Two north Wales television production companies to merge

Two of the biggest television production companies in north Wales, Cwmni Da from Caernarfon and Tonfedd-Eryri from Felinheli, recently announced that they are to merge.
The news emerged as the joint company was awarded a development budget of £300,000 by S4C in a competitive tender process. This will enable to company to set up a Script Unit which will in addition to developing drama scripts, train staff in scripting techniques for a variety of programme genres. The company will also be using the money to develop programme ideas for children’s, light entertainment and factual genres over the next two years.
In a statement the company said the merger of the two companies would "establish a creative powerhouse that works across all television genres".
Tonfedd–Eryri have won numerous awards for their drama productions over the years including Celtic Film and Television Festival and BAFTA Cymru awards for Jabas, OM, Meseia and Tydi Coleg yn Grêt.
Cwmni Da won the prestigious Gwyn Alf Williams award for their documentary series on the Welsh and the American Civil War as well as BAFTA Cymru awards for their arts programmes and their satirical animation series CNEX.
The merger will bring some of S4C’s most popular series - 'Noson Lawen', 'Y Sioe Gelf', and 'Tipyn o Stad' under one roof.
On behalf of the new company Norman Williams, said: “The intention is to create a company that will produce a stream of popular and successful programmes for S4C and other broadcasters. The talents that have proved themselves on the Welsh stage over the years deserve wider exposure and the only way to express this is through a larger production company.”
Gwyn Williams said: “The pressure now on production companies is to become more cost effective and to work for more than one broadcaster. The new company will have the financial strength will enable us to attract work from beyond the borders of Wales as well as strengthening our relationship with Welsh broadcasters helping to maintain over 30 high quality jobs.
The merged company is expected to announce a new name soon but will keep the individual branding of Cwmni Da and Tonfedd-Eryri in place for the present.
(SP)