01 May 2013

S4C’s Chief Executive has confirmed that the UK Government has given notice that its contribution to the channel’s budget will be cut by a little over 1% for the next two years.

Following the 2013 Budget, Ian Jones told BBC Cymru Wales’ Manylu programme that the government’s department for culture, DCMS, has said that 1.09% less would be available to S4C in 2013/14. The following year, the budget would reduce by a further 1.06%.

The government had agreed to contribute £6.7m towards S4C budget in 2013/14, and £7m in 2014/15 following an agreement that the majority of the channel’s budget would be funded through the licence fee. The government is committed through the Public Bodies Bill to providing sufficient funding for S4C.

S4C’s Chief Executive Ian Jones said:

“We have been told by the UK Government about the further cuts to their budget for Welsh broadcasting, and we’re working internally to deal with the effects of that.

“These cuts are in addition to the 36% real terms cut to our budget since 2010.

“We’ve written to the Secretary of State and we want to continue to discuss with DCMS it’s commitment to fund broadcasting in the Welsh language between now and the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review in June. That review will effect the period beyond the government’s current funding commitment to S4C – after 2015.”