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The Minister said that he is particularly glad that Ofcom has recognised the importance of “sustaining democratic plurality” in Wales given the increasing importance of devolved government.

Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas said:

The Welsh Assembly Government wants to see a strong public service broadcasting sector in Wales and it is important that audiences are presented with services of a high standard from a variety of providers.

Ofcom's review of public service broadcasting was announced yesterday, and digital switchover, which begins in Wales next year, will lead to important changes to existing broadcasting structures. These will have a significant impact on viewers and listeners.

We also want to make Wales a more attractive place for the creative industries. They form an important part of the cultural and economic future of Wales and we have already been discussing with broadcasters how we can expand the sector in Wales.

How Wales is reflected in public service broadcasting across the network is also an important concern of ours.

Public broadcasters in Wales have an important role in promoting the Welsh language, an area of especial concern for the Welsh Assembly Government as the sector is very weak and fragmented. A review of Welsh language newspapers in Wales has already been carried out and I have provided an additional £200,000 a year to develop a new Welsh language news service.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas also announced that he has commissioned the Institute of Welsh Affairs to conduct research on the current state of the media in Wales which will help form policy on communication in the future and help inform the Welsh Assembly Government response to the Ofcom consultation. He said:

Broadcasting plays an important part in reporting and reflecting life in Wales and has a crucial impact on democracy and citizenship. It is not a devolved matter but it is important that the Welsh Assembly Government should have a position on the future shape of public service broadcasting and on communications matters more generally.

We are currently working with the Institute of Welsh Affairs to develop an evidence base that will help in informing our response to the Ofcom review of public service broadcasting. The IWA will be conducting an audit to examine media provision in Wales as well as well as aspects of production and Wales’ crucial contribution to UK programming.

Technological changes are altering media consumption habits and the audit will go wider than the scope of Ofcom’s consultation and include printed and electronic media as well. The fragmented nature of the printed media in Wales and the decline in the numbers buying a daily newspaper will further impact on the Welsh Assembly Government’s ability to engage its citizens.

Geraint Talfan Davies, the Chair of the Institute of Welsh Affairs said:

The IWA is pleased to have been asked to assemble a full picture of print, broadcast and other electronic media in Wales. The debate over the next year will be crucial to the future of the media in Wales, and needs to engage as many parts of society as possible. We hope that our forthcoming report will help all parties to take an informed view of Ofcom's preliminary conclusions.

The audit will examine Welsh and English language broadcast, print and the potential threats and opportunities to Wales presented by the imminent digital switchover, increased internet use and media convergence.

Related Information

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/cultureandsport/mediapublishing/?lang=en

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/cultureandsport/?lang=en