Rugby in Welsh: S4C's Bold Bid for Nations Championship Rights

Exciting news emerges from S4C, the Welsh-language television channel, as its chief executive, Geraint Evans, expresses confidence in securing the TV rights to broadcast Wales rugby matches in the Nations Championship until 2028-29. This championship will prominently feature Wales and other Six Nations teams as representatives of the northern hemisphere, competing against heavyweights like South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Fiji, and Japan.

Evans emphasized that, if successful, S4C would be the exclusive platform for all men’s international rugby matches aired in Welsh, making the channel a cornerstone of Welsh sports broadcasting.

During a hearing with the Welsh Affairs Committee in Westminster, where Evans was joined by S4C’s board members, he addressed significant challenges facing the channel, particularly regarding funding and how prominently S4C features on smart TVs.

Delyth Evans, chair of the S4C Board, highlighted the precarious nature of funding due to potential changes in the BBC licence fee structure, suggesting that any reductions could severely impact S4C’s viability.

The panel also touched on the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for the Welsh language, with Geraint Evans stating a worry that the Welsh language risks being overlooked in the digital landscape because of AI advancements. Advocating for measures to integrate Welsh language capabilities in AI systems, he indicated that S4C should play an instrumental role in ensuring that Welsh is as embedded in technology as English.

Both Evans and the board members remain optimistic about S4C’s future, especially with the anticipation of new Welsh-language content from the Nations Championship alongside existing competitions, reaffirming a commitment to promote Welsh on national and international stages.