Anna Brees

Founder & CEO SMTV | Ex-BBC & ITV journalist | Media Content Lead for @gwlad_gwlad until May 7th 2026

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

Penarth SMTV has reached 1 million views in the last 28 days, with followers now at 7,500 - up 12% this month.

Barry SMTV has hit 450,000 views in the same period, with 3,100+ followers - up 41% this month.

On TikTok, SMTV just in this area added 407,000 views and reached almost 400,000 unique people in four weeks.

This is all organic growth. We haven’t even launched Instagram yet.

The numbers show that community-driven storytelling works. When you give local people, schools, clubs and unsung heroes their own platform, audiences respond.

Penarth and Barry are just the start. With the right investment, SMTV can scale into a national network of hyperlocal channels rooted in trust, hope and community.

I want to speak with investors, VCs and angels who share this vision and see the potential of building a new kind of media brand from the ground up

This got half a million views across channels locally 👇

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@AndyCol75885558 He comes across as a decent chap if you abuse politicians online you’ll scare people from going into politics https://t.co/nmGTaIt8Ps

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@AndyCol75885558 I’ve met him. We need to be very careful about abusing politicians. How will we attract the best people to the job when we do this? I’ve done a long form interview with him over on Penarth and Barry SMTV on FB.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

Richard you can’t win in Wales. We have politicians like this living here. And if Reform do win. They won’t last - don’t waste your time. It’s about using TikTok and FB to build trust with local communities. If you live in Wales or are from Wales then you have a chance to build something new. I just can’t see reform doing this in the long term

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@RhunapIorwerth @Plaid_Cymru This is going viral on the TikTok FB account of @gwlad

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

Richard you can’t win in Wales. We have politicians like this living here. And if Reform do win. They won’t last - don’t waste your time. It’s about using TikTok and FB to build trust with local communities. If you live in Wales or are from Wales then you have a chance to build something new. I just can’t see reform doing this in the long term

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

After Covid it’s clear that my followers love the underdog and an anti establishment party like @reformparty_uk and @TiceRichard but I stand for community. And for the people and democracy just be careful in the run up to the #senedd26 elections. Vote for those who are courageous and who care…

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@DanWalesReform Share that then? We want to see the positive feedback… @Gwlad_Gwlad are getting it.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

The party that Cares ❤️ and the party that Sings 🎵 .

Politics can be so nasty and draining on social media.

We can do something different - I am helping @Gwlad_Gwlad in a paid comms role until May 7th.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@reformparty_uk https://t.co/xbzF9MoV3C

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

How does a small party like Gwlad break through on Wales’ major news outlets like @WalesOnline @NationCymru @BBCWales @ITVWales etc

Some are funded by the government in power?

Thanks to Cheryl Dobbinson from the Welsh Politics Group on FB (4.6k members) for prompting this discussion.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@reformparty_uk https://t.co/xbzF9MoV3C

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

How does a small party like Gwlad break through on Wales’ major news outlets like @WalesOnline @NationCymru @BBCWales @ITVWales etc

Some are funded by the government in power?

Thanks to Cheryl Dobbinson from the Welsh Politics Group on FB (4.6k members) for prompting this discussion.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@reformparty_uk https://t.co/xbzF9MpsTa

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

How does a small party like Gwlad break through on Wales’ major news outlets like @WalesOnline @NationCymru @BBCWales @ITVWales etc

Some are funded by the government in power?

Thanks to Cheryl Dobbinson from the Welsh Politics Group on FB (4.6k members) for prompting this discussion.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@BBCWalesNews @reformparty_uk https://t.co/xbzF9MoV3C

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

How does a small party like Gwlad break through on Wales’ major news outlets like @WalesOnline @NationCymru @BBCWales @ITVWales etc

Some are funded by the government in power?

Thanks to Cheryl Dobbinson from the Welsh Politics Group on FB (4.6k members) for prompting this discussion.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@Sioned_W @Plaid_Cymru https://t.co/xbzF9MoV3C

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

How does a small party like Gwlad break through on Wales’ major news outlets like @WalesOnline @NationCymru @BBCWales @ITVWales etc

Some are funded by the government in power?

Thanks to Cheryl Dobbinson from the Welsh Politics Group on FB (4.6k members) for prompting this discussion.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@Plaid_Cymru @LSRPlaid https://t.co/xbzF9MoV3C

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

How does a small party like Gwlad break through on Wales’ major news outlets like @WalesOnline @NationCymru @BBCWales @ITVWales etc

Some are funded by the government in power?

Thanks to Cheryl Dobbinson from the Welsh Politics Group on FB (4.6k members) for prompting this discussion.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@Plaid_Cymru https://t.co/xbzF9MoV3C

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

How does a small party like Gwlad break through on Wales’ major news outlets like @WalesOnline @NationCymru @BBCWales @ITVWales etc

Some are funded by the government in power?

Thanks to Cheryl Dobbinson from the Welsh Politics Group on FB (4.6k members) for prompting this discussion.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@neilrobertscdf @Plaid_Cymru @annagrangetown @PlaidCDFPenarth https://t.co/xbzF9MoV3C

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

How does a small party like Gwlad break through on Wales’ major news outlets like @WalesOnline @NationCymru @BBCWales @ITVWales etc

Some are funded by the government in power?

Thanks to Cheryl Dobbinson from the Welsh Politics Group on FB (4.6k members) for prompting this discussion.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@LSRPlaid @Plaid_Cymru https://t.co/xbzF9MoV3C

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

How does a small party like Gwlad break through on Wales’ major news outlets like @WalesOnline @NationCymru @BBCWales @ITVWales etc

Some are funded by the government in power?

Thanks to Cheryl Dobbinson from the Welsh Politics Group on FB (4.6k members) for prompting this discussion.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@Plaid_Cymru https://t.co/xbzF9MoV3C

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

How does a small party like Gwlad break through on Wales’ major news outlets like @WalesOnline @NationCymru @BBCWales @ITVWales etc

Some are funded by the government in power?

Thanks to Cheryl Dobbinson from the Welsh Politics Group on FB (4.6k members) for prompting this discussion.

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

@NationCymru @Plaid_Cymru https://t.co/xbzF9MoV3C

[Anna Brees @BreesAnna]

How does a small party like Gwlad break through on Wales’ major news outlets like @WalesOnline @NationCymru @BBCWales @ITVWales etc

Some are funded by the government in power?

Thanks to Cheryl Dobbinson from the Welsh Politics Group on FB (4.6k members) for prompting this discussion.