S4C thriving as more tune in and view social media content
ASLIGHT increase in the viewing of its TV programmes by Welsh-speakers coupled with a rise in the use of its online services has left S4C in relatively good shape, according to the broadcaster’s chairman, Huw Jones.
But there remains a need to provide the channel with certainty about its future funding, with a review to be carried out by the UK government still awaited.
Speaking as the channel’s annual report for 2016/17 was published, Mr Jones said: “It was heartening to see an increase in the number of viewers tuning in every week in Wales and in the numbers of Welsh-speakers doing so in particular.
“Along with that, the striking increase in the use of S4C content on platforms such as Facebook is an indication of the efforts by S4C, working with partners in the independent sector, to take advantage of these new opportunities.”
Broadcasting live coverage of Wales’ Euro 2016 matches was a significant event, and a source of great pride and euphoria, said Mr Jones, adding that the nation had been united in a very different way in remembrance of the Aberfan disaster 50 years on, with S4C commissioning a new choral piece, Cantata Memoria, as a lasting tribute to the community.
Both these significant events, along with other highlights, attracted TV viewers, but people also connected with the content using alternative methods.
The video message by Wales’ football squad sending “Diolch” to the supporters was viewed 181,646 times on Facebook, and an excerpt from the choral work Cantata Memoria was also among the top 20 viewing sessions on social media.
The broadcaster’s outgoing chief executive, Ian Jones, said: “Our activities on social media have enabled audiences to engage with our content in increasing numbers. When a video is played almost 200,000 times online, as was the case with our film of the Wales football squad saying ‘Diolch’, then we must be striking the right chord.
“It was an honour to commission and broadcast the exceptional work of Sir Karl Jenkins and Mererid Hopwood, Cantata Memoria – a particularly moving occasion. Being part of the event will stay with me forever.”
Looking to the future, Huw Jones emphasised that “the Welsh language must be seen and used on the most current mass media if it is to thrive” and that S4C plays a key role in this, as well as continuing to provide “a rich, traditional television service”.
He agreed that the broadcaster’s output had a crucial role to play in helping the Welsh Government achieve its target of a million Welshspeakers by 2050. It was also important, he said, to provide content that was appreciated by young Welshspeaking males.
As the channel awaits the UK government’s announcement regarding the pending Independent Review of S4C, Huw Jones said he sees the review as an opportunity to define S4C’s service in terms of providing content on a range of platforms and establishing a funding structure in the long term: “One of our primary hopes is that, following this review, there will be an agreement as to the process government will follow in deciding on the overall sum which represents sufficient funding for S4C,” he said.
“There is emphasis also on the need to define the S4C service in terms of providing content on a range of platforms in whatever form is appropriate, while at the same time continuing to provide a traditional television service. The creative Welsh-language content funded through S4C must be made available for use by the public as widely as modern technology permits and we look forward to seeing further strides in this field in the coming years.”
The channel’s chairman defended the appointment of Owen Evans, the Welsh Government’s Deputy Permanent Secretary, as its new chief executive. He will succeed Ian Jones in October. Mr Evans has no previous broadcasting experience – a fact that has led to some criticism in the sector.
But Huw Jones said: “ITV has just appointed a new chief executive [Carolyn McCall] who currently works for EasyJet. This is the way of the world. Broadcasting does not exist in an isolated silo. The skills you need to run a business are transferable. Owen is highly respected in the Welsh Government in the post he currently holds, and for the way he performed in other roles previously. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have appointed him.”
The chairman acknowledged that S4C’s new digital offerings were not expected to bring in a significant amount of revenue: “We are happy to have commercial revenues, of course, but they have formed a very small part of our income ever since S4C was established 35 years ago.
“We have a strong public service remit and look forward to delivering on it in the future.”