broadcasters' regional programme making quotas are a matter for Ofcom, confirming DCMS has discussed this with Ofcom, and concluded there is no need to legislate as Ofcom has sufficient powers. It did not compel BBC Cymru Wales to provide the requested explanation.
Wales Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 27 of 20 classified
Accepted 6
Acknowledged 2
Deferred 13
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 4
Total 20 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 7 letters
13 Mar 2024 To committee Letter from BBC Cymru Wales following on from the Committee’s Report into Broadcasting in Wales
Parliament page
24 Jan 2024 Correspondence from BBC Wales to the Chair relating to the Committee's report on Broadcasting in Wales
Parliament page
24 Jan 2024 Correspondence from Ofcom to the Chair relating to the Committee's report on Broadcasting in Wales
Parliament page
22 Jan 2024 Correspondence from the Welsh Government to the Chair in response to the Committee's report on Broadcasting in Wales
Parliament page
16 Nov 2023 Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to the Chair relating to the introduction of the Media Bill
Parliament page
9 Oct 2023 Correspondence from the Chair to the Director for Wales, Ofcom, relating to availability of FM licenses
Parliament page
28 Jun 2023 Correspondence from Chair to Director for Wales, Ofcom, relating to Brass-Plating
Parliament page