'BBC Wales' () is a division of the
British Broadcasting Corporation for
Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of
Cardiff (not to be confused with
Broadcasting House in
London which is the headquarters of
BBC Radio), it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services.
[1] Outside London, BBC Wales is the largest BBC television producer in the UK, partly due to its slate of Welsh language programmes. BBC Wales television services debuted on
1 February 1964 to much fanfare (short television commercials proclaimed: "Wales gets its very own TV service in 1964!")
[1]. Prior to 1964, the BBC had no dedicated television production centre in Wales, although it did broadcast from the area.
Overview
BBC Wales produces
television programming in
English and
Welsh both for the regional opt-out sections of the
BBC One and
Two network feeds, and for the dedicated Welsh-language channel
S4C.
Perhaps its best-known Welsh-language programme is the soap opera ''
Pobol y Cwm'', which has run since
1974. BBC Wales also operates two radio stations:
BBC Radio Wales in English and
BBC Radio Cymru, which broadcasts in Welsh and is aimed at a younger audience. The local television news programme ''
Wales Today'' has been produced in Cardiff since 1962. BBC Wales also produces the Welsh language news programme ''
Newyddion'' for
S4C, which combines international and UK news with regional news from Wales.
Another popular locally-screened programme is the drama series ''
Belonging'', which as of
2005 has run for six seasons since
1999. An English language programme, ''Belonging'' is produced in-house by the BBC Wales drama department and screened on
BBC One during a regional opt-out slot from the main national network feed. As with other such opt-outs, however, it is available to viewers elsewhere in the UK via the digital satellite platform.
As well as providing these dedicated services for Wales, BBC Wales also provides programming for the BBC's UK networks. In recent years, its drama output has been particularly successful, including the 2005 revival of the classic
science-fiction series ''
Doctor Who'' and its spin-off ''
Torchwood'' (2006). In addition, BBC Wales commissions other drama output for the BBC network from independent producers, such as ''
Life on Mars'' (2006–07). The
BBC National Orchestra of Wales is currently based at Broadcasting House in Cardiff, though there are plans to move it to the
Wales Millennium Centre, and performs regularly throughout Wales and internationally.
Unsourced image removed:

1988 ''BBC Cymru'' Ident
The Manager of the BBC recently announced that they were going to concentrate on more programmes being made in
Wales,
Scotland and
Northern Ireland, instead of most of them being made in
London where the BBC Headquarters and main studios are.
Programming
Produced in-house by BBC Wales
;For Wales:
★ ''
Wales Today'' (1962–present)
★ ''
Week In, Week Out'' (1964–present)
★ ''
Pobol y Cwm'' (1974–present)
★ ''
Belonging'' (1999–present)
★ ''First Degree'' (2002)
★ ''
High Hopes'' (2002–present)
;For the UK:
★ ''
The District Nurse'' (1984–1987)
★ ''Border Cafe''
★ ''
He Knew He Was Right'' (2004)
★ ''
Doctor Who'' (2005–present)
★ ''
Doctor Who Confidential'' (2005–present)
★ ''
The Chatterley Affair'' (2006)
★ ''
Torchwood'' (2006-present)
Commissioned from independent producers by BBC Wales
;For the UK:
★ '' (1992, 1994)
★ ''
Casanova'' (2005)
★ ''
The Girl in the Café'' (2005)
★ ''
Life on Mars'' (2006–2007)
★ ''
Wide Sargasso Sea'' (2006)
★ ''
This Life + 10'' (2007)
References
1. Biographies - Menna Richards - Controller, BBC Wales
External link
★
BBC Wales at
bbc.co.uk