22 March 2011

S4C and the independent production sector will be holding a series of meetings over the next fortnight as part of the consultation process on the Channel’s broadcasting pattern from 2012 to 2015.

The process began with a constructive meeting between S4C officers and a task group from TAC (the Association of Welsh Independent Producers) on Monday 21 March and a number of meetings with individual companies will follow in S4C’s offices in Cardiff and Caernarfon.

S4C presented options regarding the Channel’s broadcasting pattern post 2012 to the independent producers in Llandrindod Wells recently. A timetable was set for the consultation process and the companies were invited to respond by the end of March. It was also announced that there would be a further consultation period during which the companies could meet with S4C face to face on an individual basis.

At the end of the process there will be further consultations with S4C viewers and the S4C Authority will need to give its approval to any final plan.

All four options put forward at Llandrindod were based on thorough research by S4C in order to meet the requirements of a public service broadcaster.

It’s public knowledge that the Channel is facing cuts of up to 25% in its funding. We’re working with the production sector to make these cuts and to secure the quality of our programmes and service. S4C has already announced that up to 40 jobs will be lost within the Channel and, in addition, a root and branch review of S4C’s internal operations and administration is being held at present.

Ends