CUTS to the UK government's funding for S4C in George Osborne’s spending review have been branded "extremely disappointing".
Included in the review announced on Wednesday was a cut in UK government funding to the Welsh language channel from £6.7 million to £5 million by the end of 2019.
The Welsh Government’s deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism Ken Skates called the decision “extremely disappointing”.
“We have consistently expressed concern about the impact any further funding cuts on the broadcaster would have on its ability to deliver much-needed services to its audiences,” he said. “This decision has also been taken without the review of S4C promised by the UK Government in 2010, which we have continually pushed for.
“It is vital that S4C has sufficient funding, as well as editorial and managerial independence, for it to continue to play a crucial role in supporting both the Welsh language and the creative industries in Wales.”
The UK government funding makes up only a small portion of the channel’s overall budget, the majority of which comes out of the licence fee.
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