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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. 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
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Wales Office