Welsh broadcasting devolution options put under review

New research will examine how broadcasting powers in Wales could change under a range of devolution models.

Academics at Aberystwyth University have been commissioned by the Welsh Government to investigate options for devolving responsibility for broadcasting, with a focus on the future of public service radio and television in Wales.

Professor Jamie Medhurst, from the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, will lead the project, which will consider five possible pathways. These range from retaining the Senedd’s current limited powers to full devolution of oversight and regulation for broadcasting in Wales.

The research will look closely at what each option would mean in practice, including the financial implications, whether new regulatory or oversight bodies would be required, and how any changes could continue to support Welsh language services and programming reflecting Welsh interests. Technical and legal considerations will also form part of the work.

As part of the study, a wide range of voices from across Wales will be consulted, including broadcasters, policymakers, political parties, trade unions, pressure groups and other relevant organisations, ensuring the findings reflect the realities of the current broadcasting landscape.

The project begins this month and will run until March 2026. It is funded by the Welsh Government through Creative Wales.

Professor Medhurst said Wales’s cultural position within the UK made it important to assess whether the current system remains appropriate. He said: “Wales’s bilingual cultural identity means it has specific considerations within the wider UK. It is important to explore what that means for its broadcasting. The five pathways being considered range from a substantive shift in approach to more targeted changes.”

The Minister for Creative, Jack Sargeant MS, said the work would help assess how broadcasting could better serve audiences in Wales. He said the project would “gather vital evidence to identify options for strengthening Wales’s broadcasting framework”, including governance and costs, alongside support for Welsh language content.

The study builds on existing work at Aberystwyth University, which is already involved in a broader four nations examination of broadcasting devolution across the United Kingdom, announced earlier this year.