Above: Sioned Mills (Boom Pictures) with Peter Williams (Welsh Government), Rhodri Williams (Ofcom), and Huw Marshall (S4C).

S4C Theatre, National Eisteddfod, Meifod
4 August

 
"In the past just getting a mobile signal at the Eisteddfod was a miracle, but this year we've had 200 megabit connections on the field."  Peter Williams from the Welsh Government was using the tiny village of Meifod at Wales' annual cultural festival as an example of what can be done to improve connectivity.

Peter joined Rhodri Williams, Director Wales, Ofcom and Huw Marshall from S4C on a panel chaired by Boom Pictures’ Sioned Mills to discuss TV viewing via superfast broadband.  He outlined the good news for broadband connectivity that 79% of premises in Wales are now able to receive superfast broadband.  The Welsh Government's Superfast Wales Project aims to increase availability to 96% of premises by the summer of 2016, with the remaining 4% being reached via an infill project using a range of technologies.

Rhodri Williams pointed out that although this connectivity would enable viewers in rural areas to make full use of the services on their smart TVs, it could also challenge the existing commercial models for delivering public service broadcasting, with apps such as Netflix taking viewers away from the EPG and mainstream TV.  He added that if the take-up of on-line viewing continued to increase, as present trends suggest, there would be pressure on the UK Government to switch off Freeview services and sell the valuable UHF frequencies to mobile operators.

But Huw Marshall emphasised the opportunities for broadcasters including S4C, which has developed new online apps and services, such as CywTube, a web based pre-school children's service.  He added that S4C was responding to viewer demand for more Internet delivered short-form content and that use of social media platforms to access content and programmes was also increasing significantly.