Swansea is planning a bid to attract Channel 4 to the city when the broadcaster moves out of London. The company will be creating three new hubs, including its new national headquarters, as it moves 300 staff to the regions.

Swansea Council will collaborate with University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s as part of a bid to attract the broadcaster to the Swansea Bay City Region.

Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said:

“Channel 4 moving out of London to create new centres is a great opportunity for Swansea and Wales.

“As Wales’ capital of culture we would love the opportunity to work with Channel 4 and provide a modern and welcoming base to support them in producing more content in the regions.

“We already have the infrastructure in place with our expanding creative industries, the successful Bay Studios and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s growing reputation for excellence in digital and creative media.

“Swansea will also be a test-bed for 5G technology which will transform wi-fi coverage and make us a leading digital innovation hub and that is a massive boost for businesses looking to invest here.”

Cllr Stewart said attracting Channel 4 would further strengthen Wales as a centre for media and broadcasting.

He said:

“Wales is home to major broadcasters with the BBC and ITV based in Cardiff and S4C moving its headquarters to Canolfan S4C Yr Egin, the centre of a creative and digital cluster based at UWTSD’s Carmarthen campus.

“So attracting Channel 4 to Wales’ second city would be an ideal addition to the bases in Cardiff and Carmarthen.”

Channel 4 is expected to begin inviting cities to bid to be one of the new creative hubs in the coming months. As part of the changes it will also increase its quota of spending 35% of its budget on content produced in the UK’s nations and regions to a new voluntary target of 50% by 2023.