Petition Launched to Protect Broadcasting in Wales
2026-09-29
Home > News > Petition Launched to Protect Broadcasting in Wales
Cymdeithas yr Iaith has launched a petition calling to protect broadcasting in Wales, ensure the future of the Welsh language across every platform, screen and airwave, and devolve broadcasting to Wales.
The petition follows the announcement that BBC Cymru is ending Dros Ginio, and the Saturday morning edition of Dros Frecwast, along with a number of other Radio Cymru programmes. This will result in 45 jobs being cut.
Recent freedom of information requests by Cymdeithas yr Iaith have also revealed that the BBC is cutting its statutory provision of 10 hours of Welsh-language programming per week for S4C, in exchange for giving the Welsh-language television channel greater prominence on the iPlayer.
Owain Meirion, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, said:
“The announcement that BBC Cymru is proposing to end the Saturday morning editions of Dros Ginio and Dros Frecwast on Radio Cymru is disgraceful. We regret that there is further decline in the provision available to Welsh-speaking audiences, which also threatens good Welsh-language journalism jobs which are already few. If these latest cuts go ahead, the Welsh language will lose further ground on the airwaves.
“This is a direct result of the fact that our Welsh-language media are controlled by unelected BBC officials in London and by politicians from another country. All of this confirms that the British system is not a friend to Wales or the Welsh language - and never will be.
“We have therefore launched a petition calling on the BBC to stop implementing the cuts to BBC Radio Cymru programmes and jobs, as well as any other cuts planned for Welsh-language and Welsh broadcasting. The Westminster Government needs to provide adequate funding for public-service broadcasting and journalism in Wales until powers over broadcasting and communications in Wales are in the hands of the people of Wales.
“Most important of all, we call for the devolution of broadcasting and communications powers and funding to Wales without delay, in order to secure a future for the broadcasting and communications sector that is worthy of the people of Wales and accountable to them, and to ensure that the Welsh language is available on every platform, screen and airwave.”
The Welsh Government stated in its 2026-30 Programme for Government that it will “Work towards the devolution of powers over broadcasting, including powers to regulate, supervise, and ensure accountability for broadcasting and communications in Wales.”
Owain Meirion added:
“We welcome these commitments from the Welsh Government, particularly the commitment to establish a Shadow Broadcasting and Communications Authority for Wales, in order to protect and strengthen local and national public-service media platforms. However, the current timetable to do this by Spring 2028 at the earliest is far too late, given the threat facing our public-service media today.”