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| ITV Wales may receive cash boost | ITV Wales may receive cash boost |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| A £5m funding package could be made available to help secure the future of English language news on ITV Wales, says communications regulator Ofcom. | A £5m funding package could be made available to help secure the future of English language news on ITV Wales, says communications regulator Ofcom. |
| Its director in Wales Rhodri Williams said the BBC could be made to share part of the TV licence fee under government plans to be announced later. | Its director in Wales Rhodri Williams said the BBC could be made to share part of the TV licence fee under government plans to be announced later. |
| The Digital Britain report will suggest ways to help commercial broadcasters cope with the impact of the internet. | The Digital Britain report will suggest ways to help commercial broadcasters cope with the impact of the internet. |
| It is also expected to include plans to bring broadband to the whole of the UK. | It is also expected to include plans to bring broadband to the whole of the UK. |
| Last week a Welsh assembly committee said an independent commission funded by £25m worth of public money was needed to safeguard ITV Wales. | Last week a Welsh assembly committee said an independent commission funded by £25m worth of public money was needed to safeguard ITV Wales. |
| The communities and culture committee said cuts on the channel in recent years were "deeply troubling". | The communities and culture committee said cuts on the channel in recent years were "deeply troubling". |
| 'Survive' | 'Survive' |
| But it was critical of plans for a pilot news project by Welsh language broadcaster S4C. | But it was critical of plans for a pilot news project by Welsh language broadcaster S4C. |
| Ofcom director Mr Williams said it cost ITV Wales £5m a year to produce its news programmes. | Ofcom director Mr Williams said it cost ITV Wales £5m a year to produce its news programmes. |
| He added: "The £5m figure is the cost of the current arrangement, but I am confident the report will include provision to maintain that service. | |
| "I expect there will be an intervention, but I don't know where the money will come from and how it will be delivered, but sharing the TV licence fee with the BBC's commercial rivals is one option that has been mooted. | "I expect there will be an intervention, but I don't know where the money will come from and how it will be delivered, but sharing the TV licence fee with the BBC's commercial rivals is one option that has been mooted. |
| "The key here is not where the money comes from, the key is plurality in English news in Wales and other parts of the UK. | "The key here is not where the money comes from, the key is plurality in English news in Wales and other parts of the UK. |
| "What we said to government was, do you want these programmes to survive or do you want the market to decide?" | "What we said to government was, do you want these programmes to survive or do you want the market to decide?" |
| In October 2008, Minister for Communications Lord Carter began work on a plan aimed at securing the UK's place at the head of the new media age. | In October 2008, Minister for Communications Lord Carter began work on a plan aimed at securing the UK's place at the head of the new media age. |
| Among 22 specific actions announced in his interim report in January was a commitment to establishing a universal broadband service for every home and business by 2012. | Among 22 specific actions announced in his interim report in January was a commitment to establishing a universal broadband service for every home and business by 2012. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said fast internet was now "an essential service, as indispensable as electricity, gas and water". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said fast internet was now "an essential service, as indispensable as electricity, gas and water". |