Today (Monday, 23 July 2018) at the Royal Welsh Show S4C is announcing ambitious plans which will provide opportunities for the audience to access more Welsh language content through digital platforms. Whole series will be available online following the transmission of the first episode from September onwards. This will begin with factual series and a ballot will take place during August to select the first series to become available to view for signed-in viewers.

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The popular Hansh service will stream whole series online on the date of the first television broadcast and increase their user-generated content (WPL).

Other changes will include upgrading the player “S4C Clic” to create a better viewer experience. The process of personalising online services will start so that viewers can find content that is of particular interest to them. Also, the channel will start on the path of digital promotion “push-notifications” through mobile devices, as well as other conventional digital communications.

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Owen Evans, Chief Executive S4C said:

“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to find Welsh content that is of interest to them on digital platforms. It happens with a lot of English content and having the same thing for Welsh language content is vital.”

The channel announced in April that it will be spending £1 million a year for the next three years to ensure that S4C has a digital offer that will meet the needs of Welsh speakers in the Netflix and Amazon era.

Chief Executive, Owen Evans continued:

“Developments in the distribution of digital content will be key to the future the Welsh language in the media. The independent review and the government’s response to it have accepted the need for S4C to expand its activities into the digital space and we have warmly welcomed those decisions.

“The key point for S4C is that it is vital that we ensure that Welsh language content is available on popular digital platforms. This, hand in hand with maintaining a strong television service, will ensure that the Welsh language is heard in the media and is a prominent part our daily lives.”

The digital activities of S4C will be coordinated by an internal digital hub, which is the subject of one of the recommendations of the independent review. S4C is in the process of appointing to a number of posts within the digital hub which will be involved in the delivery of the above schemes over the next few years.