Government intervention is needed to ensure that commercial radio stations will broadcast in Welsh, says Chief Executive of the Welsh Language Board.
Meirion Prys Jones said:
"I greatly value the community radio stations which broadcast content in Welsh and bilingually, but at the same time I realise that they are very rare exceptions. Unfortunately the attitude of Town and Country Broadcasting in Ceredigion recently showed us that we cannot rely on companies’ goodwill in this area. The only way we can ensure commercial radio stations broadcast in a language which reflects the linguistic situation of the local community is by making it a condition in licensing agreements."
The Board asked Ofcom to include a clause in their Welsh language scheme to ensure that consideration would be given to the linguistic nature of different communities in Wales when agreeing radio broadcast licenses. Ofcom declined to do so, and the Board has refused to approve their scheme without this key clause. In May last year the Board used its statutory power in full and referred the matter to the Minister for Heritage Government of Wales at the time to enforce the scheme on Ofcom.
Meirion Prys Jones added:
"Ofcom is the only organisation in the entire history of the Board with whom we felt we had no choice but to use our powers to the full. The legal advice we have received shows that Ofcom could impose a language condition in broadcasting licenses, and that no legislation will prevent them from doing so.
"The implications of not imposing a language requirement in licenses is of great concern to us. It can lead to the complete disappearance of the Welsh language from every community radio station in every part of Wales. The effect of not being able to hear the Welsh language will have a far-reaching and very damaging affect on the future of the Welsh on the ground.
"15 months have passed since we referred this matter to the Welsh Government. During this period we have continually reminded the Government of the need to enforce the scheme on Ofcom, and have submitted all our evidence and legal advice to assist with this process.
"Since this, the language and broadcasting portfolios have been separated by the new government. Today I’m publically calling on the Minister with responsibility for the Welsh language, Leighton Andrews, to discuss the matter with the Minister for Heritage, Huw Lewis, and act urgently so that the people of Wales can listen to local radio programmes in the language they normally use every day."