Llyr Gruffydd MS Member of the Senedd for North Wales

Llyr Gruffydd raised concerns in the Senedd about Global Radio's decision to cancel their Welsh language service Capital Cymru.
 
Welsh language provision on commercial radio in Wales will be due to an end on 24 February following this announcement, closing the Capital studio in Wrexham and laying off all employees according to GlobalMedia, owners of Capital.The Welsh language programmes on the station will all disappear.

The changes are possible following the introduction of the new Media Act in October 2024 – there was no requirement in the act on any commercial station to provide any local offering (and certainly not in Welsh) following the introduction of the act. This is despite OFCOM's promise - "The Media Act is designed to protect public service broadcasting". Obviously Welsh isn't part of any consideration.
 
No Welsh music will be played on Capital'r airwaves in Wales following the change.  Radio Cymru and Radio Cymru 2 will be the only channels playing Welsh language music in the North beyond Mon FM community radio. 

Prior to the Media Act 2024, Ofcom's existing powers regarding the use of Welsh by commercial radio licence holders were limited. Licensees would make commitments on the character of services – including any Welsh commitments – as part of a competitive process of applying for a licence. Ofcom would then impose licence obligations reflecting these commitments. This meant Ofcom could not mandate Welsh language commitments, only enforce these commitments where they had been made.
 
In a statement in the Senedd Llyr Gruffydd said-

"Last week Global Radio announced that they were ceasing broadcasting their Capital Cymru radio station. Capital Cymru is unique – it is a station that broadcasts the gross of its daytime provision in Welsh to North West Wales. The company will close their Wrexham studio permanently, laying off 12 staff. The implications of this decision are far-reaching. This is the end of an era of commercial Welsh-medium broadcasting in the north – a period that has continued for decades.  

"This is also the end to airing Welsh music on the commercial airwaves – another blow to the music industry in Wales. This decision follows the introduction of the New Media Act last year. Under the old regime, OFCOM had the ability to require commercial broadcasters to offer a service in Welsh under the stations' licensing conditions.  Several recommendations came from the Senedd's Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee that a similar provision be included under the new law – and indeed the committee called for the Bill to be amended. But the Westminster Government ignored the demands.

"Of course, devolution of responsibilities for broadcasting is the only ultimate solution to protecting Welsh and Welsh broadcasting on the airwaves, but in the meantime, can the Government make a statement on the current situation, and what can be done to protect the provision, and of course – a number of valuable jobs?"