S4C ANNOUNCE ‘OUTSTANDING PROGRESS’

WELSH broadcasters, S4C, have announced that they gave evidence to the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee meeting in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Elan Closs Stephens, S4C's Chair, stressed the importance of the channel's international links as a major contribution towards fulfilling their cultural and commercial aims in Wales.
Elan Closs Stephens, said: "We have enjoyed outstanding and growing success internationally. Our programmes are recognised as being world-class and this is reflected in viewing figures for S4C programmes broadcast overseas.
"Over 15 million people watched the screening of ‘The Miracle Maker’ on America's ABC Network broadcast on Easter Sunday 2000, and French channel La Cinquième received their largest audience ever when the series ‘Egypt’ was transmitted.
"We have also been nominated four times for Oscars and have received countless awards across the world. S4C are Wales' only indigenous broadcaster, uniquely placed to promote Wales and Welsh talent overseas in this way."
In 1999, S4C International, the channel's commercial arm responsible for programme sales, secured 196 international sales to countries and territories worldwide, an increase from 103 in 1998.
In 1999, commercial activities delivered an operating profit of £5.9 million out of which £3.1 million was transferred to the public service fund and therefore ploughed back to programme production in Wales. (CD)