Wales to establish shadow broadcasting authority in push for greater media powers
Nation.Cymru staff
The Welsh Government is to begin setting up a Shadow Broadcasting and Communications Authority as it presses for greater control over broadcasting and seeks to strengthen Wales’ media landscape.
The plans, announced in a written statement by Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport Heledd Fychan, fulfil a Plaid Cymru commitment to publish proposals within the government’s first 100 days in office.
Rather than immediately creating the new body, ministers will first establish a Shadow Broadcasting and Communications Authority Working Group to advise on how it should operate.
The group will make recommendations on the authority’s structure, remit, legal status and future programme of work, as well as identifying research and engagement needed before the body is formally established.
The Welsh Government has allocated £45,000 from Creative Wales’ budget this financial year to support the work.
A recruitment campaign for members of the working group will begin in September, with appointments expected to be completed by the end of the year. Ministers expect the group’s first meeting to take place early in 2027.
The working group is due to report back with detailed recommendations in early 2028, with the Welsh Government aiming to confirm arrangements for the authority in a formal statement later that spring.
The proposal follows recommendations made by the Expert Panel on Broadcasting, which argued Wales needed a stronger voice in broadcasting policy despite the sector remaining largely reserved to Westminster.
In her statement, Ms Fychan said the plans reflected concerns that the UK’s broadcasting framework did not adequately reflect the realities of devolution.
She argued recent developments, including the UK Government’s Local Media Fund, had highlighted the limited influence Wales has over decisions affecting its media sector.
“The UK Government Local Media Fund is the latest example of plans agreed for and about us, where we have no role in how those plans are shaped and implemented,” she said.
Phased approach
The minister acknowledged that some Members of the Senedd had questioned the need for a new body but said the plans were based on recommendations from independent experts and backed calls from organisations including the Institute of Welsh Affairs and the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales.
She said the phased approach would ensure any future authority was based on evidence, addressed gaps in the current system and delivered “positive change and better outcomes for Wales”.
The Welsh Government said the creation of the shadow authority would represent the first step towards its longer-term ambition of securing the devolution of broadcasting powers from Westminster.
‘Neglected’
In response to the move, Paul Davies MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for the Welsh Language, Culture, Tourism and Sport, said: “The Welsh Government is wasting time and taxpayers’ money on setting up a shadow authority in an area that isn’t even devolved, while the issues people actually care about are being neglected.
“Families are waiting months for NHS treatment, educational standards have declined and the Welsh economy continues to lag behind the rest of the UK. Ministers should be focusing on growing the economy and improving public services, not creating new bodies with no real powers.
“The Welsh Government has already committed £45,000 to this project, but this is just the start. Ministers have failed to explain what the total cost will be, how much more public money will be spent or what practical difference this body will make.
“The Welsh Conservatives do not support the devolution of broadcasting. Rather than campaigning for more constitutional change, the Welsh Government should concentrate on delivering on the responsibilities it already has.”
‘Encouraging’
Welcoming the move, Carl Morris, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Digital Group said: “It’s encouraging to get this confirmation from the Government today that the new Communications Authority will be established within the next two years.
“After the delays seen by the previous Government, we look forward to seeing this new Government moving at pace on this important matter. There are so many challenges and threats to the place of Wales and the Welsh language in the digital and broadcasting world, we urgently need a body to prepare the way for the devolution of powers and funding for broadcasting and communication.
“We look forward to a further announcement soon about the location of the Authority’s offices.”
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.
Get more trusted Welsh news
Choose Nation.Cymru as a preferred source in Google News to see more of our journalism.
What an utter waste of money. To make it a priority is even worse.
You’re going to get a lot of votes down. But I think you’re right. In business, if you have a shadow board, it’s generally given to people low down who have time on their hands but maybe have some future potential. If you do this in government, it says to me the new MS intake have too much time on their hands. The timescales they’re talking about >1 year means a boards and governance could easily be setup if broadcasting was devolved anyway. As you say, priorities are becoming farcical
With the BBC now being run by an agent of Google presumably intent on killing state supported competition to their clicks funded algorithm driven business model it makes sense to get ready to respond to the UK’s broadcaster being downgraded to a London based Fawlty Towers rerun livestream.