Name	S4C
Logosize	200px
Logofile	S4C logo.svg
Logoalt	S4C logo
Launch	1 November 1982
Picture format	576i (SDTV ) 1080i (HDTV)
Share as of	February 2008
Share source
Owner	Welsh Fourth Channel Authority
Country	Wales, United Kingdom
Headquarters	Llanishen, Cardiff
Web
Terr serv 1	Freeview
Terr chan 1	Channel 4 (Wales only)
Terr chan 2	Channel 53 (HD) (Wales only)
Sat serv 1	Freesat
Sat chan 1	Channel 104 (in Wales) Channel 120 (rest of UK)
Sat serv 2	Sky
Sat chan 2	Channel 104 (in Wales) Channel 134 (rest of UK)
Sat serv 3	Astra 2A
Sat chan 3	12129V 27500 2/3
Cable serv 1	Virgin Media
Cable chan 1	Channel 167 (only in Wales)

S4C (, meaning Channel 4 Wales), currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is (after BBC One, ITV, BBC Two and Sky1) the fifth oldest British television channel (Channel 4 was launched in the rest of the United Kingdom one day later).

There were initially two versions of the channel: the first, broadcast on analogue television, was bilingual (Welsh and English) with most of its English-language programming being either simultaneous or deferred broadcasts of Channel 4 programmes (analogue reception of which was unavailable in most of Wales); the second, on digital television a 100% Welsh-language service, branded (S4C Digital).

The analogue version of S4C closed on 31 March 2010, when the Wenvoe transmitter completed the digital switchover. After this S4C Digidol became the default S4C channel available across Wales available to Welsh viewers on cable, satellite and Freeview.

A high definition service called S4C Clirlun (clear picture), simulcasting S4C Digidol, began broadcasting on 30 April 2010 on Freeview channel 53 in Wales. By the end of 2012, S4C plans to be producing all of its programmes in high definition.

In 1962 the ITV network had created a licence area for North and West Wales, which was awarded to Wales (West and North) Limited. This traded as Teledu Cymru and provided significant levels of Welsh-language programming. However, problems with transmission infrastructure and poor market research led to financial difficulties within two years and the station was taken over by its neighbour Television Wales and West.

During the 1970s, Welsh language activists had campaigned for a TV service in the language, which already had its own radio station, BBC Radio Cymru. Both the Conservative and Labour parties promised a Welsh-language fourth channel, if elected to government in the 1979 General Election. Shortly after the Conservatives won a majority in the election, the new home secretary Willie Whitelaw decided against a Welsh fourth channel, and suggested that, except for an occasional opt-out, the service should be the same as that offered in the rest of the UK. This led to acts of civil disobedience, including refusals to pay the television licence fee, thereby running the risk of prosecution or even a prison sentence, and sit-ins in BBC and HTV studios. Some took more extreme measures, including attacking television transmitters in Welsh-speaking areas. In 1980, the former president of Plaid Cymru, Gwynfor Evans, threatened to go on hunger strike if the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher didn't honour its commitment to provide a Welsh language TV service. The channel started broadcasting on 1 November 1982, the night before Channel 4's opening. S4C appointed its first female CEO, Iona Jones in 2005.

Programming

S4C's remit is to provide a service which features a wide range of programmes in the Welsh language. Like Channel 4, S4C does not produce programmes of its own; instead, it commissions programmes from BBC Cymru and independent producers (although the quantity purchased from ITV Wales has greatly reduced since the early years of S4C), and it has particularly developed a reputation for commissioning cartoons, such as SuperTed, Sam Tân (which became Fireman Sam in its English version on the BBC) and . BBC Wales fulfills its public service requirement by producing programmes in Welsh, including , S4C's news bulletin, and a soap opera, , and providing them to S4C free of charge. It has also provided (or licensed) Welsh language versions of English language programmes e.g.: The Tweenies. On the analogue service, S4C showed programmes produced for Channel 4 in the rest of the UK outside of peak hours (usually a few days later). These programmes were provided to S4C by Channel 4, free of charge.

To make them more accessible to English speakers, all Welsh language programming carries English subtitles on Teletext page 888, with Welsh subtitles on page 889. Both subtitle languages are also available on digital television platforms.

For speakers of English who are learning Welsh, certain programmes, particularly children's programmes and , carry subtitles on page 889 of Teletext, featuring Welsh subtitles with additional English translations in brackets next to more difficult Welsh language words.

TV movies produced for S4C have received some good foreign reviews; Hedd Wyn was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Oscar in 1993 and Solomon & Gaenor was nominated in 1999.

Those who have no interest in Welsh-language television have been known to point their aerials at the nearest English transmitters to avoid S4C, as well as BBC Wales and ITV Wales. However, this practice dates back before the start of S4C in 1982, when Welsh-language programming was included on BBC1 Wales and HTV Wales. S4C sports programme Sgorio has been known to reverse this practice, with English football fans watching S4C as the only British terrestrial broadcaster of Spanish and German league football.

The S4C analogue signal also spilled over into southeast Ireland. In the past it was rebroadcast in a number of areas there on UHF terrestrial signals by so-called 'deflectors', however Channel 4 is now re-transmitted from satellite by the few remaining deflectors. Up until the 1990s, S4C was also carried by some Irish cable and MMDS providers before being replaced by Channel 4.

Up until 2009, S4C ran its own teletext service, Sbectel (, Welsh for "a peek" or "a glimpse", and a reference to an S4C schedule insert formerly included in the TV Times issues for the HTV Wales region. is also Welsh for "spectacles").

Digital channels

Following the switch off of analogue terrestrial signals on 31 March 2010, Wales became the first fully-digital nation in the UK with both S4C and Channel 4 now available to all homes. As a result, S4C now broadcasts solely in Welsh language and, as well as on Freeview in Wales, is available throughout Britain, Ireland and the rest of western Europe on Freesat and Sky. A review commissoned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2004 suggested that "S4C should operate a single core service after digital switchover".

In addition, S4C also operates a sister channel, S4C2. It formerly broadcast coverage of the National Assembly for Wales when in session. The programme content was provided by the BBC who, from January 2010, now make it available online and via BBC Parliament. Like the main channel, S4C2 is available within Wales on Freeview and throughout the UK and Ireland on Freesat and Sky, although it currently only broadcasts a holding caption. S4C2 had two audio feeds, allowing viewers to select between an untranslated version and an English-only version where all Welsh spoken is translated into English. Delayed coverage of Assembly proceedings is now broadcast overnight on S4C's main channel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday.

In addition to the analogue TV signal transmitted throughout Wales, S4C, along with United News and Media, owned the company S4C Digital Networks (SDN). SDN was awarded the UK-wide contract to provide half a digital multiplex worth of programming. The other half continues to belong to the broadcaster Channel Five.

On 27 April 2005 S4C sold its share of SDN to ITV plc for approximately £34 million, though it still has the half-multiplex as of right in Wales. ITV already owned some of SDN due to the consolidation of the ITV industry: Granada bought UNM's stake in SDN, and this was then incorporated into the united ITV plc.

In January 2007, S4C announced plans to launch a Welsh-language children's service.

The new service launched on 23 June 2008. Under the name "Cyw" (), it brings together a wide range of programmes for nursery-age children, and S4C plans eventually to extend the service to include the "Stwnsh" strand for older children and a third service for teenagers and young people. The service currently airs on weekdays from 7am to 1.30pm on S4C.

Programmes

Sgorio (Scoring)

Sgorio Cymru

Newyddion (News)

Côr Cymru (Wales Choir)

Pobol y Cwm (People of the Valley)

C'mon Midffild

Gwaith Cartref (Homework)

Tipit

Rownd a Rownd (Round and Round)

Y Clwb Rygbi (The Rugby Club)

Hacio

Noson Lawen

Con Passionate

Caerdydd (Cardiff)

Cân i Gymru (Song for Wales)

Meees (Baaas)

Cowbois ac Injans

CF99

Y Byd ar Bedwar

Y Pris

Wedi 3

Wedi 7

Wil Cwac Cwac

Syr Wynff a Plwmsan

Pen Talar

Bro

Children, teens and young people's programmes

Ffeil (Children's News)

Hip neu Sgip?

Pentre Bach (Little Village)

Planed Plant (Children's Planet)

Planed Plant Bach (Small Children's Planet)

O Na! Y Morgans!

SuperTed

Y Sgerbydion (Funnybones)

Fireman Sam (Sam Tân)

Johnny Test (Johnny Prawf)

The Fairly OddParents

Skunk Fu

Dive, Olly, Dive! (Oli dan y don)

Sali Mali

Beyblade

Dennis and Gnasher (Dennis a Gnasher)

Muffin the Mule

The Large Family (Y Teulu Mawr)

Back at the Barnyard (Hendre Hurt)

Peppa Pig (Peppa Pinc)

Code Lyoko

1982-1993 Idents

S4C's on-air appearance has always been a representation of the Welsh society and people, but this representation has changed several times. Initial idents featured clips from the natural landscapes of Wales with a basic logo animation and fanfare, with the logo forming as WALES4CYMRU. In 1988, the ident changed to a computer-generated ident featuring an animation of the streamlined S4C logo, the colours of the logo were blue, green and red and the new font was based on Bodoni MT. Other idents featuring a weather vane with the S4C logo and a water based setting were used during the early 1990s.

1993-2006 Dragon Idents

In 1993, designed by Lambie-Nairn, a new series of idents debuted. The new idents featured inanimate objects such as Kite, Sousaphone, Pencil, Spray Can, Village Pump, Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher, Dragon-Man, Scissors, Sport Screen, Pedal Bin, Scissors Tongs, Dragon Flag/Entertainment, Curly Light, Oxy-acetylene Torch, Electric Fan, Steam Iron, Extinguisher Gauge, Stapler, Computer Mouse, Garlic Press, Magic Top Hat, Lawn Mover, Loadspeaker, Egg Cup and Vacuum Cleaner representing a Dragon (specifically, Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon depicted on the flag of Wales) usually by trying to fly or breathe fire like a dragon. These idents carried on through 2006 (with a logo change in 1995, featuring a new Futura Heavy font and a tilde representing the Dragon motif). The Dragon idents were retired in January 2007 alongside a wider relaunch of the channel.

Current Idents

In January 2007, S4C announced that their digital channels would be refreshed by a new corporate logo and brand. On 17 January, s4c.co.uk was updated with the new look, with S4C channels adopting the new look from 18 January. The S4C logo used since 1995, often stylised as "S4C~" because of the "dragon" design element which accompanied it, was replaced. The new design emphasises the channel's Welsh connection with the "C" for Cymru (Wales) separated from the "S4" (Channel 4) by a forward stroke. S4C2 is now seen on screen as S4C Dau (Two), and listed as S4C2 on the broadcaster's website and on Sky.

The theme of the new idents was the magnetism of the Welsh society, represented by many objects gathering in one place, such as shopping carts at a grocery store, and golf carts at a golf course. These idents were produced by Proud Creative, a London based design firm. In 2007, another new set of live-action idents debuted, featuring live rendered dynamic elements which react to the voice of the continuity announcers, an effect similar to the initial idents of BBC Four - but utilizing live-action footage instead of 3D rendered footage.

Channels

S4C

S4C Clirlun (high-definition)

Cyw

Controversy

Leaked internal reports in March 2010 showed that "over the 20-day period from February 15 to last Saturday, March 6, as many as 196 of the 890 programmes put out by S4C were rated as having zero viewers". An S4C spokesperson responded that 90% of these programs were aimed at children, whose viewing isn't fully measured by BARB, the organisation that compiles television ratings in the UK, as they only take into account viewers aged four years and over. The remaining 10% consisted of repeats and daytime news bulletins.

On 28 July 2010, S4C's chief executive Iona Jones left her post without explanation. Assembly members and Members of Parliament have asked for an independent investigation into the circumstances leading up to her departure. The S4C Authority has refused to comment any further on the matter and commissioned a review into how the broadcaster is governed in August 2010.

Funding and regulation

S4C is financed from its advertising revenue and a fixed annual grant from the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), receiving £94m of funding in 2007. In addition, some Welsh-language programming (including and ) is produced by BBC Wales as part of the BBC's public service remit, and provided to S4C free of charge. S4C is controlled by the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority ( or ), an independent body unconnected to Ofcom which regulates other UK television channels such as ITV or Channel 4.

From 2013, responsibility for funding S4C will begin to transfer to the BBC, with the DCMS reducing it's funding by 94% by 2015. The BBC will provide around £76m of funding to S4C by this date, resulting in a cut of around 25% to S4C's annual budget.

See also

BBC 2W

List of Welsh-language programmes

S4C Sport

List of Celtic language media

Cyw

BBC Alba - Scottish Gaelic language TV station

TG4 - Irish language TV station

Cúla 4 - Irish language children's TV station

Wawffactor

WITBN

Māori Television

Te Reo (TV)

NRK Sámi Radio

SABC

TITV

PTS

APTN

NITV

References

External links

Learners' site

Cyw children's channel

S4C 2007 Annual Report - audience share

Category:Economy of Cardiff Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom Category:Welsh language Category:Television in Wales Category:Television channels and stations established in 1982 Category:S4C Category:Companies based in Cardiff

Name	Rhydian
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Rhydian Roberts
Born	February 14, 1983
Origin	Sennybridge, Powys, Wales, United Kingdom
Genre	Musical theatre Classical crossover Opera Operatic pop Wagnerian rock
Voice type	Baritone
Occupation	Singer
Years active	2007 – present
Label	Sony Music, Syco (until 2010) Conehead Records (since 2010)

Rhydian Roberts (born 14 February 1983), popularly known as Rhydian, is a Welsh baritone and crossover artist in the United Kingdom. Classically trained, he rose to fame in 2007 as a runner-up on The X Factor. Since then, he has released two bestselling albums, done a UK tour (2009), and made gala and charity appearances in his native Wales and at the Royal Albert Hall, London. During 2010, he completed a major arena tour of The War of the Worlds - Alive On Stage!. Projects for 2011 include the UK tour of We Will Rock You and a new CD album.

Biography

Rhydian Roberts was born in Sennybridge, Powys, Wales and attended the Pontsenni Cylch Meithrin and then went onto Ysgol y Bannau Welsh medium school in Brecon. He represented the school and Powys in the Urdd Gobaith Cymru Eisteddfod from the age of five. He maintained his links with the Urdd whilst at Llandovery College (where he became head boy) and as a university undergraduate. An accomplished sportsman and keen rugby union player, he played rugby union for the Gwernyfed RFC club, near Brecon, as a junior and later for his school, and cricket for Powys County Junior teams. "My plan was to be a professional player for the Swansea RFC Ospreys (rugby team)," he says. "From the age of ten that was all I could think about – and I wasn't interested in singing any more." He embarked on a stringent exercise programme and was "a gym fanatic who could bench-press 386lbs at 16."

Birmingham Conservatoire

After teaching in a small school in South Africa during his gap year, Rhydian won a bursary to the Birmingham Conservatoire at University of Central England (now known as Birmingham City University). Director of Theatre Studies Michael Barry commented that "Rhydian was a star pupil at the Conservatoire from the very beginning." He first trained with Adrian Clarke and subsequently with Christine Cairns. He beat 13 other second-year vocal students from UK music colleges to become the first student from outside London to win the Kathleen Ferrier Society Bursary for Young Singers. A judging panel of internationally-renowned singers hailed his "formidable talent" and his "immediate connection with the audience". Other awards included the Reginald Vincent Lieder Prize, the 2007 Mario Lanza Educational Award, and the Cecil Drew Oratorio Prize. Having been recommended in his second year by Barry for audition by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra's (CBSO) Musical Director Sakari Oramo, Rhydian played Morales in the CBSO's semi-staged Carmen. He secured leading roles in virtually all of the Conservatoire's operas and musicals, including Charley in Merrily We Roll Along and the title role in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde After graduating in 2007 with first-class honours, Rhydian auditioned for the BBC talent contest Any Dream Will Do.

The X Factor (2007)

At his audition for The X Factor, Rhydian was openly self-assured and ambitious. Judges found him both perplexing and talented. Ironically, it was his eventual mentor Dannii Minogue who gave the only "no" vote at the time, while Sharon Osbourne was reported to have found him arrogant, although these tensions softened in time. Later in the series, Simon Cowell averred: "[Rhydian] is incredibly polite and respectful. He stands out because he has an incredible voice. But there is no arrogance or conceit. He's a very good guy, and in fact I think he is very insecure." Rhydian himself had reportedly been anxious that film editing might generate unfavourable public perception of him. He described his portrayal as that of a "pantomime villain", and video clips of him often included "The Phantom of the Opera" song playing in the background.

Notwithstanding his fears, Rhydian eventually won over public opinion. Overhauling his image, he impressed as a spectacular and unpredictable performer, and "his trademark white hair and flamboyant dress sense made him an audience favourite immediately" His appearances included: A full theatrical account of "The Phantom of the Opera", about which judge Louis Walsh opined, "You've got star quality, you've got presence, and this show's going to change your life." Shirley Bassey's version of Pink's "Get The Party Started" in a fur coat and sequin-covered suit The Village People's version of "Go West" in Navy Officer uniform surrounded by male backing singers in sailor outfits. At this point, judges voiced concern that his camp theatrical presentation was beginning to overshadow his vocal performances. Subsequently, while still including dancers and pyrotechnics, Rhydian toned down his onstage antics.

Eventually, Rhydian became the favourite to win, performing, among others, "You Raise Me Up, " and "I Vow to Thee, My Country." His rendition of "Somewhere" moved judge Dannii Minogue to tears: "I can't even speak, that was so beautiful." Of his "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Simon Cowell said "Rhydian, I thought that was bloody fantastic ... and I think probably your best performance, if not THE best performance of the competition so far."

He duetted in the final with Katherine Jenkins, whom he had long admired. Despite finishing as runner-up, Rhydian was offered a recording contract with Sony BMG by Simon Cowell the next day.

Career

2008-10

Rhydian devoted much of 2008 to his debut album, the eponymous Rhydian, and performed at private functions internationally. UK engagements included at the Welsh Grand Slam celebrations and the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year Awards. He performed "Music of the Night" for over 30,000 people in Hyde Park to mark Andrew Lloyd Webber's 60th Birthday. Having heard Rhydian sing, HRH Prince Charles invited him to become a patron of The Prince's Trust. He sang at the Children of Courage Awards Ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Guesting at The X Factor finals, Rhydian performed "The Impossible Dream," the lead track of Rhydian. The album was declared the highest selling album by a male chart newcomer in 2008. Rhydian duetted on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with Charlotte Church on the seasonal special of her chat show.

2009 saw more than 600,000 albums sold and the release of Rhydian's second album, O Fortuna. He also completed a 24-date solo tour of the UK. For the BBC, he appeared on Songs of Praise; for S4C he recorded his own television special, followed by the documentary Rhydian, One Year On. Rhydian again entertained the Royal Family, at "The Prince's Trust Celebrates Success" Awards, and starred in the BBC's Children in Need charity telethon. At the 2009 Liverpool Summer Pops Festival, he headlined a concert for 3000 fans in the Echo Arena. In December, he turned on the Christmas lights in Hull.

During 2010 Rhydian starred in several all-star galas - three of them occurring within two months of each other at London's Royal Albert Hall. BBC Television re-ran his 2009 guest segment for Songs of Praise. He left the Syco recording label and joined Conehead Records. Extensive charity commitments included the Lord Mayor of Cardiff’s Gala Concert at the City Hall for Bobath Children's Therapy Centre Wales. For the Haiti Earthquake Appeal, he performed at Christian Aid's concert at St David's Hall and on the charity single "The Prayer." His charity work ranged from posing nude in Cosmopolitan to raise awareness of prostate cancer ("Taking my kit off wasn't something I expected to do, but as it was for a great cause I changed my mind."), to entertaining gala dinners for Help for Heroes at London's Grosvenor House Hotel and for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) at Cardiff City Stadium, observing:

I'm delighted to take part in this event. I had a very happy childhood in Wales, but I know that not all children are so lucky. The work done by the NSPCC is critical in helping to keep children safe. . . . I hope that by performing at this event, I can do my bit.

Rhydian closed the St David's Week Festival at Brangwyn Hall, Swansea and returned for a second year to The National Eisteddfod of Wales. There were several engagements with Welsh male voice choirs. He sang the anthem "Jerusalem" at the Rugby League Grand Final at Old Trafford (stadium capacity approximately 75,000). At the Royal Albert Hall, Rhydian starred in the Classic FM Live concert - singing "Myfanwy" and "Land of My Fathers" in Welsh - as well as Classic Response and the Classical Brits Awards. He ended the year playing Parson Nathaniel in the 2010 European arena tour of Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds - Live on Stage!. Seasonal engagements included Hayley Westenra's Christmas Wishes at Birmingham's Symphony Hall and at the Barbican Hall, and a Christmas Spectacular at the O2 Arena.

2011

Rhydian will perform the role of Khashoggi, Chief of Police, for the Cardiff, Southampton and Birmingham dates of the UK Tour of We Will Rock You. (18 March-17 April at the Wales Millennium Centre; 20 April-28 May at the Mayflower Theatre; 5 July-6 August at the Birmingham Hippodrome). His third album is due for release by Conehead Records early in the year.

Discography

Albums

{| class="wikitable" !align="center" rowspan="1"|Year !align="center" rowspan="1"|Information !align="center" rowspan="1"| UK !align="center" rowspan="1"| IRE !align="center" rowspan="1"|Sales !align="center" rowspan="1"|Certifications |- |2008 |Rhydian

First studio album

Released: 24 November 2008

Label: Sony BMG

Format: CD, digital download

|align="center" width="30"|3 |align="center" width="30"|7 | align=left|

UK: 459,500 (Worldwide album sales)

Worldwide: 600,000+ | align=left|

UK: Platinum

|- |2009 |O Fortuna

2nd studio album

Released: 30 November 2009

Label: Sony Music

Format: CD, digital download

|align="center" width="30"|25 |align="center" width="30"|61 | align=left| UK: 100,000 | align=left|

UK: Gold

Nominated for Classical Brits 2010 NS&I; Album of the Year

|}

Rhydian also features on the charity single, "The Prayer," for the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

References

External links

Rhydian Roberts at BBC Wales

Rhydian Roberts biography from BBC Wales Music

What's On Wales interview

"Rhydian's new album" movie video at YouTube

Rhydian on Premier Christian TV

Category:1983 births Category:2000s singers Category:2010s singers Category:Welsh baritones Category:Living people Category:Opera crossover singers Category:The X Factor (UK) contestants Category:Old Llandoverians Category:Alumni of the Birmingham School of Music Category:Welsh-speaking people