Fifth Report - Broadcasting in Wales

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.