Recommendations & Conclusions
13 items
4
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 Welsh content is not straightforward on these platforms, making it …
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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 Welsh content is not straightforward on these platforms, making it difficult for it to be viewed in Wales and across the UK. We call on public sector broadcasters to urgently develop their digital platforms to improve their level of online personalisation and ensure that programmes local to Wales and Welsh language content are prominent and easy to access. We call on public secrvice broadcasters to urgently develop their digital platforms to improve their level of online personalisation and ensure that programmes local to Wales and Welsh language content are prominent and easy to access. We request that public service broadcasters report to us by March 2024 on their progress in this area.
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Government response AI summary
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 …
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Wales Office
5
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 of global companies such as Amazon Prime Video, based overseas. …
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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 of global companies such as Amazon Prime Video, based overseas. Amazon Prime Video resisted sending a representative to answer our questions, and streaming services have not met the Welsh Language Commissioner. These are worrying indications that future policy makers in Wales will find it harder to retain a valuable relationship with all broadcasters. The oral evidence we took from Netflix and COBA demonstrate that this relationship remains possible.
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Government response AI summary
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 …
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Wales Office
6
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 streaming services to develop content. We look forward to this …
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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 streaming services to develop content. We look forward to this continuing in the future.
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Government response AI summary
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 …
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Wales Office
11
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 Welsh Government and broadcasters to discuss how the listed events …
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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 Welsh Government and broadcasters to discuss how the listed events regime could be amended to support a specific list of Welsh events.
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Government response AI summary
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 …
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Wales Office
13
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 the coverage of those matches on S4C. We ask that …
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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 the coverage of those matches on S4C. We ask that FA Wales write to us by February 2024, updating us on the latest situation and outlining the representations it is making to UEFA to ensure that any new contract- holder works with S4C to replicate its previous agreement with Viaplay and thereby ensure Welsh language commentary.
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Wales Office
14
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 is a requirement for PSB coverage to include a Welsh …
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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 is a requirement for PSB coverage to include a Welsh language commentary option for every match involving the Wales team. (Paragraph 81) 44 Broadcasting in Wales Radio
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Wales Office
15
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 learners. The current regulatory framework is not strong enough to …
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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 learners. The current regulatory framework is not strong enough to support the Welsh Language on commercial radio. We ask the Government to consider the adequacy of Ofcom’s remit in relation to Welsh language content on commercial radio stations in Wales.
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Wales Office
17
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 Government amend the Draft Media Bill to ensure that this …
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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 Government amend the Draft Media Bill to ensure that this duty is retained.
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Wales Office
18
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 Radio Fund has not kept pace with inflation. We recommend …
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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 Radio Fund has not kept pace with inflation. We recommend that the Government increases the Community Radio Fund to match the current demand, as well as linking it to inflation for future years.
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Wales Office
19
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 Community Radio Fund can be spent, allowing community radio stations …
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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 Community Radio Fund can be spent, allowing community radio stations greater flexibility to spend the funds where it will be of greatest use.
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Wales Office
20
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 AI summary
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.
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Wales Office
21
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 April 2024 a strategy setting out how it will seek …
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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 April 2024 a strategy setting out how it will seek to place advertisements on community radio stations. (Paragraph 116) Broadcasting in Wales 45 Developing the skills pipeline into Welsh broadcasting
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Wales Office
22
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Deferred
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 their response to our Report, BBC Cymru Wales must write …
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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 their response to our Report, BBC Cymru Wales must write to us to explain why their approach to commissioning in Wales appears to differ from that adopted by the BBC in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Government response AI summary
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 …
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Wales Office