All S4C programmes to be protected at the National Library of Wales
S4C has reached an agreement with the National Library of Wales to ensure that all the channel’s programmes are protected.
They will be transferred to the library’s care as part of the National Broadcast Archive for Wales, a project that is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
It means all S4C content, programmes as well as every series which have been broadcast since the channel’s launch in 1982 will be transferred to the Broadcast Archive.
The Welsh language channel says this archive is an important record of Welsh history and a source of information showcasing the development of the Welsh language and broadcasting in Wales.
Owen Evans, S4C’s Chief Executive, said: “We are privileged to hand over our archive to the National Library, to ensure that our programmes and content from the beginning are accessible to all.
“Our archive contains a wealth of history, information and entertainment, and it is vital that this material is available for the nation to study, protect and enjoy. ”
‘Heritage’
The National Library’s Chief Executive and Librarian, Pedr ap Llwyd, said: “This is great news that will bring together the broadcasting heritage of Wales, alongside all the other historical sources we have at the National Library.”
Dafydd Tudur, Head of Public Access and Programmes at the National Library, said: “This will be the first National Broadcast Archive of its kind in the UK and this innovative project will bring Welsh broadcasters resources closer to the people. We hope to discover new ways of using this audio-visual archive as a historical and creative resource. ”
The National Broadcast Archive project also includes the BBC Wales archive, as well as the ITV Wales archive which was already protected by the National Library.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
As a real television – and film – enthusiast for almost seventy years (yes, since a tiny child! – my family was given a television in the early 1950s) I am delighted to hear this. It will be fascinating to see searchable listings of all this material (what’s missing?…) It would be even more a wonderful thing if programmes were actually accessible, online and by subscription, and I’d pay good money for that. There are a number of S4C dramas and documentaries from the last thirty years I would very much like to see again. (I lived outside Wales during… Read more »
… and I’d pay a few shillings to make sure that some of the old rubbish they showed, and there was plenty of it, stays in a deep vault under Penglais Hill !
Newyddion ardderchog! ~ Wonderful news!