The Welsh Government is pressing ahead with plans to establish a shadow broadcasting and communications authority for Wales, arguing that decisions made at Westminster are failing to protect Welsh journalism, broadcasting, jobs and the Welsh language.
In a statement to the Senedd, Cabinet Secretary for Culture Heledd Fychan confirmed that recruitment for a new advisory working group will begin in November, with its first meeting expected in early 2027.
The Government also intends to continue supporting public-interest journalism, challenge cuts to BBC services in Wales and seek a stronger Welsh voice in the forthcoming renewal of the BBC’s Royal Charter.
However, ministers have yet to announce how much additional funding will be available for journalism or what powers, responsibilities and costs a future Welsh broadcasting authority might have.
Media as essential democratic infrastructure
Opening her statement, Fychan described the media as an essential part of Welsh democracy rather than simply another industry.
She argued that broadcasting, journalism and creative production support employment, economic growth, the Welsh language, cultural identity and public accountability.
But she warned that the sector faces growing pressure from declining advertising revenue, increasing production costs, changing audience habits and competition from global digital platforms.
The growing influence of social media algorithms over how people discover news was also identified as a threat to informed democratic debate.
The Cabinet Secretary said the situation was particularly serious in Wales, where decisions about broadcasting regulation and funding are largely taken by UK institutions.
She argued that Wales needs a more permanent role in shaping those decisions rather than relying on occasional consultation.
A shadow broadcasting authority for Wales
The Government’s central proposal is to develop a shadow broadcasting and communications authority.
Although broadcasting remains a reserved responsibility of the UK Parliament, the Welsh Government believes Wales should have a stronger institutional voice in decisions affecting broadcasting, journalism and digital media.
The proposed authority would build on recommendations from previous reviews, including the work of Professor Jamie Medhurst, the Welsh Government’s expert panel on broadcasting, the Institute of Welsh Affairs and the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales.
Fychan confirmed that an open recruitment exercise for a working group will begin this month.
The group is expected to meet for the first time early next year and examine the proposed authority’s objectives, functions, costs and potential benefits.
The Cabinet Secretary acknowledged that the timetable had slipped while she considered the evidence and concerns raised by Senedd Members.
She said the process would be open and transparent, with members recruited from outside the Senedd.
The authority’s eventual powers and funding arrangements remain undecided.
The Government’s stated intention is to establish the capacity for Wales to influence broadcasting policy and prepare for the possibility of further devolution.
It has not announced the creation of a new statutory broadcasting regulator with powers equivalent to Ofcom.
BBC cuts prompt intervention by Welsh ministers
The statement came amid concern about reductions to BBC and Channel 4 services and employment.
Fychan warned that cuts to newsrooms, programmes and production capacity could have lasting consequences for Wales.
The First Minister and Cabinet Secretary have written to BBC Director General Matt Brittin expressing concern about the impact of planned reductions on Welsh-language services, news provision and the creative economy.
The BBC has responded, reaffirming its commitment to Wales, and ministers expect to meet its director general later in November.
During the Senedd debate, concerns were raised about job losses at BBC Cymru Wales, the future of the BBC’s Bangor operation and the implications for Radio Cymru and Welsh-language programming.
Fychan said the Government would continue pressing the BBC to maintain a strong presence throughout Wales.
She also highlighted the wider cultural importance of BBC institutions, including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, arguing that broadcasting decisions affect employment and cultural opportunities beyond television and radio.
Welsh Government seeks influence over BBC Charter renewal
The BBC’s Royal Charter review provides another focus for the Government’s plans.
Fychan confirmed that Welsh officials are engaging with the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport over the process.
The Welsh Government supports the principle of a new permanent BBC Royal Charter, but the Cabinet Secretary warned that this support was not unconditional.
Ministers want assurances that the BBC will continue providing strong Welsh-language and English-language services for audiences in Wales.
They also want the Welsh Government and Senedd to have a more meaningful role in discussions about the BBC’s future.
Fychan confirmed that she has requested a meeting with UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, although that meeting had not yet taken place.
She also revealed that the First Minister had raised broadcasting devolution directly with Prime Minister Andy Burnham as part of wider discussions about transferring powers to Wales.
No agreement on broadcasting devolution has been announced.
Public-interest journalism funding: further announcement promised
The future of local and public-interest journalism featured prominently in the debate.
Fychan acknowledged the fragile financial position of local newspapers, radio stations and independent news providers.
She confirmed that the Welsh Government intends to continue supporting public-interest journalism that strengthens communities, media plurality and democratic participation.
However, when asked to specify the amount of direct financial support available, and whether it would be provided during the current financial year or in the 2027–28 Budget, the Cabinet Secretary did not provide a figure.
Instead, she said the working group would help examine the support needed by the sector and promised a further announcement on journalism funding.
The Government also highlighted its existing local journalism fund, which Fychan described as successful.
She criticised the UK Government for developing journalism support initiatives without sufficient engagement with Wales, arguing that lessons from Welsh programmes should inform UK-wide policy.
During the debate, Mike Hedges called for continued support for independent journalism through the Books Council of Wales and suggested that Welsh Government advertising could help sustain local and regional newspapers.
The Cabinet Secretary did not announce a new public advertising policy or confirm additional funding for particular publishers.
For independent news organisations, the central question remains whether the Government will develop a sustainable funding model capable of supporting local reporting over several years rather than relying on short-term grants.
Concerns over political independence and public funding
The use of public money to support journalism also generated disagreement.
Reform MS Steven Rodaway questioned whether existing grant arrangements sufficiently protected political neutrality, alleging bias at a publicly supported news outlet.
Fychan responded that media plurality was central to the Government’s approach and said organisations receiving Welsh Government funding were expected to respect the importance of politically neutral media in a functioning democracy.
Another Reform MS, Catherine Cullen, questioned whether a Welsh broadcasting authority could create opportunities for political interference in editorial decisions.
The Cabinet Secretary rejected the suggestion that ministers should decide what people watch or what publishers produce.
She said decisions about regulation should remain the responsibility of regulators rather than government.
The exchange highlighted an important unresolved issue: how any future Welsh media framework would protect editorial independence while ensuring transparency, accountability and fair access to public funding.
Protecting Welsh-language content in the digital age
The Government also wants Welsh-language programmes and services to remain easy to discover as audiences increasingly move from traditional broadcasting to streaming and online platforms.
Fychan confirmed that she had raised the prominence of S4C on digital platforms directly with Ofcom.
During the debate, concerns were raised about changes to S4C’s programming arrangements and the future of its own streaming service, Clic.
The Cabinet Secretary said the Government would continue supporting Welsh-language productions through Creative Wales while pressing broadcasters and regulators to recognise the particular needs of Welsh audiences.
She linked the issue directly to the Government’s ambition of reaching one million Welsh speakers and increasing everyday use of the language.
The Government’s position is that Welsh-language media must remain visible and accessible across television, radio and digital services.
It also wants any future move away from digital terrestrial television to be gradual, evidence-led and dependent on affordable, reliable internet connectivity.
That position is particularly relevant to older audiences, rural communities and households that cannot readily access or afford high-quality broadband.
Concerns over cost and effectiveness
The proposals are not universally supported.
Conservative MS Paul Davies questioned whether establishing a new authority would represent the best use of public money.
He argued that the Government should concentrate on strengthening existing media organisations, supporting innovation and improving cooperation with Westminster.
Fychan acknowledged the need to demonstrate value for money and confirmed that examining the potential costs of a shadow authority would form part of the working group’s responsibilities.
No estimate of the authority’s establishment or operating costs was provided during the debate.
The Government has also not specified how the authority would relate to Ofcom, the BBC, S4C or existing Welsh media funding bodies.
These questions will be central to assessing whether the proposal can deliver practical benefits.
What happens next?
The Welsh Government has identified several immediate steps:
- November 2026: Launch recruitment for the working group examining a shadow broadcasting and communications authority.
- November 2026: Meet the BBC Director General to discuss cuts, Welsh services and the forthcoming Charter renewal.
- Coming months: Continue discussions with the UK Government and Ofcom over broadcasting policy, Welsh representation and digital prominence.
- Early 2027: Hold the first meeting of the new working group.
- Date to be confirmed: Publish further information about plans to support public-interest journalism.
The Government has not yet published a detailed timetable for establishing the shadow authority itself, transferring broadcasting powers or introducing new long-term journalism funding arrangements.
A significant ambition, but important questions remain
The statement represents a clear commitment by the Welsh Government to seek a greater role in the future of broadcasting and media policy.
It also recognises that the decline of local journalism, reductions in public-service broadcasting and the growing influence of global technology platforms have consequences extending beyond the media industry.
For Wales, these developments affect access to reliable information, the visibility of Welsh culture and language, the sustainability of creative employment and the ability of journalists to hold public institutions to account.
But the Government’s proposals remain largely at the development stage.
The immediate test will be whether the promised working group can produce practical recommendations, whether ministers can secure meaningful influence over UK broadcasting decisions and whether further financial support for public-interest journalism materialises.
For a sector facing immediate financial pressures, the distinction between developing a long-term institutional framework and providing support to existing news organisations will be particularly important.
The Welsh Government has made its ambition clear. What remains to be established is how much it will cost, what powers Wales will gain and how quickly its plans will deliver tangible benefits for audiences, journalists and media organisations.
