Gareth Davies MS, Senedd Member for Vale of Clwyd and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism, Sport, and North Wales, has shared his reflections following a recent visit to BBC Wales’ New Broadcasting House in Cardiff Central Square last week.
In 2020, BBC Wales moved its operations from their former location in the leafy suburbs of Llandaff to a more central location, situated opposite Cardiff Central Station.
During the visit, Gareth was struck by the scale and sophistication of the facility, which is widely regarded as the most advanced broadcasting centre in Europe thanks to its cutting-edge Live IP Core infrastructure. He also praised the technical support BBC Wales provides to S4C, which plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of high-quality Welsh-language broadcasting and is now also based in the BBC’s Broadcasting House.
Gareth welcomed the return of the majority of staff to the office, highlighting the value of in-person collaboration within the creative industries. Discussions also touched on the current level of television production in Wales, with staff expressing a clear desire to see more productions made in the country to further strengthen the sector.
In addition, Gareth raised the possibility of enhancing coverage of the Wales Women’s National Football Team by introducing studio-based broadcasting from stadiums during live fixtures.
Commenting, Gareth Davies MS said:
“I was hugely impressed by the scale and sophistication of the facilities at BBC Wales and it’s clear they’re operating at the cutting edge of broadcasting.
“The passion and expertise of the staff are a powerful reminder of the creative talent we have here in Wales, and the BBC’s world-class centre equips them to reach their full potential.
“It was encouraging to hear about the rise in TV drama productions being made in Wales and I’ll continue to champion efforts to grow this further, as it brings not only investment but real opportunities for our communities and the tourism sector.
“My sincere thanks to the team at BBC Wales for such a warm welcome and a truly insightful visit.”