Cymdeithas responds to BBC offer over S4C

bbc-s4c.jpgCymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society) has responded to the BBC's announcement about S4C's future governance and budget today.Adam Jones, the group's broadcasting spokesperson said:"Throughout this process, we have called on politicians and broadcaster to listen to the people of Wales's voice, but that's not happened. We have won a concession today, but the discussions between broadcasters behind closed doors haven't been democratic. People outside Wales are deciding on the future of our only Welsh language TV channel. That's why it's essential that responsibility for broadcasting is devolved to Wales."The leaders of the four main parties in Wales, tens of organisations, the Archbishop of Wales and tens of thousands of people have opposed what's happening. We've won the debate about the need for a statutory funding formula to secure the existence and independence of S4C, and every Welsh vote on the matter, in Westminster and the Assembly. But the plans still haven't changed.""We will further consider the implications of the announcement today at the meeting of our Senate [ruling body] on Saturday. However, over four years, the government is cutting its grant to S4C by 94%, and the BBC have today proposed further cuts to their contribution after 2015."The BBC have timed its announcement a day before a vote in Westminster on the future of S4C, it's disappointing to see another example of the corporation's willingness to act politically rather than independently."