Welcoming S4C to iPlayer

The beadier eyed amongst you will have noticed that a new channel joined the new version of BBC iPlayer family this week. That channel is called S4C or Sianel Pedwar Cymru, the Welsh Language Fourth Channel and its addition represents a big moment for audiences and iPlayer alike. So croeso, or welcome S4C to iPlayer.

Let’s start with S4C first. S4C has been in existence since 1982 as an independent channel and offers Welsh language TV programmes across a range of genres from News and Current Affairs to Sport through to Children’s programmes (Welsh language Peppa is a big deal for my kids). Some of the other really popular programmes include drama Cara Fi, Live Guinness Pro 12 Rugby and Football as well as entertainment from the likes of Bryn Terfel and Only Men Aloud.

The BBC has had a very close relationship with S4C since those early days, with the Beeb providing some programming free of charge to S4C. But last year, things changed significantly with the BBC Trust also taking over the responsibility for funding the larger part of S4C until March 2017. This change then made a lot of us think how both broadcasters could work together in a smarter fashion for the benefit of audiences and Licence Fee payers alike. On screen, that thinking is beginning to deliver a real dividend with the success of Y Gwyll/Hinterland – a crime drama originally shown on S4C, then later shown on BBC One Wales and BBC Four (it’s also been a commercial success internationally with a second series due in 2015). At around the same time as Y Gwyll/Hinterland was a creative glint in a clever director’s eye, S4C asked the BBC for all of its content to be included on iPlayer. In many respects, it was a no brainer: S4C’s new Chief Executive, Ian Jones, wanted his channel’s content carried ‘anytime, anyplace, anywhere’; the BBC also wanted to make the new BBC-S4C relationship work, whilst at the same time we were thinking how to boost Welsh language online consumption.

We then set about the long process of making this unique request work, along with iPlayer colleagues. There were a lot of pretty tricky regulatory questions since S4C is an editorially independent channel; there were some even bigger technical questions with iPlayer for the first time integrating a third party broadcaster into its systems. But we did make it work and the deal is this: S4C joins iPlayer on a trial 18 month basis with S4C editorially responsible for their commissioned content. At the end of this period, we’ll evaluate the pilot’s technical and audience success.

From today onwards, therefore, S4C programmes (with English language subtitles for most programmes) will become available on over 1,200 different versions of new iPlayer by January – an amazing technical feat when you come to think of it. It’s very exciting (and not just for Peppa hungry kids) since it also offers some potent pointers to the future.

First of all, here in Wales, it demonstrates the depth of the BBC’s longstanding commitment to not just making Welsh language programmes but making content available on the most modern devices in line with changing audience consumption. We did it in the 1920s with Welsh language radio, then with Welsh language television in the 1950s and now we’re doing it again with iPlayer. Second, and not just in Wales, it shows what the BBC can do when it engages in big partnerships with others. Third and finally, it shows what iPlayer can do as it continues to evolve as it surely must.

Mwynhewch y gwylio (enjoy the watching), whatever your language.

Rhys Evans is Head of Strategy and Digital, BBC Wales.

• See S4C on BBC iPlayer
• Read the press release 'S4C comes to BBC iPlayer' on the BBC Media centre website