Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Deferred
Paragraph: 37
Global streaming services challenge traditional dialogue between Welsh policymakers and broadcasters
Conclusion
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.
Government Response 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 services' engagement with Welsh policymakers.
Paragraph Reference:
37
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The BBC and S4C are independent of Government, and as such partnerships between both organisations are a matter for them. It would not be appropriate for the Government to oversee individual partnerships. However, the Government agrees that the BBC and S4C should maintain a partnership that is suited to the evolving broadcasting landscape and the changing way in which people access content. The Government therefore welcomes that, as part of its Across the UK strategy, the BBC has committed to modernising its long-standing partnership with S4C to reflect the digital landscape better and support the distribution of S4C services across multiple platforms. Through the Media Bill, the Government is also legislating to support S4C and the BBC to move away from the current, somewhat rigid, framework requiring the BBC to provide S4C with 10 hours of television programming per week. The new, modernised arrangements will allow the BBC and S4C to agree that the BBC can provide fewer than 10 hours of television content and make alternative contribution arrangements to S4C if it is mutually and commercially beneficial for both parties. This will ensure S4C can continue to best serve Welsh speaking audiences. It is for the BBC and S4C to decide what this new partnership arrangement should look like. However, if no agreement is reached, the current requirement of 10 hours will continue.