S4C2
Encyclopedia
S4C2 was a free-to-air
British television station
owned by S4C
which, until 2010, broadcast coverage of the National Assembly for Wales
at the Senedd
.
As the Assembly is bilingual, with members allowed to speak in either English or Welsh, the service carried two audio feeds on Freeview and satellite: an untranslated feed that broadcast proceedings in their original language (be it English or Welsh) and an English feed that translated any Welsh speech into English.
The channel launched in September 1999 as a free channel on the ONdigital platform using S4C's gifted capacity on multiplex A
, and later Sky and NTL
. It formed part of the Freeview service and cable
throughout Wales, but was available throughout the United Kingdom on Freesat
and Sky.
S4C2 was also used for interactive programming and alternate programming that couldn't be aired on the main S4C channel, such as uninterrupted coverage of competitions from the , the Urdd National Eisteddfod & the Royal Welsh Show
, and 's sing-along feature (Best of Song for Wales, a yearly Welsh music competition).
From January 2010, coverage of the Welsh Assembly ceased on the channel. This programming was produced by the BBC
and is now being made available online via Democracy Live section of the BBC's website.
In March 2010, the broadcaster announced it would resume broadcasts of the Assembly's full sessions and some committees in a new thrice-weekly overnight programme entitled Y Dydd yn Y Cynulliad (The Day in the Assembly) on S4C from Tuesday 20 April 2010.
On 16 September 2010, S4C2 was removed from Sky channel 507. It was also removed from Virgin Media
channel 168 during October and Freeview channel 86 on 30 November 2010, in both cases the channel was only available in Wales. The channel finally ceased broadcasting on 6 December 2010, when it was removed from Freesat
. S4C confirmed the channel's closure in January 2011, where they said its live coverage from the National Eisteddfod and Royal Welsh show would be more heavily featured on the main S4C channel, whilst recorded coverage of the Assembly would continue to be broadcast on the main channel in its late night slot.
Free-to-air
Free-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
British television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
owned by S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
which, until 2010, broadcast coverage of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
at the Senedd
Senedd
The Senedd , also known as the National Assembly building, houses the debating chamber and three committee rooms for the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff. The Senedd building was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 1 March 2006 and the total cost was £69.6 million, which included £49.7M in...
.
As the Assembly is bilingual, with members allowed to speak in either English or Welsh, the service carried two audio feeds on Freeview and satellite: an untranslated feed that broadcast proceedings in their original language (be it English or Welsh) and an English feed that translated any Welsh speech into English.
The channel launched in September 1999 as a free channel on the ONdigital platform using S4C's gifted capacity on multiplex A
S4C Digital Networks
SDN is a company that operates Multiplex A, one of the six groups of channels on digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom...
, and later Sky and NTL
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
. It formed part of the Freeview service and cable
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
throughout Wales, but was available throughout the United Kingdom on Freesat
Freesat
Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008...
and Sky.
S4C2 was also used for interactive programming and alternate programming that couldn't be aired on the main S4C channel, such as uninterrupted coverage of competitions from the , the Urdd National Eisteddfod & the Royal Welsh Show
Royal Welsh Show
The Royal Welsh Show is the biggest agricultural show in Europe. It is organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which was formed in 1904, and takes place in July of each year, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales....
, and 's sing-along feature (Best of Song for Wales, a yearly Welsh music competition).
From January 2010, coverage of the Welsh Assembly ceased on the channel. This programming was produced by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and is now being made available online via Democracy Live section of the BBC's website.
In March 2010, the broadcaster announced it would resume broadcasts of the Assembly's full sessions and some committees in a new thrice-weekly overnight programme entitled Y Dydd yn Y Cynulliad (The Day in the Assembly) on S4C from Tuesday 20 April 2010.
On 16 September 2010, S4C2 was removed from Sky channel 507. It was also removed from Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
channel 168 during October and Freeview channel 86 on 30 November 2010, in both cases the channel was only available in Wales. The channel finally ceased broadcasting on 6 December 2010, when it was removed from Freesat
Freesat
Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008...
. S4C confirmed the channel's closure in January 2011, where they said its live coverage from the National Eisteddfod and Royal Welsh show would be more heavily featured on the main S4C channel, whilst recorded coverage of the Assembly would continue to be broadcast on the main channel in its late night slot.