The Sixth Channel Authority



The Sixth Channel Authority (Yr Awdurdod Sianel Chweched; 6CA) was the governing body of three elected members who oversaw the running of the network by The Network Six Administration (Network Control).

The Body was established on the 30th of December 2006, and was abolished in November 2008. A new position of Director of Digital was appointed following the 2009 franchise round, who works with the current Director of Television and Network controller. The new team will absorb all the former duties of the 6CA, including overseeing franchising, submissions and digital operations.

Purpose
The Authority was loosely based on The BBC Trust and The Welsh Fourth Channel Authority (S4C Authority) and had the power to make amendments to any ruling from Network Control (ultimately there is a veto facility for NC) and raise any major issues with NC. The full powers of the Authority are still being negotiated.

The idea pushed by Taff Media was accepted by 80% of the Network Members including the current Network Controller Orry Verducci.

Temporary Council
As of the 30th December 2006 the three members of the Temporary Authority are:


 * Unnamed : Taff Media
 * Daryl A : dMGw
 * Andy Barrett : V-Group

The term will run until the end of the Q1 2007 Franchise Round

The First Council
The first, and last, council was elected during May 2007, and was announced on 17th May. The original members up for voting were Unnamed (Taff Media), Daniel Martin (Coastpark), Andre Barrett (V Group), Unnamed of DTV, Unnamed of dMGw, Lee Glover (Armada), Chase Erwin (TotalAccess) and Nate Just (jMedia).

After voting, the members were announced.
 * Unnamed (Taff Media)
 * Unnamed of dMGw
 * Chase Erwin (TotalAccess)

Erwin was the only new member to join the council, and the others were previous members of the temprorary council.

Replacement
The Authority was criticised for its duplication of duties which were already undertaken by the Network Controller and the Director of Television, creating two administrative bodies of five members between them. In addition, there were a number of disputes between members and the Authority.

It was announced in October 2008 that the body would be abolished in November 2008, and all 6CA functions would be overseen temporarily by the Network Controller and Director of Television. This team was joined by the newly-appointed Director of Digital in January 2009. A looser forum-type organisation of all of the domestic franchise holders, AN6 was created by the then-incumbent Director of Television in May 2009 to deal with scheduling, but has no authorative power.