I see the film 'Back To The Future' is celebrating it's 25th Anniversary, amazing where does the time go? Whatever, you don't have to go to the movies for Time Travel just attend Saturday's CyIG aka Plant Crachach annual Conference in Aberystwyth this weekend. There you will be transported back to some time post 1979 and have returned to the 'heady days' of the continuing Cymry Cymraeg 'Cultural Revolution' with talk of not paying TV licenses and maybe climbing up TV masts and even Ffred Ffrancis will go on another hunger strike? All to save 'ShamelessS4C' or some sort of Welsh Language TV service, no matter if even the 'Welsh Speaking' masses do not want to watch it. You can drag an horse to water but you cannot make it drink and I know of a good number of Welsh Speakers who hardly watch 'ShamelessS4C', even some who have never watched it at all.
Now I don't want you to think that I am opposed to Welsh Language Television as I am not but I was opposed to the setting up of 'ShamelessS4C' way back in the day for a number of reasons. In main I would have preferred the setting up of a National Welsh Television Service within which both languages of Wales could have been catered for. As it was when 'ShamelessS4C' was set up it was not as a pure 'Cymraeg' service but also served C4 in Wales and whilst millions watched their English C4 Language Programmes but 1000's watched 'ShamelessS4C'. The arguement that Welsh Language Programmes were taken out of BBC and ITV in Wales so has not to cause arguements between our two language speaking populations totally ignored then, complaints of English Speakers of missing out on quality C4 programmes. For C4 rubbish was given priority for reason of attracting advertizing revenue also resentment existed over fact that people had to wait up untill the early morning hours to watch most C4 programmes andf very late for any quality stuff.
All this was ignored as was 'ShamelessS4C' being allowed to snatch Rugby programming causing 1000's of 'Hwntw's' to watch their Rugby on 'ShamlessS4C' with sound down whilst listening to English Language of the games on the Radio. It's amazing that 'Hwntws' put up with all this for so long as well as not being really resentful that those pushing for a Welsh Language Service wanted it under the payout and authourity of the English Governments department of Environment and Culture. Not just because of the 'Big Bucks' involved but to make sure they were ring fenced from public scrutiny especially by 'Hwntw's' who could not be trusted to leave well alone but might want to have a say in the way this service was developing. It is interesting that in all the calls by 'Plant Crachach' for 'Cymreag' to be a devolved matter, they never called for 'ShamelessS4C' to be a devolved responsibilty of WAG, not untill now, why's that I wonder? Thinks!
Whatever, I am annoyed that the Tories did not discuss with WAG this matter of the BBC being responsible for 'ShamelessS4C' and even more annoyed that responsibility for funding it has been given to BBC Wales. This can only mean even less programmes in English of Welsh Interest for us 'Hwntws' and other English Speakers in Wales, I mean programmes of substance like the big budget stuff done by 'ShamelessS4C' as present Pen Talar. All we get out of BBC Wales is a rush to establish and Anglo - Welsh Media City in Cardiff Bay producing programmes as Casualty, Dr Who and an anglicesed Merlin and remakes of 'Up Stairs and Down Stairs' etc. Why does this not come up in all the recent discussion on Welsh Television, why is it just a mater of minority 'Cymry Cymraeg' TV that's discussed?
Time now to think 'National' and talk 'National' and act 'National' and demand a 'National Television Service for Wales' in a form of community based public service local TV. Hand over the 'ShamelessS4C' Millions to community Councils and they with community bodies, as Menter Iaith and Paperau y Bro in 'Y Fro Cymraeg' be responsible for a 'National Wales TV Service' that is devolved into a community based network. Such could also be linked to Schools and Colleges and local theatre and cultural groups etc. All to a great Socio Economic end purpose not just one that at end of day serves a 'Media Establishment Elite' in the Llandaf La La Land and the Pontcanna Patagonia.
Any way chew on that and this below:
THE WELSH PATRIOT.
- 31 visits - 20 Oct28 Oct 2010 ... 'Yr Hen Iaith' concerns hence must be taken in consideration of full ...capitulated and conceded to Cymru a Welsh Language TV Service, ...
welshpatriot.blogspot.com/ - Cached - Similar
welshpatriot.blogspot.com/ - Cached - Similar
Hwyl!
Gethiin Gruffydd.
