Editing S4C (section)

==Digital channels==
When [[digital terrestrial television]] launched in 1998, S4C added a second, full-time Welsh-language channel called S4C Digidol ('digital') on 1 November 1998. Following the switch-off of analogue terrestrial signals on 31 March 2010, Wales became the first fully digital region in the UK, with both S4C and Channel 4 becoming available to all homes.<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Lench|title=S4C Holds a Special Position in the TV Advertising Market|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/%27S4C+holds+a+special+position+in+the+TV+advertising+market%27+Michael...-a0222523953|url-status=|work=[[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]]|location=Cardiff, Wales|date=31 March 2010|access-date=24 October 2023|via=[[TheFreeLibrary]] }}</ref> As a result, S4C now broadcasts solely in the Welsh language and, as well as on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] in Wales, is available throughout Britain, Ireland and the rest of western Europe on [[Freesat]] and [[Sky (UK & Ireland)|Sky]]. A review commissioned by the [[Department for Culture, Media and Sport]] in 2004 suggested that "S4C should operate a single core service after digital switchover".<ref name=Laughton>{{cite journal|last=Laughton|first=Roger|title=S4C:An Independent Review|page=32|publisher=Department for Culture, Media and Sport|date=July 2004|access-date=29 January 2009|url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/abouts4c/authority/pdf/e_adolygiad_laughton.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026185540/http://www.s4c.co.uk/abouts4c/authority/pdf/e_adolygiad_laughton.pdf|archive-date=26 October 2005|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:S4C2logo.svg|right|thumb|Logo of S4C Dau 2007–2010]]
In addition, S4C also operated a sister channel, [[S4C2]] (S4C Dau) until 2010. It formerly broadcast coverage of the [[National Assembly for Wales]] when in session. The programme content was provided by the [[BBC]] who, from January 2010, now make it available online and via [[BBC Parliament]]. Like the main channel, S4C2 was available within Wales on Freeview and throughout the UK and Ireland on Freesat and Sky. S4C2 had two audio feeds, allowing viewers to select between an untranslated version and an English-only version where all Welsh spoken is translated into English. Delayed coverage of Assembly proceedings is now broadcast overnight on S4C's main channel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. In addition to the analogue TV signal transmitted throughout Wales, S4C, along with [[UBM plc|United News & Media]], owned the company [[S4C Digital Networks]] (SDN). SDN was awarded the UK-wide contract to provide half a digital multiplex worth of programming. The other half continues to belong to the broadcaster [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}

On 27 April 2005, S4C sold its share of SDN to [[ITV plc]] for approximately £34&nbsp;million, though it still has the half-multiplex as of right in Wales. ITV already owned some of SDN due to the consolidation of the ITV industry: Granada bought UNM's stake in SDN, and this was then incorporated into the united ITV plc. In January 2007, S4C announced plans to launch a Welsh-language children's service.<ref name="S4C announce children's channel">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/s4c_unveils_kids_channel_and_rebrand.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419222821/http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/s4c_unveils_kids_channel_and_rebrand.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 April 2013|title=S4C unveils kids' channel and rebrand|access-date=28 October 2007|date=20 January 2007|magazine=Broadcast Now |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The new service, in the form of a programming block, launched on 23 June 2008. Under the name [[Cyw]] (chick), it brings together a wide range of programmes for nursery-age children, and S4C plans eventually to extend the service to include the [[Stwnsh]] strand for older children and a third service for teenagers and young people. The service currently airs on weekdays from 7&nbsp;am to 1.30&nbsp;pm on S4C.

S4C launched a high-definition simulcast of S4C called 'Clirlun' on 19 July 2010 to coincide with terrestrial digital switchover in Wales.<ref name="S4C Press Release: S4C Clirlun now available throughout Wales">{{cite web|url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/e_press_level2.shtml?id=351|title=S4C Press Release: S4C Clirlun now available throughout Wales|date=19 July 2010|publisher=S4C}}</ref> Clirlun was broadcast on Freeview channel 53 only, and not via other platforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/clirlun/e_index.shtml|title=Clirlun|publisher=S4C|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405192725/http://www.s4c.co.uk/clirlun/e_index.shtml|archive-date=5 April 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=12 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="Clirlun">{{cite web|url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/e_press_level2.shtml?id=324|title=S4C launches new High Definition channel - Clirlun|date=29 March 2010|publisher=S4C}}</ref> However, following funding cuts and a review of core services it was announced on 11 July 2012 that Clirlun would close before the end of the year.<ref name="S4C Press Release: S4C efficiency measures on course to meet targets">{{cite web|url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/e_press_level2.shtml?id=665|title=S4C Press Release: S4C efficiency measures on course to meet targets|date=11 July 2012|publisher=S4C}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/e_press_level2.shtml?id=665|title=S4C efficiency measures on course to meet targets|publisher=S4C authority|access-date=17 August 2012}}</ref> Clirlun closed at midnight on the evening of 1 December 2012, with Channel 4 HD taking over its transmission capacity with effect from the next day, 2 December 2012.<ref name="C4HD">{{cite web|url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/spectrum/spectrum-policy-area/projects/dtv/Amendment_to_Determination.pdf|title=Amendment 1 to the Determination Under Article 3 of the Television Multiplex Services (Reservation of Digital Capacity) Order 2008 Dated 17 October 2008|date=2 October 2012|publisher=Ofcom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116072210/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/spectrum/spectrum-policy-area/projects/dtv/Amendment_to_Determination.pdf|archive-date=16 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It was announced on 20 May 2016 that S4C would relaunch a high definition service S4C HD on Freesat and Sky in Wales and across the UK from 7 June onwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/s4c-bring-back-hd-service-11357722|title=S4C will bring back its HD service just in time for Euro 2016|publisher=S4C|date=20 May 2016}}</ref> Following the 2016 relaunch of S4C HD, the channel returned to Freeview in HD from 7pm on Wednesday 19 January 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/s4c-hd-freeview-launch|title=S4C HD launches on Freeview|publisher=rxtvinfo|date=19 January 2022}}</ref> It will broadcast for peak viewing hours only, from 7pm on weekday evenings and from 2pm on weekends, sharing capacity with the HD version of the BBC's children's service CBBC.

In December 2014, S4C became available on the [[BBC iPlayer]] website, both live and on demand, initially as part of an 18-month trial.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/s4c-comes-to-bbc-iplayer-8237804|title=S4C comes to BBC iPlayer|author=Sion Morgan|date=5 December 2014|work=walesonline|access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref>