Welcome to Caban, where we share with you the latest news about S4C programmes as well as the week's hot topics.
Why 'Caban'?
In the past, quarrymen would meet in the caban to discuss the day's events. The caban was a sociable and friendly place where all sorts of news was shared. That's what we've got in mind for our Caban.
In your community
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Out and about
Over the next week or so, S4C production crews will be filming in locations across Wales, including:
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Presenter Aled Samuel from Fflic production company will be filming for a new series celebrating the Welsh house over the centuries, Cartrefi Cefn Gwlad Cymru, which will be seen on S4C later this year.
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A team from Fiction Factory is filming for new drama series Pentalar in Llandovery.
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Taking part
Many of our producers are on the look out for audience members or competitors to take part in a variety of programmes:
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3Lle (3 Places)
Where are your three favourite places? We'd love to hear from you. E-mail a short description and image of your three favourite places to 3lle@s4c.co.uk and we'll put them on the website to share with everybody. Go to www.s4c.co.uk/3lle for more information and to read the terms and conditions.
3Lle with Fflur Dafydd will be broadcast on 21 March at 20:30, with another chance to watch on 23 March at 21:50. You can also watch online at www.s4c.co.uk/clic.
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Cyfnewid
A new series called Cyfnewid will be inviting people of all ages to exchange their unwanted goods for something they really want – and all for free!
Presenters Rhodri Williams and Mari Løvgreen will be filming at Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Friday 26 March from 14:00 onwards, and at Aberaeron Memorial Hall on Sunday 28 March, from 10:30 onwards.
Visit the website www.s4c.co.uk/cyfnewid or contact 02920 590117 or anona.evans@boomerang.co.uk for more details.
The series will begin on 24 March at 20:25.
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10 Jonathan
Rugby legend Jonathan Davies is inviting super fit participants to take part in a brand new Welsh-language S4C series, 10 Jonathan.
The closing date for entries is 12.00 on 22 March. For full rules and conditions and an application form, visit the website www.s4c.co.uk/10jonathan or contact Avanti on 01443 688536.
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Uned5
Uned5, the magazine programme for young people, broadcasts live from their studio in Caernarfon between 12:30 and 14:30 every Sunday afternoon. To be a member of the audience or to take part in the show contact Antena on 01286 662200 or uned5@uned5.co.uk.
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Wedi 7
Have you got an interesting story? Contact Tinopolis, producers of our Wedi 7 and Wedi 3 magazine programmes, on 01554 880880 or wedi7@tinopolis.com or wedi3@tinopolis.com
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Hot topics
In the papers, on the radio and television:
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Viewing Figures
Following recent news stories about S4C's viewing figures, S4C Chair John Walter Jones has made the following statement.
"The contribution S4C makes to the Welsh language, Welsh culture and the Welsh economy has to be considered on a much broader basis than individual statistical information which can be misleading and misconstrued. The majority of programmes referred to are pre-school children's programmes. BARB, the body that measures viewing figures cannot take account of children under the age of four – the target audience for these programmes. So the viewing of these programmes cannot be measured accurately. This is illustrated by the fact that a number of programmes on English language children's channels in Wales early in the morning and at other times also get zero ratings. There is huge support for our pre-school children's service – Cyw – all over Wales. We know this based on research through focus groups but also through what we hear from parents, teachers and children. Finally, it's important to emphasise that more people are tuning in to Welsh language programmes on S4C this year than during the same period of 2009. This is a very positive trend particularly at a time of digital switchover."
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Cân i Gymru
There have been debates in Welsh newspaper Y Cymro and on Radio Cymru's Taro'r Post programme regarding the Cân i Gymru winner's participation in the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland. Every year the Song for Wales winner is invited to compete in the Festival which is held annually in different locations in Ireland. This year's Cân i Gymru winner and the Festival's organisers in Wales have agreed that S4C's contribution of £300 towards the travelling costs is insufficient. But a previous winner of the prize, Arfon Wyn, told Golwg 360: "I just assumed that everyone used [a percentage of] the ten thousand pounds (the Cân i Gymru prize) to pay for the trip to Ireland. That's what we used to do."
Your comments
These are some of the topics that you have raised with S4C's information service, the Viewers' Hotline, and our online service:
Ble mae Cyw?
Fans of Cyw have been contacting the Hotline asking how they can watch the film for pre-school children Ble Mae Cyw? The film was first shown on Christmas Day, and you can enjoy it again on Easter Monday, 5 April, at 13:00.
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Facebook
Members of the Jonathan page on Facebook were invited to guess the score for Wales's clash against Ireland on Saturday, 13 March. The member who came closest was Wyn Morgan with a guess of Ireland 28 – 12 Wales. The final score was Ireland 27 – 12 Wales. Well done Wyn! Join the Jonathan group on Facebook and post your guess for Wales's final match of the Six Nations Campaign against Italy on Saturday 20 March. Good luck!
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Digital Switchover
The last transmitter in Wales to be switched to digital will be Wenvoe which serves Cardiff and south-east Wales. On Thursday 1 April viewers in this area must re-tune their television sets or they will lose channels including S4C.
On this date, S4C's analogue channel will cease to exist. You'll still be able to watch programmes such as Countdown, Desperate Housewives and Hollyoaks, directly on Channel 4. From 31 March onwards, S4C will be a wholly Welsh-language channel.
If you need help to re-tune your television, contact S4C's Viewers' Hotline on 0870 600 4141.
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Sgrîn magazine
You can still subscribe to receive S4C's Sgrîn magazine, which from now on will be published three times a year in April, September and December. Visit the website, s4c.co.uk/sgrin to subscribe. On the website you can also read the current edition of the magazine and download the audio version.
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If you'd like to make a comment about an S4C programme or issue then please contact the S4C Viewers' Hotline on 0870 6004141 (calls should cost no more than 6p per minute from a BT line) or email gwifren@s4c.co.uk.