Select committee: Welsh Affairs Committee
Conclusion 5
Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales
Published 27 Oct 2023
Paragraph 37
Addressed to Wales Office
Welsh Affairs Committee Broadcasting in Wales All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
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.
From: Welsh Affairs Committee, Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales (HC 620), paragraph 37, 27 October 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 22 January 2024 (deadline 11 January 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the report and points to its Media Bill, while declining several recommendations, including a full review of the listed events list and a formal review of the Apprenticeship Levy.
- On the BBC and S4C partnership, it says it "would not be appropriate for the Government to oversee individual partnerships", but "agrees" they should maintain one suited to the evolving landscape. Through the Media Bill it is legislating so that fewer than 10 hours may be agreed, and if no agreement is reached "the current requirement of 10 hours will continue".
- On listed sporting events, it states it has "no plans to undertake a full review of the list" and does not think it "appropriate for Ofcom to have the ability to amend the list of events".
- On community radio funding, it says any increase to the base level of the Fund "will need to be considered in the context of wider economic conditions at the next Spending Review". It considers that retaining a focus on long-term sustainability "remains appropriate" for how the Fund is spent.
- On the licence fee, the government is "launching a review of the licence fee funding model", led by DCMS, which "will also consider the funding arrangements of Welsh and other Minority Language Broadcasting provided by the BBC".