Welsh Fourth Channel Authority
Encyclopedia
The Welsh Fourth Channel Authority regulates S4C
(Sianel Pedwar Cymru), the Welsh-language television
station of Wales
. It is not connected to Ofcom
, or any other regulator, and exists purely to ensure the quality of the channel. The Authority's Chair and members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
. It is currently chaired by Rheon Tomos, who was unanimously voted as Chair following the resignation of John Walter Jones.
The Authority's future is unclear at present, due to a recent announcement regarding the channel's integration with BBC Wales. The 2010 Spending Review, presented in the House of Commons by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, gave the BBC
responsibility for the World Service, Monitoring and S4C.
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
(Sianel Pedwar Cymru), the Welsh-language television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
station of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is not connected to Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
, or any other regulator, and exists purely to ensure the quality of the channel. The Authority's Chair and members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport is a United Kingdom cabinet position with responsibility for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The role was created in 1992 by John Major as Secretary of State for National Heritage...
. It is currently chaired by Rheon Tomos, who was unanimously voted as Chair following the resignation of John Walter Jones.
The Authority's future is unclear at present, due to a recent announcement regarding the channel's integration with BBC Wales. The 2010 Spending Review, presented in the House of Commons by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, gave the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
responsibility for the World Service, Monitoring and S4C.