S4C plan kids channel

The body responsible for Welsh channel S4C is launching a public consultation into proposals to introduce a new Welsh language television channel for children.

The ten-week consultation will seek the views of the public and other interested parties about the proposed new service, aimed at children up to 16.

John Walter Jones, chair of the S4C Authority, said: "Children’s viewing is migrating from mainstream channels to dedicated children’s channels. As television enters a wholly digital age, we must ensure that the children and young people of Wales are not left behind. It is vital that an equivalent Welsh language children’s channel is provided."

S4C would fund the new service from its current budget. Additional S4C commercially-generated revenues will help fund start-up and technical costs. S4C is one of the largest purchasers of original children’s programming in the UK with a budget of £10.9 million to commission from the independent sector in 2007.

The proposed service would be available in Wales on satellite, cable and digital terrestrial television and elsewhere in the UK on satellite and on broadband.