23 March 2021

In response to Ofcom's consultation Small Screen: Big Debate, on the future of public service media, S4C has called for a revision of the regulatory regime to give the Welsh language prominence on digital platforms.

In a letter to Ofcom, S4C's Chief Executive, Owen Evans calls for urgent measures to reform the regulatory system to ensure prominence and availability on fair terms for S4C's online services, alongside other public service media providers (PSMs).

S4C believes that English language content dominates the most popular platforms, with global providers able to invest significantly in technology to promote their content based on consumer data.

In the letter, S4C emphasises the following actions as a priority:

- The right for PSMs in the UK's indigenous languages to have a high degree of prominence across platforms and devices.

- Standard requirement to be available on all smart TVs.

- Data to be owned by providers rather than platforms, to enable evidence-based commissioning decisions and scheduling.

- S4C wants to secure long-term and sustainable sources of commercial income, including advertising and sponsorship income (linear and digital).

- There is a need to ensure fair terms with the platform owners in order to increase the income to the PSMs for reinvestment in content.

- Extend the above prominence and availability principles to any new methods of video delivery that are likely to become popular, e.g. Ultra HD.

Owen Evans said: "The regulatory framework needs to be modernised to ensure that there are thriving public service media in our indigenous languages that flourish for years to come.

"It is difficult for PSM's in a minority language such as S4C to influence the global platforms through commercial discussion and therefore we call for legislative intervention.

"Without this, there is a real danger that Welsh language content will not be visible online and that Welsh will not be part of the daily lives of future generations. "