Station climb over Welsh media fears

Language campaigners have climbed a transmitting station today (Thursday, June 23) to broadcast videos through their mobile phones outlining their fears about the future of broadcasting in Wales.According to Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, if current plans to cut S4C's budget and a BBC takeover of the channel continue, there's a risk nothing will be broadcast in Welsh. A joint BBC-Government plan proposes a ninety-four percent cut in the Government grant to S4C.The members of the campaign group went to the top of a TV relay building at Nebo near Caernarfon to broadcast videos from the mast and the camp outside the BBC studios in Bangor.In the video Bethan Williams, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg says:"It's a very black time for broadcasting in Wales. There's a danger there will be no programmes by S4C or BBC Wales due to the cuts so it's very likely that this, pirate TV, will be the future of Welsh broadcasting."Answering campaigners questions, neither BBC Director General, Mark Thompson nor Chair of the corporation, Chris Patten have guaranteed any budget for S4C beyond 2015.Bethan Williams added:"We want to see a full TV service for Wales so S4C must continue as an independent broadcaster with sufficient funds. At the moment, there is no certainty of either of those things for S4C, which is a great worry."Climbing the building which relays TV and radio services between Llanddona and Llanon are Robin Cragg, 25 years old from Nebo and Bethan Williams, 24 years old from Eglwyswrw, Pembrokeshire.swyddfa-guto-bebb.jpgLast night, members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith placed stickers challenging the Conservative Party's commitment to broadcasting in Wales and painted slogans objecting to the cuts, on to Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb's constituency office (Wednesday 22nd of June).One of the protesters said:"The joint-plan by the British government and the BBC to cut the funding of S4C, and place the channel under the control of the BBC jeopardizes the future of the channel. Guto Bebb has publicly justified these cuts, he is backing his Party at the expense of our communities and services. As the BBC in Wales is also facing cuts, it does not look promising for broadcasting here in Wales."Yesterday, Campaigners and union members held a lobby outside a meeting between the new Chair of BBC, Chris Patten, and Assembly Members in Cardiff Bay concerning the future of Welsh broadcastingCymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg protesters are still camping outside the BBC studios in Bangor.A meeting about the future of broadcasting in Wales will be held at 7pm Friday evening in the Institute in the company in Caernarfon Hywel Williams MP.A street theater 'Helfa Cyw' against the Government's plans for S4C will be held at 12:30pm on Saturday at the Clock in Bangor.