A few weeks ago, following a heated debate on Facebook we asked people to tell us their views on S4C. We invited the most vociferous commenter’s to tell us why/why not the channel should continue with its current funding structure. To date, this is the only contribution we have received. We’d love to know what you think so please leave your comments below.
I do not want S4C to close down, I don’t want it to continue as it is either. Nor do I feel that it gives value for money to welsh viewers as a whole, nor does it contribute to the platform of world media in any significant way. It has no impact in the world and is unknown or ignored by all, other than a fanatical few who use its existence for their own ends of resuscitating the Welsh language.
Now don’t get me wrong, I support the teaching of welsh at all levels of education, I even grudgingly support the bilingualisation of our streets and signs and forms and notices. And that is the key of my argument, we are a bilingual nation.
I know of the struggle and the hard work that has been the history of Wales becoming a bilingual nation, most of the work has come from the welsh speaking element in their drive to revive the language and give it official status in Wales. I applaud that effort and also the hard work that took place in establishing S4C as a welsh language station.
But it is the only home-grown TV station in a bilingual nation. It is the only national TV channel in Wales, yet it does nothing or little to engage with the majority of Welsh people who do not speak Welsh and who often have no inclination to learn.
So much could be done to change this, by simple becoming a bilingual channel. Programmes could be shown with dual subtitle choices in both Welsh and English which would not only make Welsh programs more accessible to English speaking viewers, but would also be of benefit to Welsh speaker who are deaf. It would also be an advantage to Welsh learners to have the subtitle text available in both languages.
By remaining obstinate over the language issue S4C does nothing to encourage home grown Welsh talent, unless they speak Welsh. It does nothing to bring English speaking Welsh actors back to Wales from Holly wood to make home produced quality TV.
I support the need for a bilingual national TV channel for Wales, I do not support the bigoted and short-sighted ideology of S4C as it exists today. The survival and growth of the Welsh language is in more danger from these elitist and isolationist values than it has ever been before. By not engaging with the majority of people in Wales then there is no real point in S4C. So maybe it would be better being taken over by the BBC or by Murdoch, or become a pay channel for those who wish to watch it. Or maybe it’s time is over and it needs to fade to grey……………
