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News

Competing with Netflix: Welsh language TV to be protected with more digital content

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NEW measures will enshrine importance of regional and minority language in UK broadcasting law, The UK Government has said. A package of support for Welsh broadcaster S4C to produce digital content has been announced.
The plan is to expand S4C’s digital and online services and to remove current geographical broadcasting restrictions amid a shake-up on broadcasting rules. On Thursday, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries, revealed as part of a white paper, such changes would help the Welsh language broadcaster broaden its reach and offer content on a wide range of platforms.
This comes after the UK Government announced that S4C had secured an improved funding deal in January, which will include an additional £7.5m each year through the BBC license fee to support its digital offering. According to the UK Government, changes to broadcasting rules “will enable S4C to continue to support the Welsh economy, culture and society, reach more Welsh language speakers including younger audiences, and the UK government’s commitment to support the ambition of 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050.”

Decades-old broadcasting regulations will be updated to give the UK’s vital public service system a deal fit for the streaming age and make sure the importance of programmes broadcast in the UK’s regional and minority languages is recognised in the public service broadcaster (PSB) remit for the first time.
The broadcasting white paper published this week also includes plans for regional and minority language content published on digital platforms to be captured in S4C, STV and other broadcasters’ public service remit.
Geographical broadcasting restrictions will be removed from the Welsh language broadcaster S4C so people can enjoy Welsh content no matter where they are in the UK – supporting the Welsh economy, culture and society, and the UK government’s ambition to see one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
Moves to boost the prominence of programming by channels such as BBC, S4C and STV will support Welsh and Gaelic language broadcasting in Wales and Scotland by ensuring they are available and easy to find on smart TVs, streaming sticks and set-top boxes. These are part of plans to give PSBs greater flexibility in how they meet their obligations and strengthen their ability to target younger audiences amid a rapidly changing media landscape.
UK Media Minister Julia Lopez said: “Broadcasting in regional and minority languages provides a crucial opportunity for speakers to enjoy a range of quality shows in a language familiar to them, and a means of cultural expression for communities across the UK.
“We will – for the first time – make the importance of programmes broadcast in the UK’s regional and minority languages clear in law by including it in our new public service remit for television.”
Following the publication of the paper, Nadine Dorries took to social media to explain the changes further. She tweeted: “Noswaith dda… Newyddion da i S4C… The Broadcasting white paper published today expands your remit, secures your prominence and recognises your unique and critical role in British culture. Pob lwc!”
Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: “Hundreds of thousands of people access Welsh-language content every week and our plans will provide greater support to broadcasters like S4C and make it easier for audiences to find content in the language of their choice.
“Welsh-language broadcasting and production plays a crucial part in the creative industries and the UK Government will continue to support the sector as we work towards our ambition to see one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
“Today’s announcement follows our commitment of £7.5m a year for S4C’s digital development, ensuring the widest possible range of platforms”
The Welsh Conservatives have also welcomed the news. The Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Tom Giffard MS, said the changes “will help broadcasters – including S4C – compete with some of the big streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime”.
The government will continue to support long-term commitments to support cross-border broadcasting on the island of Ireland including funding for the Northern Ireland digital terrestrial television multiplex that has carried RTÉ and TG4 services to Northern Ireland since 2012. It will also consider the scope to ensure the prominence of regional and minority language services.
The government’s Broadcasting White Paper sets out a huge range of measures to protect British content by giving public service broadcasters a more flexible remit for the programmes they produce and show.

This includes plans to better give viewers of video-on-demand services the same protections from harmful content as TV viewers by establishing a new Ofcom code and regulatory powers on content standards.

The government will pursue a change of ownership of Channel 4 to give it the tools it needs to succeed in the future as a public service broadcaster while protecting its distinctiveness.

Community

Carmarthenshire man missing in Thailand: Last seen on Phi Phi Island

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A 26-year-old man has been reported missing in Thailand after his family lost contact with him more than eight weeks ago.

Daniel Davies was last seen on March 13 on Phi Phi Island, a popular tourist destination in southern Thailand. He had been staying at the Hangover Hostel in Bangkok prior to his disappearance.

A missing person report has been filed with Dyfed-Powys Police, and the case is now listed under reference number DP-20250329-215.

Daniel is described as being around 6ft tall, of slim build, with blonde hair and a beard. He also has tattoo sleeves on both arms.

Missing: Daniel Davies

Echoes of the Lost – a national missing persons initiative – has now joined the appeal alongside SARS Cymru, urging anyone with information to come forward. In a statement, they said: “Daniel, if you happen to see this post, please get in contact with your family. They are worried. If you wish to message us to pass information along, please feel free to do so.”

His aunt, Nicola Doran, has been sharing emotional appeals online, writing: “My nephew Daniel Davies, 26, from Llanelli – he’s gone missing in Bangkok, Thailand. He’s been reported and is now a missing person. No one has had any contact in weeks.”

Friends and family have been spreading the appeal across social media, hoping someone in Thailand may have seen him. One post reads: “Can all my mates out in Thailand, Bangkok area, please share this and keep eyes out for my lil’ kuzen – he’s been missing 8 weeks over there.”

Daniel’s disappearance has been reported to Thai police, and the UK Foreign Office is understood to be aware of the case.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk or calling 101, quoting reference DP-20250329-215.

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Farming

Nonsense to base farm funding on population, says union

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FARMERS in Wales have warned that changes to the way agricultural support is calculated could see them lose millions in future funding, as allocations move from a needs-based system to one based on population size.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has criticised the shift, branding the move “nonsense” and “concerning,” arguing it fails to reflect the reality that Wales has more farms per head than England.

Under the former EU model, funding was distributed based on need. However, from 2025-26, support for Welsh farmers will be included in the Welsh Government’s overall budget and determined by the Barnett formula—a population-based mechanism.

Guto Bebb, Chief Executive of the FUW, told BBC Radio Wales: “This latest decision is very concerning because if there is any future increase in farm funding, Wales will be allocated a population-based 5.2% rather than the 9.2% share we previously received based on need.”

The change, announced in the UK Budget last October, has raised alarm bells among the farming community. Mr Bebb urged farmers and unions to ensure that politicians in Cardiff remain committed to backing what he described as a “crucial part of the rural economy.”

The First Minister, Eluned Morgan, had already voiced similar concerns earlier this year, warning the Welsh Affairs Committee in Westminster that the new model could leave Wales short-changed. “When it comes to agriculture, we should be significantly higher than 5%,” she said.

Despite the concerns, both the UK Treasury and Welsh Government have insisted the new settlement will benefit Welsh agriculture.

A spokesperson for HM Treasury said: “The Welsh Government is receiving over 20% more per person than the equivalent UK government spending in England. This translates to over £4 billion more in 2025-26. The full amount of agricultural funding from 2024-25 has been baselined into this settlement.”

Meanwhile, the Welsh Government said it welcomes having full discretion over agricultural support spending and confirmed that more than £366 million has been allocated this year—an increase from the previous year when farm funding was still ringfenced.

However, farming leaders remain sceptical, warning that the shift could jeopardise livelihoods in rural communities if funding does not continue to reflect the true scale and nature of Wales’ agricultural sector.

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Farming

Bird flu restrictions lifted after major outbreak in Shropshire

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BIRD FLU restrictions requiring poultry and captive birds to be housed indoors in part of Shropshire have been lifted.

The measures were introduced in January following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at Griffiths Family Farms, part of Oakland Farm Eggs, near Wem.

A 3km protection zone and a wider 10km surveillance zone were established around the site. The surveillance zone extended into the Wrexham local authority area.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that disease control measures have now been completed. The area previously within the protection zone is now part of the surveillance zone only.

Around one million hens had to be culled at the site—one of the largest poultry farms in the UK—after the virus was detected in the flock.

Under protection zone rules, all poultry and captive birds must be kept indoors. Surveillance zone rules require premises to keep records of all poultry and egg movements in and out of the area.

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