BBC Trust and S4C agree on finance, governance

The BBC Trust and S4C have reached a deal to secure funding and accountability for the Welsh-language public broadcaster until 2017.

From April 2013, the majority of S4C’s public income will be provided by the BBC from the licence fee.  The S4C Authority will continue to be an independent statutory corporation, which will also receive funding from the UK Government and generate its own commercial revenues. The BBC will contribute £76.3 million (€89 million) for the 2013-14 financial year, £76 million in 2014-15, £75.25 million in 2015-16 and £74.5 million in 2016-17. In 2013-14 the BBC will also contribute programming to the value of £19.4m under the Strategic Partnership on the statutory provision of programming.

“This is an historic development for Welsh broadcasting which provides clarity for the new relationship between S4C and the BBC, while safeguarding S4C’s independence,” said Huw Jones, chairman of the S4C Authority. “This operating agreement is the culmination of extensive discussions between the S4C Authority, the BBC Trust and numerous stakeholders and secures the major part of S4C’s funding until 2017. We are grateful to all those who have responded to the public consultation. Their submissions have been of great value and have contributed significantly to the final wording of a unique agreement.”