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- [broadcast on a national network]
- 7.1. Main language for news programs. <English>
- 7.2. Secondary languages for news programs. <English>
- 7.3. Language(s) used in dramas, songs, etc., in TV programs.
- <English. If a Welsh language film rises to prominence (e.g.
Solomon & Gaynor and Hedd Wyn) it may be shown on
national British television with subtitles. Similarly if a Welsh pop band
(usually well established) has some of its lyrics in Welsh, Welsh language
songs may be heard very occasionally on national radio. Some pop bands from
Wales, e.g. Catatonia, who are very well known in the U.K. may have
some Welsh language songs on their album, and their compact discs will be
widely available throughout the U.K. Most Welsh-speaking bands will usually
decide to use the English language for most of their songs, in order to court
a wider audience. Welsh language dramas are never performed in England.>
- mlocal networkn
- 7.4. Main language for news programs.
- <Local networks in Wales include the English language channels
BBC Wales and HTV. Both channels are part of larger
British corporations. They provide most news coverage in Wales, exclusively
in English when making programs which are to be broadcast on their own channels.
BBC Wales also provides 24-hour radio coverage, which
includes news items. Local radio news programmes are often broadcast in the
language which reflects the area they cover, for instance Cardiff's Red
Dragon radio station broadcasts its news in English only, whereas Aberystwyth's
Radio Ceredigion uses both languages. Another commercial
radio station has recently been created in North Wales, and is also bi-lingual.
English is, however, almost always predominant.>
- 7.5. Secondary languages for news programs.
- <Welsh. There is only one Welsh language television channel
in Wales, S4C (Channel Four Wales), formed by the Broadcast Acts 1980/1.
Although 70% of its programming is a re-scheduling of (the English language)
Channel Four, it is also committed to broadcasting 32 hours a week of Welsh
language programs. S4C does not make its own programmes, but relies
on independent suppliers. BBC Wales produces a Welsh language news
programme, shown on S4C at 6pm and at 7.30pm. The channel also broadcasts
political documentaries, discussion programmes, election coverage, etc.
In addition to this, S4C broadcasts an hour-long political analysis
program on Sundays. Due to limited resources, and the fact that it does not
make their own programmes, S4C cannot provide live coverage of any
major news event.>
- 7.6. Languages used in dramas, songs, etc., in TV programs.
- <Most dramas shown in Wales on local networks will be through
the medium English. Channels other than S4C do not broadcast programmes
in Welsh. S4C does produce a range of entertainment, including drama,
sport, music, game shows and children's programmes. S4C has a statutory
duty to broadcast only in Welsh during the peak times of 18.00-22.00, and
so some viewers will switch to watch high budget English dramas on other
channels during this time. The channel claims that 711,000 viewers watched
a Welsh language programme during one sample week in 2001. They have a long
running soap opera (Pobl-y-Cwm), although viewing figures have dropped
significantly over recent years. Many of their drama series have been highly
popular, though, and the channel has concentrated on catering more for young
people's taste and doubling the hours of programming for children.>
- mproblems & descriptionn
- 7.7. Problems arising from using more than one language for broadcasting.
- <Problems: One of the problems in broadcasting in Wales
is the imbalance in the number of channels operating in both languages. As
there is only one Welsh language channel, S4C faces the almost impossible
challenge of catering for all the diverse tastes of its audience-- a little
bit for everyone. As a result S4C has been accused of failing to satisfy
anyone. Following market research, it became evident that the people of Wales
have an extremely strong attachment to S4C, and see it as a valuable
part of Welsh life, language and culture. Unfortunately, this is not reflected
in viewing patterns. Other channels have higher budgets and glossier programs.
They are promoted in national, not just local T.V. magazines, where S4C
listings, if they appear at all, are kept as brief as possible, with no programme
descriptions. Although 77.1% of S4C's Welsh-language programmes are
subtitled (in English), very few English speakers are aware of this facility,
despite a huge advertising campaign by S4C. It is crucial for S4C
to attract non-Welsh speakers too, in order to boost advertising revenue.>
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