S4C and Media Cymru join forces in digital future project

Welsh-language public service broadcaster S4C and the Welsh media consortium Media Cymru have announced the most ambitious research and development project in S4C’s history. The project, titled “Transforming S4C’s Digital Future” and running until December 2025, will focus on exploring the future of S4C’s audiences, its distribution, and the prominence of public service broadcasting in the digital age. Its ultimate aim is to ensure that S4C’s Welsh-language content is easily discoverable both in Wales and across the UK.

In collaboration with Media Cymru, a Welsh consortium dedicated to supercharging media innovation, the project will significantly enhance S4C’s current research capabilities. It will provide expert advice and invest in internal talent to develop a robust, future-proof digital strategy. The initiative will be led by Laura Franses, S4C’s Director of Commercial Activities, alongside Sarah Tierney from Tierney Consulting and Lydia Fairfax from Triple Crown Consulting. The project will conduct targeted, S4C-specific audience and market research, analyze the findings to develop and establish new roadmaps for extending its reach, and explore partnerships aimed at increasing its audience base.

Announcing the initiative, S4C’s interim Chief Executive, Sioned Wiliam, said: “This project comes at a pivotal moment in our history, in conjunction with the Media Act 2024. It offers us an unprecedented opportunity in public service broadcasting to make S4C content discoverable to a wider audience and on multiple platforms," commented.

Professor Justin Lewis, Co-Director of Media Cymru, expanded on the details of the project: “Our collaboration with S4C marks a watershed moment for the channel, which is committed to exploring a full range of digital pathways to safeguard its future and ensure that its output is discoverable for a range of new audiences across the UK and beyond.Transforming S4C’s Digital Future’ will provide expert analysis and insights to outline a new future-facing digital strategy and help ensure that media innovation here in Wales is fueled by fair and green economic growth," stated.