Surely if we believe that broadcasting is too precious a flower to allow it to be subjected completely to the rigours of the free market (the very reason d’etre for the contiunued existance of the BBC) then the Corporation which even its present DG Mark Thompson described as ‘ wallowing in a jacuzzi of cash’, must commission more programming from the independent production sector in Wales to make up for any loss from the direct grant to S4C.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/feb/08/luke-johnson-bbc

We have all seen Geraint Talfan’s work on the Corporation current level of spending in Wales, so let’s widen this debate to include rectifying those issue.

Clearly market failure exists with regard to making programmes in Welsh, and the time has come for ‘Auntie’ to stump up some ‘dosh’ to help out – in fact it would help politicians better understand her role in the new digital environment.

Please no more anti-Welsh remarks about the jobs going to Welsh speakers only – it only harms the thousands who don’t speak the Language, but who are employed because of it – they will lose out when the cuts come. Only S4C broadcasts in Welsh the other 300 odd on my Sky box are whatever. The anti-Welsh element in this country needs to reflect on the fact that before S4C existed very few were employed in television production sector this side of the Severn Bridge – if the channel is castrated then it’s back to square one.

London will still enjoy its ‘Jacuzzi’ of broadcasting cash and the champagne swilling excesses of its senior members of staff. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/12/bbc-drinks-expenses-freedom-information.

In passing as well, the likes of Radio 3 costs far more per capita to service its ‘privileged’ minority audience, than S4C ever did.

The BBC is pushing out the private sector in far too many places at the moment, where NO MARKET FAILURE EXISTS – a decision to spend some of that money in Wales supporting employment would garner unanimous political support – ask the Murdoch’s – a family with friends in very high Tory places.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/6107233/James-Murdoch-targets-BBC-land-grabbing.html

Have you seen the expenses for the director of Ofcom Wales published here :-

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/40407/response/104017/attach/6/Doc3.pdf

Enough to make a moat owning Tory backbench knight of the shire blush !

Expenses Rhodri Williams last there years £21 248 a year £28 186 a year and £10 703 this year !

I looked at this week’s schedule. The sole drama offering is the old work horse, Pobl y Cwm. Nothing else. At all. No series, or films, or one offs, or costume dramas. Not even repeats!Nothing of any length whatsoever. Dim byd o gwbl.

Whatever happened to comedy on S4C? Sit-coms? Satire? Someone should find out if there was more drama and comedy in Welsh on the BBC and HTV prior to S4C’s advent? I somehow suspect there was.

I don’t know if Iona Jones has trained at the Bland School of (Non-)Creativity, but I sincerly hope that her replacement Chief Exec recruits some serious creative talent. If there’ll be any money left in the pot, of course.