Amazon confirm Welsh language commentary on Prime as S4C get extended highlights show
Amazon has confirmed that they will run their own Welsh language feed of Wales’ autumn internationals as the rugby fixtures are taken off terrestrial TV for the first time.
It is the first time a commercial broadcaster has offered a Welsh language option for rugby.
Welsh-language 40 minute extended highlights will also be shown on S4C an hour after the final whistle.
Prime Video’s Welsh-language live match coverage will include Owain Gwynedd as the presenter, commentary by Gareth Charles, while guests and co-commentators will include Shane Williams, Nigel Owens, Nicky Robinson, Gwyn Jones and Sioned Harries.
Sarra Elgan will lead the S4C presentation team during the series, with Gareth Charles in the commentary box and Rhodri Gomer the pitch-side reporter and analysis will again come from Shane Williams, Gwyn Jones and Nigel Owens.
Earlier this month the Daily Mail‘s rugby correspondent Nik Simon revealed that Amazon “were shocked by how many viewers they lost to the terrestrial channel” when they allowed S4C to carry the coverage last year.
“As a result, the Gain Line understands they have decided to cut out S4C by using their own Welsh language team,” he said.
‘More choice’
Sue Butler, S4C Sports Commissioner, said: “S4C is delighted to partner with Amazon Prime to ensure comprehensive Welsh-language coverage of the Autumn Nations Series for our audiences.
“As the only free-to-air broadcaster with extended same-day highlights of every Wales game in the Autumn Nations Series, we’ll be on the air an hour after the final whistle of the matches with all the action and reaction.”
Alex Green, managing director of Prime Video Sport Europe, said: “We are always looking to offer more choice to Prime members in how they are able to watch live sport on Prime Video and it was important for us to deliver a Welsh-language feed for the Autumn Nations Series.
“This additional viewing experience will bring our world-class production to Welsh language households across the UK, whether they are watching live, catching up on-demand or viewing the highlights on S4C.”
Ben Morel, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said: “We are delighted that Amazon have developed a Welsh language programme to enable viewers in Wales to watch the Autumn Nation Series in the language of their choice.
“This is the first time a commercial broadcaster has invested in a Welsh language option and we would like to thank Amazon for their commitment and support of the Welsh audience. We also welcome the partnership between Amazon and S4C, enabling a highlights programme on the free-to-air platform.”
Wales’ Autumn Nations Series against New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Australia will kick off on October 30.
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What a conundrum!!.. Should we be proud that a global company is to broadcast in the Mother Tongue for the first time, or be cheesed off that the games are not universally available free of charge?
We as a nation will either be writing protest letters to the BBC or S4C or working out the best time to start our free month trial with Amazon Prime!
Ti’n gwylio gormod felly.
Woke lmao…ta jest ti’m yn deallt Cymraeg? Give your head a wobble, gammon.
🤣🤣🤣 ha ha ha ha ha.
And his cloak of invisibility has just been removed.
Yes, I too want to pay through the nose so long as the Rugby’s in English rather than enjoying watching Wales play for free on S4C in my mother tongue Cymraeg. #Twp
Me too! I wonder if Amazon will have the seemingly compulsory female pundit and / or touchline interviewer?
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Not a lot of point in commenting if you’re at all critical of S4C… your opinion gets taken down. There were 4 or 5 comments on this page earlier… they’ve now been removed!
How can I support you when my only access to the Welsh language, i.e. S4C has been blocked from Ireland where I live? I cannot even pay to get it. We used to have it here but not anymore. I made representations about it to no avail.
Amazon is pretty disgraceful company mainly due to its very oppressive business model that drains wealth from small, medium and large businesses. I know this from personal experience. I don’t blame S4C at all for getting a few crumbs from their table, but it would have cost them. But the issue is greater than S4C with its relatively small audience and of course Amazon are happy to extract money from S4C because they know that pound for audience, they win by far. I would not watch or certainly buy anything from Amazon for the reasons I have outlined and because… Read more »