A five-channel pattern is the basis for analogue terrestrial television services provided in Wales as in other parts of the UK. However, the provision of a national service catering for the cultural and linguistic needs of Wales has required the adaptation of the UK model. Channels 1 to 3 in Wales carry some English language programmes specifically of interest to viewers in Wales along with UK network programmes. The Channel 3 service is provided by HTV Wales, re-branded on screen in 2002 as ITV1 Wales. The fourth channel in Wales has been allocated to S4C (Sianel Pedwar Cymru) which carries Welsh language programmes at peak times along with rescheduled Channel 4 programmes at other times.
Channel 5 began broadcasting in some parts of Wales in early 1997 as in the rest of the UK. However, unlike ITV1 it is not required to offer a service specifically for viewers in Wales. In November 1998, Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcasts began from Wales’ six main transmitters and from three relays stations. The DTT service includes simulcast versions of the terrestrial analogue channels, BBC 1 Wales, BBC 2 Wales, ITV 1 Wales, Channel 4 and Channel 5 along with S4C Digital, an extended version of the Welsh language service provided on analogue transmitters, but without the English Channel 4 programmes. In addition, new digital channels became available via DTT including ITV2 , BBC 2W, BBC News 24, BBC 3 and BBC 4.
The Fourth Channel
On its analogue service S4C broadcasts around 36 hours of Welsh language programmes every week during peak viewing hours and a selection of Channel 4’s English language programmes at other times, in accordance with Sections 58(2), (4) and (5) of the Broadcasting Act 1990. In 2001 S4C transmitted 2,072 hours (2,182 in 2000) of Welsh language programmes that had been commissioned from independent producers. A further, 532 hours of Welsh language programmes were provided free of charge by BBC Wales (533 hours in 2000) under the terms of Section 58(1) of the 1990 Act. S4C commissions programmes from independent companies located all over Wales and from the Channel 3 licence holder HTV Wales. S4C also enters into co-production agreements with a range of international and domestic broadcasters.
S4C is regulated by the S4C Authority and under the terms of the Broadcasting Act 1996 it is empowered to engage in commercial activities which it does through its wholly owned subsidiary company S4C Masnachol. Members of the S4C Authority are appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in consultation with the National Assembly for Wales following open advertisement and competitive interview.
Since 1998 S4C has been funded by the Government according to the provisions of Section 80 of the Broadcasting Act 1996. Each year the S4C Authority receives a ‘prescribed amount’ equivalent to the 3.2% of national advertising revenue in 1997, but adjusted in subsequent years to take account of inflation. In 2002 the Authority received £81,468m from the Department of Culture Media and Sport. (2001 - £80,745.) Prior to 1998 S4C’s funding increased in line with advertising revenues.
Digital Television in Wales
In May 1998 the ITC granted the Multiplex A licence to the sole applicant, S4C Digital Networks Ltd (SDN), a company in which NTL, S4C and United News and Media hold equal shares (see ITC release 56/98).
S4C has guaranteed capacity on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Multiplex A and in November 1998 S4C Digital was launched. DTT, like satellite and cable enables viewers in Wales to receive the full Channel 4 service in addition to S4C and consequently, S4C Digital is able to provide 12 hours a day of Welsh language programmes and is not required to carry re-scheduled Channel 4 programmes. S4C Digital became available in Wales on digital satellite from 1 March 1999 and was available on request throughout the rest of the UK from May 1999. S4C has been automatically available to all UK satellite subscribers since November 2002.
S4C made use of its allocated capacity on Multiplex A to launch S4C-2 in September 1999, a service which provides live coverage of the National Assembly for Wales when it is in session. The editorial content of the service is provided by BBC Wales and the service is available throughout the UK on digital satellite as well as via DTT and cable in Wales. Unlike S4C, S4C-2 is licensed and regulated by the ITC.
In March 2001, the BBC launched BBC 2W, a digital version of BBC 2 Wales, providing around two hours of additional English language programmes for viewers in Wales, nightly Monday to Friday.
Channel 3 (ITV1 Wales)
The Channel 3 licence awarded to HTV Group plc in 1991 covers Wales and the West of England. Following the take-over of HTV by United News and Media in July 1997 and, as a consequence of section 78 of the Broadcasting Act 1996, HTV’s regional programme requirements were fixed at the levels attained in 1996: 11.43 hours of regional programmes per week in Wales and 11.11 hours per week for the West of England. In December 1998, HTV renewed its licence for a further 10 year period on revised financial terms offered by the ITC from 1 January 1999. In the summer of 2001, United sold its ITV licensees, including HTV, to the Granada Media Group but, due to the ownership limits set by the Broadcasting Act 1996, Granada divested its holding in HTV and the company was acquired by Carlton in November 2000. HTV’s licence requirement to provide programmes for Wales and the West of England continues regardless of ownership although following the publication of the Government’s White Paper on Communications in December 2000, the detailed conditions in HTV’s licence relating to the range and diversity of its services have been simplified. In 2002, the ITC and ITV agreed on a new Charter for Nations and Regions which aims to secure the quality and accessibility of ITV’s regional programmes and strengthen the accountability of licensees. Linked to the agreement, ITV’s regional programme hours were standardised and HTV Wales’ requirement reduced to 10 hours, although this is now based on first run material excluding repeats. Since March 2001, HTV has published annual statements of programme policy and in its 2003 statement, it also announced the appointment of an Advisory Council for Wales.
Cable and Local Delivery Services in Wales
Following the publication of the Government’s paper, Broadband Britain – A Fresh look at the Broadcasting Entertainment Restrictions, all cable franchises became non-exclusive from 1 January 2001. Existing cable operators were given the opportunity to apply for non-exclusive licenses covering the whole of the UK and the former restriction placed upon BT, preventing it from offering entertainment services on its networks was lifted. The licence granted on 4 January 1999 to Metro Communications Limited for North Wales and South Cheshire was revoked at the company’s request on 31 December 2000. NTL’s licences for Cardiff, Swansea and Newport were revoked on 29 December 2000 and its licence for Glamorgan and Gwent was revoked on the 31 December. These licences, along with NTL’s other cable franchises, were replaced by a non-geographic NTL Group licence covering the whole of the UK. The interactive television company Yes Television, based in Cardiff Bay, has also been granted a non-geographic local delivery licence.
Local Television in Wales
Restricted Service Licences (RSLs) are a new form of television licence introduced by the Broadcasting Act 1996. Unused analogue frequencies are made available, on a leasehold basis, for broadcasts to a particular establishment or other defined location, or for a particular event. Capital TV, which serves Cardiff, began test transmissions in December 2002. The company hopes to roll-out a full service later in 2003.
The ITC in Wales
The ITC has a National Office in Cardiff. In addition, the Commission includes a National Member who represents the particular interests of Wales. ITC staff promote awareness and understanding of the ITC’s functions and regulate the services of licensees based in Wales and the West of England.
Further References
Television Transmitting Stations. BBC/ITC. 1997.
Digital Television Transmitting Stations BBC/ITC June 2000
S4C Report and Accounts. 2000.
HTV Annual Statement 2003-2004
ITC Annual Report and Accounts 2001.
ITC News Release 71/98
ITC News Release 45/99
Contact
ITC National Office for Wales. 2nd Floor, Elgin House, 106 St Mary Street, Cardiff, CF10 1PA.
Tel: 029 2038 4541, Fax: 029 2022 3157
e-mail: stella.thomas@itc.org.uk, hywel.wiliam@itc.org.uk, karen.roberts@itc.org.uk
June 2003
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