Made in North Wales TV shows made in...Liverpool
CRITICS have slammed those behind the new Made in North Wales TV station – for making their programmes in Liverpool.
The venture will produce just eight hours of local programming a week, of which only 30 minutes will be in Welsh, say language campaigners.
The channel, part of government plans to start community TV stations, will launch on April 26 and was set to be based in Mold or Wrexham.
But while programmes will be filmed in North Wales, the channel will be based in Liverpool.
Aled Powell, from campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, said: “It is not acceptable that Ofcom has agreed to licence the company despite it providing only 30 minutes of original Welsh-language content a week – only 3% of the hours broadcast. Indeed, the percentage of original local programming will be very low as well. We also think it is unacceptable that the programmes will be made in the company’s studios in Liverpool, rather than in the local area the channel serves.
“It stands to reason therefore that the local community will not benefit economically or culturally from the new service as much as they could.
“We are also concerned that Made Television will not keep to the commitment made by the original successful bidder to use and take advantage of the resources and skills of Glyndŵr University’s students.”
A spokesperson for Made Television said: “The Made in North Wales channel will be providing programming as per the Ofcom licence award in 2013 (to the original applicant Bay TV Clwyd), providing over eight hours of original first-run local programming each week and a dedicated 30-minute Welsh-speaking programme.
“We will be aiming to exceed these commitments and look forward to launching the channel on April 26.
“Made in North Wales is linked to S4C is to offer Hindi subtitles for the first time as the channel follows Only Men Aloud on a musical journey to India.
The service will be provided via their online catch-up facility for the documentary to be broadcast on Saturday.
The choir and its conductor, Tim Rhys-Evans, spent a week in Mumbai, learning to dance and sing in the style of Bollywood as Liverpool from an infrastructure perspective, as the office there is already connected to the channel transmission facility in Birmingham.
“Made in North Wales is working with local businesses to provide an office space in the area, and the on- well as learning a song in Hindi.
Steffan Hughes, the youngest member of the choir founded in 2000, said: “I joined Only Men Aloud a month before the trip, so going to India as my first experience with the first crew was amazing.
“We had a shock at first because location original content will all be filmed in the region. We remain very keen on finding suitable office space in the area in the future.”
Made Television channels broadcast up to two hours of original content each night, with acquired or of the lifestyle of the locals. There are slums everywhere but everyone we met was so welcoming and friendly and we learnt so much.”
Only Men Aloud worked with Songbound, a charity using music to help deprived children.
Their aim was to put on a shared programming from across the company’s network making up the rest of the schedule.
Jamie Conway, CEO of Made Television, said: “North Wales is a vibrant and beautiful part of the UK and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to special performance for the local community, and the rehearsals were a revelation for Steffan, who won the Urdd Bryn Terfel Scholarship in 2016.
The 22-year-old from Denbighshire said: “We had to teach a Welsh song to the children and they taught us a Hindi song. Our singing styles are so different but the children were enthusiastic.” entertain viewers living here with programming that will be tailored to their needs. We are committed to providing opportunities for local people to get involved in what we do and we’re looking forward to working with the local community.”