![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
You are in: UK: Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|
![]() |
Tuesday, 2 July, 2002, 11:24 GMT 12:24 UK
S4C hits digital funds problem
S4C faces a difficult year ahead
Broadcaster S4C could face having to cut output on its digital channel in the wake of gloomy figures published in TV channel's annual report on Tuesday.
S4C - which is directly subsidised by the government - will have to find extra funding to continue its current output of programmes.
The channel is spending more than it is receiving in income for a second year in a row, together with a steady fall in its audience share. Chief executive Huw Jones said more had to be done to appeal to a wide audience, but added he was pleased at the 700,000 weekly viewing figures. "I think what we need is a schedule that appeals equally to all parts of Wales, but it is difficult to get a perfect balance," he said. Its hold on the Welsh-speaking audience in north Wales has dropped from 12.5% to 11% in the past year, following a fall in the previous 12 months. Figures in south Wales show a more alarming 4% fall in viewing figures. Average peak hours viewing share of S4C's Welsh-language programmes by Welsh speaking viewers was 13.8% compared to 15.3% in 2000. The broadcaster is fighting back with more programmes tailored towards a younger audience, based round the growing popularity of Welsh medium education.
Commissioning editors at S4C are looking at specifically to try to gain a loyal audience. But the company's immediate concerns lie with deciding on its digital provision in the coming year. Some 700,000 people watch S4C's Welsh language output once a week, but the signs of decline will not be taking lightly by S4C's Authority or the Department of Culture in London which is its principal funder. The channel has asked for a limited 2% above inflation funding increase to compete in the digital age.
|
![]() |
See also:
![]()
15 May 02 | Wales
23 Apr 02 | Wales
16 May 02 | Business
Top Wales stories now:
![]() ![]() Links to more Wales stories are at the foot of the page.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Links to more Wales stories |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To BBC Sport>> | To BBC Weather>> | To BBC World Service>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMIII | News Sources | Privacy |