Category: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ; Wales
Date: 11.10.2005
Printable version
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales Controller Menna Richards says that Wales would be one of the principal beneficiaries of a rise in the TV licence fee, with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ proposing increased investment in Wales.
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Commenting on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's case for an increase based on RPI plus 2.3 per cent a year from 2007, Menna Richards said the additional money would support Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales's promises to enhance its services across the board.
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She said Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales would be able to:
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Strengthen its core services on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales television, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Wales and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Cymru and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales online;
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Increase the opportunities for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales to make programmes for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's television and radio networks;
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Create local television services in both languages in Wales;
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Reinforce the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's commitment to Welsh language services;
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Extend the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales community strategy, through its community studios, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ buses and 'Here for You' - special seasons of broadcasting and events from local communities all over Wales;
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Create more opportunities for user-generated content such as the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales Digital Storytelling project that enables viewers to make their own mini television programmes.
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"These licence fee proposals would enable the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to deliver significant investment into Wales, providing many opportunities for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales to be an even more important part of audiences' lives, both in Wales and on the networks," said Menna Richards.
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An increased licence fee would also enable the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to meet its proportion of the costs of making digital terrestrial television (Freeview) available throughout Wales by the end of 2009, and of launching a non-subscription digital satellite service (Freesat), making Wales one of the first regions in the UK to complete the switchover from analogue to digital.
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Professor Merfyn Jones, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ National Governor for Wales, added that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's proposals have been subjected to detailed scrutiny:
"The Governors have changed the way we work, to ensure that Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ management is more accountable to those who pay the licence fee.
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"The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ listens more carefully now than it has ever done to what people say about its services, and audiences in Wales will have a stronger voice than ever under the new Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Charter.
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"I believe the case that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has set out will open up a host of opportunities for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales - and will enable us to respond to our audiences across Wales in a way that is both cost-effective and relevant and responsive to their needs."
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