Written question WQ83706

The Welsh Government takes a keen interest in broadcasting issues which affect Wales. Welsh Ministers and officials have regular meetings with the public service broadcasters, including BBC Cymru Wales and S4C, to discuss issues, including the availability of both men’s and women’s football coverage.

We are developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with S4C, following the announcement of an MOU with BBC Cymru Wales, to strengthen our relationship and provide clarity on areas of joint priority and focus. However, as broadcasting is not devolved, we do not have any regulatory control over what is broadcast on television, radio and digital services.

S4C currently holds the contract to show live Cymru Premier and Welsh Cup football matches. S4C shows 44 Cymru Premier games throughout the season, 19 of these are on terrestrial TV with the remaining 25 broadcast via online platforms. In addition, S4C also broadcasts its weekly show Sgorio which shows highlights of all Cymru Premier games and Welsh Cup fixtures and selected highlights of women’s international football in an agreement with the current right holders BBC Cymru Wales and the Football Association of Wales (FAW). S4C also shows streamed highlights of Wales’ men’s under 21 matches.

S4C has an agreement with Sky (which currently owns the rights) to show all men’s Wales national football team matches with Welsh commentary.

BBC Cymru Wales is currently in ongoing conversations with FAW about its future plans and how it can build on its current partnership with S4C for football broadcasting, including the recent live TV coverage of Wales in the women’s World Cup Qualifiers.

BBC Cymru Wales also provides radio commentary on BBC Radio Wales of selected Cymru Premier games, along with coverage and results online and on BBC Radio Cymru.

Regular discussions continue between the Welsh Government, S4C and the BBC Cymru Wales to support the coverage of football in Wales without the need for subscription.