S4C chair challenged over viewing figures

Huw Jones, the man selected by the government as the next chair of S4C, has been challenged by MPs over the Welsh-language broadcaster's "pretty poor" viewing figures.

Jones, who served as chief executive of S4C from 1994 to 2005, is the first chairman candidate to appear before a joint hearing of the culture and Welsh affairs committees, reports BBC News.

Culture committee chairman John Whittingdale challenged Jones over S4C's "pretty poor" viewing figures. The Conservative MP questioned why S4C only reached a quarter of Welsh speakers for 15 minutes or more a week, and said that the broadcaster must improve its performance "quite dramatically".

Jones did not disagree with the assessment, but highlighted the scale of the challenge facing S4C in a multichannel world offering ever increasing choice.

He said that it was important for the channel to target "talked-about programmes", and stressed that its viewing figures must be taken in context of S4C's role in promoting the Welsh language.

MPs on both the culture and Welsh committees were highly critical of the decision to hand funding responsibility for S4C to the BBC licence fee, echoing concerns that it would erode the channel's independence.

Asked about the situation, Jones said: "A deal with the BBC is a practical necessity because otherwise the money for S4C to commission programmes from 2013 onwards isn't going to be there. I think that has been made pretty clear to us."

He welcomed the prospect of a member of the BBC Trust joining the S4C Authority, but warned that the S4C executive must always remain autonomous of the BBC.