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BBC cuts put S4C at risk, Labour's Chris Bryant claims BBC cuts put S4C at risk, Labour's Chris Bryant claims
(about 1 hour later)
Cuts to the BBC threaten the future of S4C, Labour's shadow culture secretary has told the House of Commons.Cuts to the BBC threaten the future of S4C, Labour's shadow culture secretary has told the House of Commons.
Rhondda MP Chris Bryant called for reassurances over the Welsh-language channel as the UK government announced a full-scale review of the BBC.Rhondda MP Chris Bryant called for reassurances over the Welsh-language channel as the UK government announced a full-scale review of the BBC.
Culture Secretary John Whittingdale restated his view that S4C should aim for similar savings to the BBC.Culture Secretary John Whittingdale restated his view that S4C should aim for similar savings to the BBC.
Mr Bryant said S4C's budget had been cut by a third since 2010 with another 20% likely after the licence fee deal. S4C said it had faced "substantial cuts" but would stress to ministers the "uniqueness" and value of its service.
S4C receives the bulk of its money - £75m - from the BBC licence fee, with £7m from the UK government plus some commercial income. The channel receives the bulk of its money - £75m - from the BBC licence fee, with £7m from the UK government plus some commercial income.
'Shrinkage' fear'Shrinkage' fear
Launching a Green Paper and public consultation on the future of the BBC on Thursday, Mr Whittingdale told MPs S4C was one of the services whose funding had been protected during the previous BBC charter period.Launching a Green Paper and public consultation on the future of the BBC on Thursday, Mr Whittingdale told MPs S4C was one of the services whose funding had been protected during the previous BBC charter period.
Referring to his statement on the licence fee deal earlier in July, the minister added that "S4C will be expected to find similar savings to those in the BBC".Referring to his statement on the licence fee deal earlier in July, the minister added that "S4C will be expected to find similar savings to those in the BBC".
However, Mr Bryant called for a guarantee of the Welsh channel's future, urging Mr Whittingdale to consult the Welsh government and the Welsh people.However, Mr Bryant called for a guarantee of the Welsh channel's future, urging Mr Whittingdale to consult the Welsh government and the Welsh people.
"The secretary of state says that the funding of S4C was protected in the last charter period - that is not the view of anybody in Wales," he said."The secretary of state says that the funding of S4C was protected in the last charter period - that is not the view of anybody in Wales," he said.
"It was not. It's actually been cut by a third since 2010 and he's just suggested that the further 20% cut to the BBC would bring in a similar shrinkage to S4C."It was not. It's actually been cut by a third since 2010 and he's just suggested that the further 20% cut to the BBC would bring in a similar shrinkage to S4C.
"It's barely mentioned in the Green Paper at all, so I presume that he's not really looking at this with any seriousness.""It's barely mentioned in the Green Paper at all, so I presume that he's not really looking at this with any seriousness."
In response to similar calls from Llanelli MP Nia Griffith, Mr Whittingdale said there was a commitment to S4C "within the next couple of years" and he hoped to have discussions with its management in the near future.In response to similar calls from Llanelli MP Nia Griffith, Mr Whittingdale said there was a commitment to S4C "within the next couple of years" and he hoped to have discussions with its management in the near future.
'Under-served' audiences 'Value and importance'
The consultation document says the BBC's role in supporting native languages within the British Isles is "particularly important". S4C chairman Huw Jones said: "Discussions with DCMS [Department for Culture, Media and Sport] are scheduled to begin very soon in relation to the combined funding from the licence fee and government which, together, provide us with the means to make programmes and deliver the S4C service.
"This is a small market with limited potential to be served effectively by commercial broadcasters, and therefore a key area where public funding can support under-served audiences," it continues. "The substantial cuts we have already faced since 2010 provide a significant context and throughout these discussions we will be emphasising the uniqueness of the S4C service, and its value and importance, both culturally and economically."
However, the document notes that "audience reach has been falling across some indigenous language services over the last few years, particularly in Wales". The consultation document said the BBC's role in supporting native languages within the British Isles was "particularly important".
It adds that the higher hourly cost of Welsh-language radio programming compared to English-language output "raises concerns about value for money". "This is a small market with limited potential to be served effectively by commercial broadcasters, and therefore a key area where public funding can support under-served audiences," it continued.
However, the document noted that "audience reach has been falling across some indigenous language services over the last few years, particularly in Wales".
It added that the higher hourly cost of Welsh-language radio programming compared to English-language output "raises concerns about value for money".