Broadcasting and the media

Alun DaviesLabour

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

It hasn't worked overly effectively, though, has it? Because you've made the cuts to regional funding, to regional programming, in the way we discussed earlier, so I can understand you saying—and I don't disagree, actually, about the mixed economy; I don't have an issue about that—but we've seen…

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Public service broadcasting”Official Record

Magnus Brooke

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

So, we're big supporters of public funding for the BBC. We recognise there's going to be a debate around the licence fee, about whether it's the licence fee or is it some other mechanism of raising money, and actually, we're very lucky in the UK to have had a fairly mixed funding system, so you've…

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Public service broadcasting”Official Record

Alun DaviesLabour

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

…I'm interested in the conversation we've been having about—as you've just referred to—the economics of broadcasting, and one of the themes of our conversations this morning has been the balance that ITV makes in terms of serving audiences and its revenue issues. So, taking Peter's last question…

Tagged for: “broadcasting”, “S4C”, “public service broadcasting”Official Record

Magnus Brooke

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

…have a terribly strong view. I think one thing I would say, though, is be careful of the economics of broadcasting, because broadcasting is globalising, and tv content production distribution is globalising. It's getting harder for ITV at a whole UK level to do what we do, and we've just gone…

Tagged for: “broadcasting”Official Record

Llyr GruffyddPlaid

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

…the advantages or the disadvantages, or the advantages and the disadvantages might be of devolving broadcasting to Wales?

Tagged for: “broadcasting”Official Record

Phil Henfrey

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

Well, as I say, I think all additional funding is of course helpful, but it has to be seen in, you know—. Creating trusted news and current affairs on whichever channel is very expensive.

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Public service broadcasting”Official Record

Phil Henfrey

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

Not really, in the sense that many millions of pounds are spent by public service broadcasters to create the content that's already created, that the market wouldn't otherwise do. Any addition to that is always helpful, of course, but I think you have to see it in sort of the broader spend.

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Public service broadcasting”Official Record

Phil Henfrey

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

…Certainly, when I read the report, I was pleased to see the recognition in the report of the value of public service broadcasting and what it brings to Wales. We absolutely look forward to engaging with the Welsh Government on whatever its recommendations might be, coming out of that report. But…

Tagged for: “public service broadcasting”Official Record

Peter FoxConservative

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

Thank you, Chair. Just a couple of points around the expert panel and I just wondered what your view was. Did you agree with the analysis of media provision in Wales in the report that came out, and, perhaps linked to that, what impact could £1 million of annual funding from the Welsh Government do…

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Public service broadcasting”Official Record

Delyth JewellPlaid

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

Diolch. But, certainly, you can see—. From your answer, I think you've spoken powerfully about the fact that rugby in Wales brings the nation together in a way that couldn't be said to be the case for the other nations in the UK in the same way.

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Public service broadcasting”Official Record

Magnus Brooke

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

To take the first part of your question, the numbers are astonishing. When you look at the numbers of the share, I think it the Wales-Argentina game in the Rugby World Cup had an 85 per cent share of the audience in Wales. Almost everybody in Wales seemed to be watching it. So, that's very…

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Public service broadcasting”Official Record

Llyr GruffyddPlaid

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

…the significance of rugby, given that rugby matches with Wales often generate the highest audiences for broadcasting.

Tagged for: “broadcasting”Official Record

Magnus Brooke

16 November 2023, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee

Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with BBC

Yes. So, let's deal with those two events slightly separately. The Rugby World Cup final is listed as a category A, I think, so I think there's a reasonable likelihood that that stays on free television, but the rest of the tournament isn't, and the six nations is also a category B. So, effectively…

Tagged from the title of its item or question: “Public service broadcasting”Official Record