"OFCOM Report fails to address the real problem of funding." (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

"OFCOM Report fails to address the real problem of funding."

June 9, 2005 3:00 PM

Eleanor Burnham AM, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Culture, Welsh Language and Sport challenged the conclusions of OFCOM's consultation on the future of Public Service Broadcasting provision in Wales, published today.

"OFCOM fails to address the issue of funding S4C properly. S4C needs to be adequately funded and the solution lies with the Government, not with top slicing the licence fee. Equally the Government must consider funding S4C's digital roll out costs, something that OFCOM called for with Channel 4 but has remained silent on with S4C."

Mrs Burnham also challenged OFCOM's three proposals for the basis of the BBC and S4C's future relationship. "Transparency, editorial control and a financial commitment are admirable core principles but we have to be careful about the way these reforms are implemented. S4C needs to be strengthened so that it is an equal partner in a strategic relationship with the BBC but not at the expense of the BBC. The link between the BBC and S4C must be retained as we all gain from it. OFCOM seems at times too keen on market driven solutions which could threaten this relationship."

Eleanor Burnham welcomed OFCOM's commitment to more production to be done outside of London but questioned whether this could be done on a purely voluntary basis. "OFCOM will have to monitor this arrangement and OFCOM Wales will have to ensure that Welsh production companies get their share. The recent Doctor Who production shows the quality that Wales is capable of."

Mrs Burnham also praised OFCOM's decision to allow the introduction of a 'no-play, no-pay' clause for network programmes for ITV licensees and the requirement on the ITV Network Centre to take into account the higher level of regional programmes when devising its network schedule.

However Mrs Burnham questioned OFCOM's decision to allow ITVWales to cut its regional non-news output to 3 hours a week after digital switchover. "Reducing the hours seems more of a short term solution that fails to address fully the issue of commercial broadcasters providing adequate competition in regional non-news programming. We need guarantees from OFCOM that this is the last cut of regional non-news broadcasting ITVWales will be allowed to make."