Secretary of State for Wales hails Welsh TV industry as “ beacon of creative success ”

15 Jul 2015 12:22 AM

Gwydyr House to host reception to mark the success of the Welsh broadcasting sector.

The Welsh television industry is tonight (July 15) being celebrated at a reception hosted by Stephen Crabb, the Secretary of State for Wales, in London.

Guests from commercial television, BBC Wales, S4C and the independent film sector are due to gather at Gwydyr House to mark an amazing year of achievement for the TV industry in Wales.

Welsh-made television shows and formats are now sold worldwide and are putting the country on the map as a hub of creativity and a cost-effective place to make programmes. Wales is home to more than 50 television and animation companies which collectively generate around £1 billion for the Welsh economy.

Achievements of the Welsh broadcasting sector include:

• Y Gwyll (Hinterland) – now sold to more than 25 territories across the world including Iceland, Norway, Japan, the Netherlands and France.
• The BBC1 drama series The Indian Doctor has been sold to territories including the US, China, Estonia, Mexico and Israel
• Wales is the production centre for Dr Who – an iconic success of British television which has been aired in over 200 countries and dubbed in many languages.
• Fferm Ffactor, now licensed and produced in Denmark, Sweden and China
• Children’s programme Ludus shown on CBBC – with the spin-off app wining a BAFTA Cymru award

Stephen Crabb said:

Wales is an amazing centre of creativity. The Welsh broadcasting market reflects everything from S4C’s Welsh language provision to news and current affairs programmes and the ever-expanding range of high-quality drama and entertainment formats.

Welsh programmes are being exported globally and more and more film and TV companies are keen to commission and film their productions in Wales. We can offer world-class studios together with all the production and animation facilities you need to produce award-winning programmes. All the expertise that film and TV companies need is available in Wales.

Tonight is a creative showcase and a window into a real growth area for us. I am determined that as a Government we continue to work with partners to champion Welsh broadcasting and drum up international interest in the sector.