BBC to Invest Additional £8.5 Million in Wales TV Programming

LONDON: The BBC has pledged a 50-percent increase for its investment in English-language programming for Wales.

An additional £8.5 million ($10.6 million) of new funding will go to comedy, entertainment, drama, factual and culture-related programming. The money will also be used to help BBC Wales to reach out to younger audiences and develop its online and mobile news services. The total investment in English-language TV services is expected to reach nearly £30 million ($37.4 million) by 2019-20. A new BBC Wales iPlayer channel will also be launched to increase the visibility and prominence of content for audiences in Wales.

BBC’s director-general, Tony Hall, said: “I’m delighted to announce this major increase in television funding for Wales. BBC Wales has a remarkable creative track record and I know they’ll seize this new opportunity with real relish.

“I believe this investment will be transformational. In areas such as drama, comedy and entertainment, we expect to more than double investment. In news and current affairs, it will help us move faster online and reach out to younger audiences, and provide greater specialist reporting across our output.

“It’s so important that the BBC captures the real diversity of life and experience in Wales, and this investment is a real statement of intent about our ambition to serve all audiences in Wales.”