097/04
22 July 2004
Report Of The Independent Review Of The Welsh Fourth Channel Authority, S4C, By Roger Laughton Published
In a statement to Parliament, Tessa Jowell said:
'On 3 March this year, I announced the appointment of Roger Laughton, Head of Bournemouth University Media School, assisted by Meurig Royles as Welsh language assessor, to carry out an independent review of S4C.
I am today publishing Mr Laughton's report of his review. I welcome this very thorough analysis of S4C's current position and the challenges facing the Authority in the digital age.
The report's conclusions and recommendations raise a number of issues relating to the Government's Digital Action Plan, BBC Charter review and Ofcom's review of public service broadcasting, which will need to be addressed in the context of those initiatives. My Department will liaise with the Authority and with other interested organisations to consider Mr Laughton's recommendations in detail and I will notify the House of the resulting conclusions in due course.'
The review included consultation with a wide range of interests, including organisations representative of those sectors where the role of S4C is of particular significance, as well as considering the outcome of and evidence from a recent internal review carried out by S4C.
Tessa Jowell added:
'I am encouraged that the report concludes that S4C is delivering its remit more efficiently and effectively than before and that it is achieving the four basic public service objectives identified by the 2003 Communications Act.'
Notes to Editors
1. Ofcom will review S4C's contribution to public service broadcasting as part of its statutory requirement to carry out reviews into the wider ecology of public service broadcasting within the UK.
2. The relationship between S4C and the BBC will be considered as part of the BBC Charter review.
3. The terms of reference for Roger Laughton's review are below.
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S4C Review: Terms Of Reference
Following a request from the S4C Authority, and against the background of her statutory responsibilities with regard to the channel, the Secretary of State is commissioning an independent review of S4C. The terms of reference for the review are:
i. to assess, in light of the Communication Act's reaffirmation of S4C's status and remit:
- the efficiency with which S4C utilises the resources made available to deliver its statutory responsibilities;
- the extent to which other sources of funding, including efficiency savings, could make a greater contribution alongside that which S4C receives as grant–in-aid;
- the extent to which S4C's latest strategic plan provides an effective basis on which to plan for the future;
ii. to examine the particular implications for S4C of the Government's proposals on the future of digital broadcasting.
The review will include:
a) consultation with a wide range of interests, including organisations representative of those sectors where the role of S4C is of particular significance; and
b) consideration, to the extent that the reviewer judges appropriate, of the outcome of and evidence generated by S4C's recent internal review process.
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