Please wait...
Please wait...

Further S4C cuts confirmed

Welsh-language pubcaster S4C will have its government funding slashed by nearly £2m (US$3.02m) over the next four years.

S4C drama Hinterland

S4C drama Hinterland

Cardiff-based S4C, known for its Hinterland drama series, expects the funding it receives from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to fall from the present level of £6.7m to £5m by 2019/20, following chancellor George Osborne’s autumn statement yesterday.

The company – which currently receives most of its funding via the BBC – was recently told it was expected to find “reasonable savings” as part of the UK licence fee settlement announced in July. Its funding was reduced from £101m in 2009 to £82.8m in 2014/15.

Huw Jones, chairman of the S4C Authority, described the latest decision as “disappointing” and said the reduction was “substantially greater than the overall reduction which the department has received.”

He added: “Today’s announcement puts even greater emphasis on the result of the discussions we are holding with the BBC Trust with regard to the funding S4C receives through the licence fee.

“At the moment, S4C receives approximately 90% of its funding through the licence fee and the secretary of state has suggested S4C should implement savings in proportion to those the BBC is expected to implement.

“Although every effort will be made to prioritise expenditure on programme content and quality, it is inevitable that cuts of this nature will have implications for the range and diversity of the service that we provide and for our ability to take advantage of new opportunities.”

Jones said discussions would soon be held with producers and staff to “consider the difficult decisions which lie ahead of us.”

Please wait...