S4C

S4C (Sianel Pedwar Cymru, meaning Channel Four Wales) is the Welsh-language public broadcaster, launched in 1982 as the UK's first dedicated Welsh-language television channel. It is funded jointly by the BBC and the UK Government and is regulated by Ofcom. S4C's political programming plays a constitutional role in Welsh democracy: with a significant proportion of the electorate speaking Welsh as a first or second language, the channel provides election debate coverage that English-language broadcasters cannot fully serve.

For the 2026 Senedd election, S4C co-produced and broadcast 'Y Ddadl Fawr' (the Big Debate) on 23 April alongside BBC Radio Cymru, with Welsh production company Tinopolis providing production infrastructure. The debate — the first of three in the Welsh leaders sequence — exposed immigration as the dominant topic despite the Senedd having no immigration powers, illustrating how Westminster issues shape devolved election narratives under the new PR system.

The 2026 election is the first Welsh election under Closed-list proportional representation, and S4C's debate format accommodated all major parties including the Wales Greens, who project their first-ever Senedd representation.