, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
Okay, but, what, the ecosystem doesn't allow for that to happen? You're saying commercialisation and the deregulatory drift, if you like, because the market is demanding something—. I think it comes back to the point Alun Davies was making about we need to…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
Okay. Thank you. Very briefly then, if I may just conclude on a slightly different matter, the previous, or our predecessor committee, then, in the last Senedd, called for changes to commercial radio licensing to require Welsh-language content as part of…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
Okay. I don't know whether that's—. Yes. Okay. Fine. Although there is a risk that the system can be gamed, which would undermine the integrity of the policy.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
And would taking a look at that include maybe potentially considering recommending that the criteria are amended to include maybe a company having been present in Wales for maybe a certain period of time before?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
In what sense, sorry? In what sense? Just for me to understand.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
Because you mention that you publish lists, and the made-outside-London register is available, but, of course, that doesn't scrutinise at the point of commissioning, does it? You publish a register of programmes broadcast the previous year—well, those were…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
And talent costs as well, yes.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
Okay. Thank you for that. There is, of course, a requirement that at least 5 per cent of BBC expenditure on UK network programmes has to be spent in Wales. How do you police that, and what do you do to guard against the risk of production companies popping up…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
That's fine.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
—in giving them a bit of muscle?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
Yes, thank you. Just picking up on the draft media Bill and the need, or requirement, potentially, for prominence for PSBs on devices, et cetera. We heard from S4C earlier this morning that, as a smaller PSB, maybe, they might need a bit of muscle from Ofcom…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
There we are. Thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
So, is there any particular reason why Wales hasn't enjoyed the fruit of that expansion in terms of other responsibilities that are clearly reflected in figures elsewhere?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
No, I was just wondering, if you believe 16 is sufficient—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
—it takes four times as many people to have their voice heard.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
So, are you suggesting that the other offices aren't economic and that, for some reason—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
It's for whoever wants to answer. Yes, let's start with you, then, Lord Grade.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
Okay. Well, I just want to ask a few questions about Wales's place within Ofcom and Ofcom's capacity in Wales, because a freedom of information request back in April of this year outlined how many staff were employed in various offices that Ofcom have…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with Ofcom (2)
Well, I just wanted to talk about—. Alun, if you want to come back on that, then you'd best do it now, because—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with S4C (1)
Great, thanks.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with S4C (1)
That's what I'm coming to, to all intents and purposes. You are committed to Clic and you do feel that you need Clic, even though the figures are going up on YouTube and the figures are going up on iPlayer. It's important to you that you have your own…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with S4C (1)
Perhaps we haven't adequately covered the digital platforms. Am I right in saying that Clic's figures are going down but iPlayer's figures are going up?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with S4C (1)
Ocê. Diolch yn fawr.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with S4C (1)
What about the list of events or sports events that do have to be broadcast free to air? Now, there was a suggestion some years ago, for example—I think there was a review that suggested that perhaps six nations matches involving Wales in Wales should be…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Public service broadcasting in Wales: evidence session with S4C (1)
Yes. I prefer football to rugby, to be honest, so I wouldn't want to not make the point that the football coverage is glorious, and the fact that we've had that long period of broadcasting is real public service broadcasting, and it's a service that others…
