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S4C expands children's programmes | S4C expands children's programmes |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Increases are planned for the amount of children's Welsh-language television. | Increases are planned for the amount of children's Welsh-language television. |
S4C, Wales' fourth channel, will show more than six hours a day for nursery-age children on its digital channel and its website. | S4C, Wales' fourth channel, will show more than six hours a day for nursery-age children on its digital channel and its website. |
The service which could mean more programmes like Fireman Sam, which started out in Welsh, will later be extended for older children. | The service which could mean more programmes like Fireman Sam, which started out in Welsh, will later be extended for older children. |
Pupils in Wales learn Welsh up to age 16 and the number of young speakers is rising. | Pupils in Wales learn Welsh up to age 16 and the number of young speakers is rising. |
Currently the channel screens programmes for nursery children - including a Welsh version of Bob the Builder - for around one hour a day. | Currently the channel screens programmes for nursery children - including a Welsh version of Bob the Builder - for around one hour a day. |
From June, however, Welsh programmes for pre-school children will be shown every weekday morning from 0700 GMT until 1330 GMT on S4C's digital channel. | From June, however, Welsh programmes for pre-school children will be shown every weekday morning from 0700 GMT until 1330 GMT on S4C's digital channel. |
The Welsh fourth channel was 25 years old in 2007 | The Welsh fourth channel was 25 years old in 2007 |
After digital switchover S4C, which last year celebrated its 25th anniversary, is due to become a stand-alone Welsh-language channel with no programmes being rebroadcast from Channel 4, as is the case at present. | After digital switchover S4C, which last year celebrated its 25th anniversary, is due to become a stand-alone Welsh-language channel with no programmes being rebroadcast from Channel 4, as is the case at present. |
John Walter Jones, chairman of the S4C authority, said the move was a first step towards a children's branded channel. | |
He said: "At the end of the day there will be a channel... a specific children service, that is exceptionally important." | |
He added the broadcaster had budgeted for the new programmes and they were not at "the expense of other services." | |
Mr Jones said he was "very proud" S4C was the second largest spender in the UK on original children's programmes. | |
'Nurture' | |
He said the announcement returned to the logic of establishing the channel to provide viewers - nursery children to start off with now - with what they needed, which was good programmes in their own language. | |
He said: "If they don't get it then they'll move towards the English [language] channels. | |
"This is a way of investing in the future, to nurture the children in the language and hope to keep them as viewers of S4C." | |
But some politicians in Wales believe S4C should show some programmes in English to appeal to those who do not speak Welsh. | But some politicians in Wales believe S4C should show some programmes in English to appeal to those who do not speak Welsh. |
In May last year, the S4C authority published a consultation paper called Children in the Digital Future seeking the views of the public and stakeholders on its proposals to launch a new Welsh-language public service TV channel for children. |