Award-winning drama, documentaries, sport, children's programmes and stories from all parts of Wales; original Welsh language content is to remain available via the S4C channel on BBC iPlayer after the success of the channel's introduction in 2014.
Today, (Friday 17 June) the Welsh language broadcaster has welcomed news that the S4C channel is to remain a fixture of BBC iPlayer for a further 5 years, until March 2022, on the back of the successful pilot period, by approval of the BBC Trust.
The S4C channel was introduced to BBC iPlayer in December 2014 and the scheme's popularity has led to an increase in online viewing sessions of S4C content.
S4C Authority Chairman Huw Jones has welcomed the news and is delighted with the success of the scheme; "Including S4C as an independent channel on BBC iPlayer in December 2014 has brought huge benefits for viewers. We welcome the BBC Trust's approval to continue with the scheme, building on its success. This is an example of how S4C's partnership with the BBC can bring benefits to all viewers throughout the UK."
BBC Trustee for Wales, Elan Closs Stephens, said: "The Trust approved S4C becoming a more permanent fixture on iPlayer in recognition of the great success of the initial pilot, and I am very pleased that Welsh speaking audiences will continue to be able to catch up with their favourite programmes on iPlayer. The BBC's successful partnership with S4C was recognised by the Government in the Charter White Paper, and I look forward to that partnership continuing to bear fruit in the next Charter period."
Sian Gwynedd, BBC Cymru Wales' Head of Welsh Language Programmes and Services, said: "Thanks to great collaboration between S4C and the BBC, we've seen how effective the popularity of BBC iPlayer has been in bringing Welsh language content to audiences. The latest BBC Trust approval means that all Welsh language TV programmes from the BBC and S4C – as well as Radio Cymru – will continue to be available live and on demand, which is great news for programme-makers and audiences alike in a busy digital market. This development, alongside the continuous growth of Cymru Fyw online, ensures every opportunity for audiences to discover the content they love."
