Improving TV production in and for Wales
Research by the University of South Wales has helped to transform the media landscape in Wales, leading to increased investment in Welsh television production.
All media organisations must balance the challenges of global competition and technological innovation with national regulation and public needs.
However, in small nations such as Wales, there are the extra challenges of limited resources, more powerful neighbours and complex multi-tier governmental systems. Together, these challenges can lead to a lack of investment, innovation and cultural representation.
A team from the Centre for Media and Culture in Small Nations (CMCSN) at the University of South Wales Uni (USW) looked at the relationship between broadcasting strategy, television production and cultural representation in the Welsh television industry. They also explored the conflict between business and culture that many in the creative industries face.
Understanding the challenges
Their research discovered that there is inadequate public scrutiny of media policy in Wales. It also revealed a lack of investment in Welsh broadcasting, highlighting a spending decrease of 22.4% by the BBC on programmes in English for Wales, and a 36% cut to S4C’s budget. The team concluded that adequate investment is vital to sustain small nations’ domestic production.
The team also looked at the role of public service broadcasting (PSB), finding that it contributes disproportionately to the culture and economy of small nations and helps to normalise minority-language use in everyday life. In light of this, the team highlighted the need for PSBs to be more inclusive and better communicate their value to audiences.
The team’s research has helped to change the media landscape in Wales.
Influencing broadcasting policy
The research has informed the Senedd Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee on Welsh broadcasting and helped improve democratic scrutiny of devolved media policy.
The team’s media engagement has improved public understanding of how policy shapes what we see on screen, while offering informed, research-based advice to the regulator, Ofcom.
USW’s research and recommendations also informed the UK Government review of S4C, the Welsh-language public broadcaster. It led to reforms of S4C’s statutory remit, so it better reflects the digital era and serves modern Welsh-speaking audiences across the UK.
Increased investment in Welsh television production
The Centre’s expertise in screen production systems also helped to secure Clwstwr. Clwstwr, which is led by Cardiff University with USW as partner is one of only eight UK Creative Clusters, which leverages £1million annually of new investment for Research and Development (R&D) in Welsh screen industries and has supported more than 60 industry and Higher Education R&D projects.
The team’s work has also helped to secure funding for a new product, Plan V - a virtual studio that allows TV producers to visualise virtually created sets.
Plan V was used for the first time on His Dark Materials, a BBC and HBO series produced at Wolf Studios in Cardiff. His Dark Materials became the BBC’s most watched new show in five years, with 7.2 million viewers in the UK and millions more worldwide.
Research team
Professor Ruth McElroy, Dr Helen Davies and Dr Christina Papagiannouli – Centre for Media and Culture in Small Nations (CMCSN) / Creative Industries Research and Innovation Group – and Richard Hurford and Tom Ware, University of South Wales
Research partners
Royal Television Society, TG4, Royal Television Society Wales, European Broadcasting Union, S4C, Cardiff University, Welsh Government, BBC.