ITV to fight BBC for S4C News contract.

Mentioned in one of the Wales threads, but worthy of it's own - ITV Wales are set to launch an appeal to provide the Welsh-language news service for S4C.

It's been provided by the BBC since launch, and as well as covering events in Wales it also has the remit of covering world news in Welsh.

From: http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1654234,00.html




The article also goes on to say that new current affairs programme Wales This Week will replace Tonight with Trevor McDonald in Wales from early next year (don't the BBC or ITV Wales already do a Wales this Week?), while it is possible that once S4C goes fully digital the service will contain some English-language programmes for Wales.



Back to the main issue - have HTV bid for the contract in the past, and did it bid for it at the launch of S4C, as IIRC both BBC Wales and HTV Wales used to have some Welsh language news bulletins in the days before S4C (and me!)

[QUOTE]
[ size=7]Back to the main issue - have HTV bid for the contract in the past, and did it bid for it at the launch of S4C, as IIRC both BBC Wales and HTV Wales used to have some Welsh language news bulletins in the days before S4C (and me!) [/size]

I believe that HTV did in fact bid for the contract when S4C was set up in 1982. Both companies did have news programmes in the pre-S4C era - 'Y Dydd' on HTV and 'Heddiw' on BBC.
Interesting to hear this news, but why would S4C want to have to fork out to pay for a news service from ITV Wales when they get it for free from BBC at the moment??

Personally I think S4C and ITV should remain as separate as possible. How dare a company renowned for dissolving and neutering regional identity suddenly try to muscle in on a market and demographic it has no proven track record in? BBC Cymru not only does news but docs and sports coverage - I can't see S4C coping by taking its news provision from one organisation and having no cross promotion with its sports provision from another organisation.

Oh I daren't imagine who'd present the shower of a news programme ITV would make for S4C -- good god.

Plus I'd never watch it again if Garry Owen went.

It will surely not happen anyway, not least for the reason posted above.

Unless the obligations the BBC have to the station are suitably changed [as C4's necessarily will be] under the new arrangements for post-analogue S4C.

As much as I really care for HTV, I agree, I think it's absolutely disgusting. Seriously though, they’ve got a snowball’s chance in hell to win the contract.

And another thing...
Their hopes that they can win the S4C news contract is somewhat tarnished by their own website. The latest news is on the 15th of November and before that the 26th of October.

S4C is slowly but surely becoming closer to BBC Cymru Wales. Not only does the BBC provide it's news coverage and drama, but there is serious talk of transmission being moved to the Beeb too!

ITV has absolutely no credibility anymore when it comes to regional broadcasting. They píssed away a dozen or so strong regional brands, in favour of a very transient nationwide brand which is associated with bankruptcy, failure and disrespect for the viewer.

I certainly know who I'd rather have as S4C's 'mothership' so-to-speak.

As an ex-pat taffy I am heartened by the comments agreeing with my view - seems as though ITV Wales News has few fans any more.

I would however disagree that S4C is merely becoming a BBC Cymru vehicle, despite the fact it provides a fair amount of programming. Independent production companies are an integral part of S4C's makeup, and should remain so. Wales is fortunate to have such a diverse and varied TV channel as S4C - I pity poor Gaelic Scots with their solitary hour of TeleG per day. The fact of the matter is the BBC have a proven track record of 23 years providing S4C's current affairs and sport and should continue doing so.

Another point is that HTV could have continued providing Welsh programming but didn't, abandoning a key audience. They had their chance and blew it.

You have any evidence to back-up that claim?

From the very little S4C that I watch HTV still have some programmes broadcast on S4C like Y Byd Ar Bedwar, Hacio, A470 etc
All that the BBC make is Newyddion, some schools programmes and co-produce the live Y Clwb Rygbi programmes.

Surely it is upto S4C which companies they commission to make programmes and not the other way around? IE HTV didn't abandon S4C but infact S4C looked elsewhere for programmes?

Well said, but it does not help when ITV Wales has been asset stripped over the last few years, first by Carlton, then by Granada and finally by ITV.

Frankly, ITVWales can come up with some of the best programme ideas in Wales for S4C but does not have the internal resources any more to do any of them.

How can you not forget Pobol Y Cwm? Probably S4C's most popular Welsh language programme?

I didn't!