Geraint Stanley Jones (c. 1936 – 26 August 2015) was a Welsh television executive. From 1981 to 1989, Jones was the Controller of

BBC Wales BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcasting, public broadcaster in Wales. It is one of the four BBC national regions, alongside the BBC English Regions, BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Scotland. Established in 1964, ...

, from which he oversaw the launch of

S4C S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speakin ...

, the Welsh-language public-service television channel, in 1982. Jones also served as the chief executive of S4C from 1989 to 1994. In 1960, Jones began his career in television broadcasting as a studio manager for BBC Wales. He was elevated to a television producer, before being appointed as head of programmes for BBC Wales in 1974. Jones managed the production of several notable television series during his tenure as BBC Wales' head of programmes, including '' Ryan and Ronnie'', ''

The Life and Times of David Lloyd George ''The Life and Times of David Lloyd George'' is a BBC Wales drama serial first broadcast in 1981 on BBC Two. It stars Philip Madoc as David Lloyd George, the final Liberal prime minister of the UK. The cast also includes Lisabeth Miles, Kik ...

'' (1981), and ''Grand Slam''. He supported ''

Pobol y Cwm ''Pobol y Cwm'' (''People of the Valley''; ) is a Welsh-language soap opera produced by the BBC since October 1974. The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, ''Pobol y Cwm'' was originally transmitted on BBC Cymru (now B ...

'', the long-running Welsh language soap opera, which began airing in BBC Wales in October 1974 (and was transferred to S4C in 1982 upon that channel's creation). He also oversaw the launch of

BBC Radio Cymru BBC Radio Cymru is a Welsh language radio station owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It broadcasts across Wales on FM, DAB, digital TV and BBC Sounds. The station broadcasts general factual and entertainment pro ...

in 1977 and

BBC Radio Wales BBC Radio Wales is a Wales, Welsh national radio station owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It began broadcasting on 13 November 1978, replacing the Welsh opt-out service of BBC Radio 4. As of August 2022, the stat ...

in 1978. In 1981, the Controller, or head, of BBC Wales, Owen Edwards, left his position at the BBC to shepherd the launch of

, a new

Welsh language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic languages, Celtic language of the Brittonic languages, Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales by about 18% of the population, by some in England, and in (the Welsh c ...

public-service television channel. Geraint Stanley Jones succeeded Edwards as the new Controller of BBC Wales in 1981. Jones helped to establish S4C, which commenced broadcasting on 1 November 1982, marking a significant expansion in Welsh language television programming. Jones oversaw the creation of

BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition (known as Cardiff Singer of the World from 1983 to 2001 and BBC Singer of the World in Cardiff in 2003) is a competition for Classical music, classical singers held every two years. The competition wa ...

, which debuted in 1983, during his tenure as BBC Wales' controller. Jones later served as the chief executive of S4C from 1989 to 1994. He was named a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(CBE) for his service to broadcasting, particularly in Welsh language television and radio, in 1993. He retired from S4C in 1994. Additionally, Jones, a member of the

Arts Council of Wales The Arts Council of Wales (ACW; ) is a Welsh Government-sponsored body, responsible for funding and developing the arts in Wales. Established within the Arts Council of Great Britain in 1946, as the Welsh Arts Council (), its English name w ...

, served as the vice president of the

Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama () is a conservatoire located in Cardiff, Wales. It has three theatres: the Richard Burton Theatre, the Bute Theatre, and the Caird Studio. It also includes one concert hall, the Dora Stoutzker Hall, and ...

. He was also a member of the boards of directors for several organizations, including the

Wales Millennium Centre Wales Millennium Centre () is Wales' national arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on ...

, an

arts centre An art centre or arts center is distinct from an art gallery or art museum. An arts centre is a functional community centre with a specific remit to encourage arts practice and to provide facilities such as theatre space, gallery space, venues fo ...

Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

, and the

Welsh National Opera Welsh National Opera (WNO) () is an opera company based in Cardiff, Wales. WNO gave its first performances in 1946. The company began as a mainly amateur body and transformed into an all-professional ensemble by 1973. In its early days, the ...

. Geraint Stanley Jones died on 26 August 2015 at the age of 79.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Geraint Stanley 2015 deaths BBC executives BBC television producers Welsh television executives British television executives BBC Cymru Wales S4C Commanders of the Order of the British Empire People associated with the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Year of birth uncertain