24 Facts About S4C

1.

S4C is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel.

FactSnippet No. 948,003
2.

S4C's headquarters are based in Carmarthen, at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David's creative and digital centre, Yr Egin.

FactSnippet No. 948,004
3.

S4C is the fourth-oldest terrestrial television channel in Wales after BBC One, ITV and BBC Two.

FactSnippet No. 948,005
4.

From its launch until 2010, S4C carried English-language programming acquired from Channel 4, which could not be received over-the-air in most of Wales; these programmes aired in non-peak hours, and did not always air in pattern with Channel 4's scheduling.

FactSnippet No. 948,006
5.

On digital terrestrial television, S4C has broadcast exclusively in Welsh since the platform's launch in 1998, with the existing bilingual schedule continuing on analogue television.

FactSnippet No. 948,007
6.

In September 2013 S4C began a study into the possible relocation of its headquarters.

FactSnippet No. 948,008
7.

In 2016, it was revealed that S4C was paying £3 million upfront rent to UWTSD, and that it would pay rent over the next 20 years.

FactSnippet No. 948,009
8.

S4C started relocating to the new building from September 2018, and 54 jobs moved to the new HQ.

FactSnippet No. 948,010
9.

In September 2018, S4C committed to ten years of lease on its Caernarfon office, which has 12 full-time staff.

FactSnippet No. 948,011
10.

S4C's remit is to provide a service which features a wide range of programmes in the Welsh language.

FactSnippet No. 948,012
11.

Up until the 1990s, S4C was carried by some Irish cable and MMDS providers before being replaced by Channel 4.

FactSnippet No. 948,013
12.

The S4C channels continue to be available in the Republic of Ireland via the Freesat satellite service.

FactSnippet No. 948,014
13.

When digital terrestrial television launched in 1998, S4C added a second, full-time Welsh-language channel called S4C Digidol on 1 November 1998.

FactSnippet No. 948,015
14.

S4C2 had two audio feeds, allowing viewers to select between an untranslated version and an English-only version where all Welsh spoken is translated into English.

FactSnippet No. 948,016
15.

In January 2007, S4C announced plans to launch a Welsh-language children's service.

FactSnippet No. 948,017
16.

S4C launched a high-definition simulcast of S4C called 'Clirlun' on 19 July 2010 to coincide with terrestrial digital switchover in Wales.

FactSnippet No. 948,018
17.

In December 2014, S4C became available on the BBC iPlayer website, both live and on demand, as part of an 18-month trial.

FactSnippet No. 948,019
18.

S4C launched on 1 November 1982, its on-air appearance has always been a representation of the Welsh society and people, but this representation has changed several times.

FactSnippet No. 948,020
19.

On 1 June 1993, S4C introduced a new series of idents, which depicted inanimate objects as having characteristics of dragons, as a reference to the red dragon on the flag of Wales.

FactSnippet No. 948,021
20.

On 18 January 2007, S4C announced that their digital channels would be refreshed with a new corporate logo and brand.

FactSnippet No. 948,022
21.

S4C has faced criticism for poor viewing figures since its launch.

FactSnippet No. 948,023
22.

The S4C Authority refused to comment further and commissioned a review into how the broadcaster was governed in August 2010.

FactSnippet No. 948,024
23.

From its inception, S4C was in part publicly financed: funding came both from its advertising revenue and a fixed annual grant from the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, receiving £102m in 2010 and then £90m in 2011 after the Conservative Party won the general elections in 2010 which consequently made considerable cuts to its funding.

FactSnippet No. 948,025
24.

S4C is controlled by the S4C Authority, an independent body unconnected to Ofcom.

FactSnippet No. 948,026