91热爆 cuts spending on S4C by 拢4m

Image caption, The 91热爆 provides S4C's news services, sports coverage and its daily drama series Pobol y Cwm

91热爆 Wales plans to cut 拢4m from the 拢23.5m it spends annually on programmes for Welsh language channel S4C over the next three years.

Director Menna Richards said 91热爆 Wales must make 拢15m of annual savings from its total budget by 2013.

The 91热爆 would continue to play a "very full part at the heart of S4C's schedule", she said.

Both S4C and the Welsh Assembly Government said the news was "disappointing".

The 91热爆 produces around a fifth of S4C's programmes including news in Welsh and the TV soap Pobol y Cwm.

Ms Richards said she informed S4C of the proposed changes in June and they had been endorsed by the 91热爆 Trust.

She said the 91热爆 had to be "realistic about the constraints of future funding" and its expenditure on programmes for S4C had increased by 20% over the last three years.

"Our programming contribution to S4C is a vital component in our range of services for Welsh language audiences," said Ms Richards.

"We also know this output is highly valued by S4C's audiences.

"We deliver about a fifth of S4C's total output yet attract almost 40% of the channel's viewing."

She added: "Under the financial plans I shared with S4C, the 91热爆's investment in programming for S4C would fall from 拢23.5m this year to about 拢19.5m in 2012/13, broadly equal to our planned expenditure on English language television programmes over the same period.

"We have of course assured S4C that our investment will still enable the 91热爆 to play a very full part at the heart of S4C's schedule."

91热爆 Wales will continue to deliver its statutory obligation of at least 520 hours of programming to S4C a year.

Ms Richards said: "We clearly recognise that the planned reduction will pose challenges for both S4C and our own production teams.

"We are plainly faced with some very tough choices, but I do believe it is unsustainable for our funding of Welsh language television output to be protected from the challenging efficiencies that the rest of 91热爆 Cymru Wales' programme areas have been managing over a number of years."

A spokesperson for S4C said: "91热爆 Wales' commitment to Welsh language programming and its contribution to S4C is an extremely important part of the channel's schedule.

"We are obviously disappointed at this proposed cut in investment by the 91热爆 in Welsh language programming which comes at a particularly difficult time for S4C.

"The reduction in investment announced by 91热爆 Wales and the way that it would impact upon content for S4C will be the subject of ongoing discussions between the two broadcasters within the framework of their existing strategic partnership agreement."

The assembly government said it would be very concerned if the budget cut led to a reduction in the quality of programming.

A spokesperson said: "This is disappointing news.

"We accept of course the need at this time to ensure that expenditure by public bodies is spent effectively and creatively.

"The assembly government believes it is important that audiences are presented with services of a high standard in the language of their choice.

"The role played by television in helping to promote the language remains as important as ever."