This article lists and provides a summary of the content of some of those broadcast, print, and other media currently being produced in the Welsh language.
Television
Current channels
S4C broadcasts exclusively in Welsh and has an annual budget of approximately £100 million. BBC Wales and HTV carried some Welsh programmes prior to S4C's formation in 1982 and still produce programmes for the commissioning broadcaster, alongside independent production companies. The station has 3% of the audience share in Wales, which is similar to that of TG4 of Ireland. Up until the digital switchover in March 2010, a bilingual analogue service was broadcast consisting of S4C and Channel 4 programming.
Other television services
S4C's Clic service (the Welsh counterpart of the BBC iPlayer) allows viewers to watch its programmes again - programmes are also available to watch via iPlayer.
The BBC offers Welsh-language commentary on a number of sporting events on BBC One Wales and BBC Two Wales using the red button feature on digital TV. Sky Sports also previously offered a similar service for Wales international football matches.
ITV Local offered Welsh-medium programmes produced by ITV Wales including Y Ddau Ffranc featuring Rhys Ifans and the current affairs programmes Y Byd ar Bedwar and Hacio. Following the demise of ITV Local, the website was relaunched as Y Dydd, but closed shortly afterwards.
Internet
A considerable number of websites are now available in Welsh or bilingually. Notable examples include:
Popular internet sites such as Google, Facebook and Wikipedia (known as Wicipedia in Welsh) are also available in Welsh. Most Welsh public bodies and a number of private sector companies in Wales have bilingual websites.
Computer games
There is a growing demand in Welsh medium computer games, here are a few listed;
- Shooty fruity[4]
- Marvin[4]
- Anifaeliad[4]
- Alto's Adventure[5]
- Master reboot[6]
- Talesinger: Voice of the Dragon[7]
On 21 Apr 2016, Pro Evolution Soccer released the first ever Welsh language video games cover, released for Euro 2016; PES 2016, although not sold in shops, they are available to download for free for you to replace the default English cover[8]
Mobile phone technology
In August 2009, the mobile phone maker Samsung (with provider Orange) unveiled a new Welsh language mobile phone to be available from September 2009, which would include Welsh language predictive text and menus.[9]
[10][11]
In June 2016 RWG Mobile launched the first Welsh based, bilingual (Welsh/English) mobile phone service for people who lives in Wales,[12] in July 2016 the company promoted their service at the Royal Welsh Show.[13]
Software
Microsoft software such as Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Microsoft Office are available with Welsh language interfaces. There is also a Welsh spell check facility available on most Microsoft Office programmes.
Free software available in Welsh include OpenOffice.org, Mozilla Firefox, To Bach[14] and uTorrent.
Bangor University has developed Cysgliad, a software pack containing Cysill, a Welsh spelling and grammar checker, and Cysgair, a Welsh-English dictionary.
Publishers
A number of publishing companies exist that publish mainly through the medium of Welsh including:
- Gomer Press based in Llandysul, Ceredigion.
- Y Lolfa based in Talybont, Ceredigion.
- Gwasg Carreg Gwalch based in Llanrwst, Conwy
- Gwasg Cyhoeddiadau Modern Cymreig based in Allerton, Liverpool.
- Gwasg Gwynedd based in Caernarfon, Gwynedd.
- Gwasg y Dref Wen based in Cardiff.
Record labels
A number of record labels release Welsh language music including:
- Anhrefn Records, based in Llanfair Caereinion, was active in releasing underground Welsh language music from 1983 to 1990.
- Ankst, an underground label at its most productive in the late 1980s and 90s.
- Copa, a sub-label – more youth orientated – of Sain.
- Docrad, based in Cardiff.
- Fflach, based in Cardigan, Ceredigion.
- Gwynfryn Cymunedol, based in Caernarfon, Gwynedd.
- Placid Casual, a Cardiff-based label owned by the Super Furry Animals.
- Rasp, a sub-label of Fflach.
- Sain, based in Llandwrog, Gwynedd – the largest Welsh-medium record company.
- Slacyr based in Garndolbenmaen.
A number of bands also release material on their own labels such as Frizbee's Recordiau Cosh and Bryn Fôn's laBelaBel.
Films
Some Welsh-medium films have had success overseas, most notably Hedd Wyn and Solomon a Gaenor, both nominated for Oscars in the 1990s.
DVD and video releases
A limited number of Welsh-medium videos and DVDs are sold, especially children's TV programmes such as Sali Mali, Tecwyn y Tractor, and a Welsh version of Bob the Builder (Bob y Bildar). Other popular DVDs include the comedy C'mon Midffîld!, with a series of ten DVDs being released, and the 1980s children's TV programme Syr Wynff a Plwmsan, which achieved cult status.[citation needed]
