This Unit holds the research contract for monitoring the output of S4C (the Welsh television channel) in relation to television compliance with broadcasting regulation. S4C started broadcasting in 1982 and is the only broadcaster of television in the Welsh language. It is a publisher broadcaster and commissions programmes from around 40 different outside producers.
In addition to matters which concern the mainstream of television regulation such as taste and decency, political fairness and the like, S4C also has guidelines for producers on matters concerning the use of Welsh, the use of English and the use of other languages within the Welsh language programmes broadcast on the channel. This is a matter which not only concerns the regulator, broadcaster and producers but is also a topic of debate for experts, activists and other groups within society, and most recently in Wales it has been a matter of protest.
The aim of our research was:
- to analyse how the current policy in this area is being applied across the analogue channel and the digital channel and assess the implications
All programmes broadcast on S4C analogue and S4C digital were monitored for their content of English during three non-consecutive weeks from March to May 2000 by the Monitoring Unit. The results were presented to S4C executives and the Broadcasting Authority and a debate with the television producers will be held in Aberystwyth on October 8th, 2000.
- to identify individual programmes, genre and broadcasting times where English is used and examine the editorial reasons for this
- to explore the alternatives available to television producers and the broadcaster to avoid heavy or frequent use of English
- to draw comparisons with the use of the majority or state language within the programmes of other television broadcasters operating in 'minority', non-state or regional languages.