Timeline of television in Wales

This is a timeline of the history of television inWales.It does not include events that affect the whole UK.

1950s

• 1952
  • 15 August – Television becomes available inWalesfor the first time following the switching on of theWenvoe transmitting station.

• 1956
  • 14 October – TheBlaenplwyf transmitting stationenters service, providing television signals to theCardigan Bayarea.
  • 26 October –Television Wales and the Westis awarded the ITV franchise forSouth Walesand the West of England.

• 1957
  • The BBC launches a daily five minute news bulletin for Wales.

• 1958
  • 14 January – At 4.45pm,TWWstarts broadcasting.
  • TheLlanddona transmitting stationis switched on, bringing television to the isle ofAngleseyand other parts of the north Wales coast.

• 1959
  • No events.

1960s

• 1960
  • No events.

• 1961
  • Following pressure from Welsh-speaking businessmen, theITAoffers and then awards a licence covering a new North and West Wales region, awarding the contract toWales West and North Television.
  • BBC Wales launches a Welsh language news bulletin calledHeddiw.

• 1962
  • 14 September –Wales (West and North) Televisionlaunches asTeledu Cymru.The company uses its own transmitter atArfonrather than the BBC's mast at Llandonna.
  • 17 September –BBC WaleslaunchesWales Today.The programme is seen by viewers in both Wales and the west of England.

• 1963
  • 28 January – TheMoel-y-Parc transmitting stationis switched on, bringing ITV programmes to north east Wales. The BBC begins broadcasting from that transmitter in 1965.
  • Delays in switching on theArfonandMoel-y-Parctransmitters destroys the finances of WWN. Free programming from the ITV network, plus other support from its neighbours ABC,ATVandTWWjust about kept the ship afloat, but Granada decided to dispense with its productions in the Welsh language, and the loss of this programming stream proved fatal to WWN.

• 1964
  • 26 January –Wales (West and North) Televisionstops broadcasting after going bankrupt. TWW offers a generous package to WWN's shareholders, in order to gain control of the territory, and kept theTeledu Cymruname on the air as a service separate from its existing service to South Wales and the West.
  • 9 February – Following the creation of separate regionsfor Wales and the west of England,BBC Cymru Walesis officially launched and output includes an extended news bulletin calledWales Today– a 25-minute programme broadcast only to Wales. 1964 also sees the launch of current affairs seriesWeek In Week Out.

• 1965
  • For the first time, TWW is able to provide separate programming for he whole of Wales and the West of England, due to the addition of a second VHF transmitter to theSt Hilarymast to extend the Teledu Cymru network intoSouth East Wales.Viewers in South Wales are able to receive both services.
  • 12 September –BBC Two Walesbegins broadcasting.

• 1966
  • BBC Walesmoves to new studios atBroadcasting House, Cardiff.

• 1967
  • TWW loses its licence to theHarlech Consortium.TWW unsuccessfully fought the ITA's decision, both formally and through the press.However, the ITA remained resolute that it is legally entitled to remove any contract at any time for any reason.
  • TheKilvey Hill transmitting stationenters service. It improves reception for people living inSwansea,NeathandPort Talbot.

• 1968
  • 4 March –TWWstops broadcasting five months before its contract was due to expire, selling the final months of airtime to Harlech. However the new contractor is not yet ready to go on air, so the ITA provides an interim service calledIndependent Television Service for Wales and the West.
  • 20 May –Harlech Televisiontakes over the Wales and West of England franchise just over two months ahead of the planned hand-over date. It launches two news magazines –Y Dyddin the Welsh language andReport Walesin English.
  • August – A technicians strike forces ITV off the air for several weeks, although management launch a temporaryITV Emergency National Servicewith no regional variations.

• 1969
  • No events.

1970s

• 1970
  • BBC Cymru Walesand HTV start broadcasting in colour.
  • 6 April – To coincide with its colour launch,Harlech Televisionbecomes known on air as HTV.The service for Wales becomes known as HTV Cymru Wales. (HTV's "general" 405-line VHF service for South Wales and the West of England continues as a separate service.)

• 1971–1973
  • No events.

• 1974
  • 26 September –BBC Cymru Waleslaunches theWelsh languagesoap operaPobol y Cwm.

• 1975
  • No events.

• 1976
  • No events.

• 1977
  • 3 February – TheAnnan Committee on the future of broadcastingrecommends the establishment of afourth independent television channel.

• 1978
  • No events.

• 1979
  • Both theConservativeandLabourparties promise that thefourth television channelin Wales will be a Welsh-language fourth channel, if elected to government in the1979 general election.However the new Conservative government decides against a Welsh fourth channel, and suggests that, except for an occasional opt-out, the service should be the same as that offered in the rest of the UK. This leads to acts of civil disobedience, including refusals to pay thetelevision licencefee and sit-ins in BBC and HTV studios and some attacks on TV transmitters in Welsh-speaking areas.
  • 10 August – The ten weekITV strikeforces HTV off the air. The strike ends on 24 October.

1980s

• 1980
  • 17 September – The government reverses its position on a separate Welsh language service for Wales following opposition from the public and Welsh politicians, including a threat from the former president ofPlaid Cymru,Gwynfor Evans,to go on hunger strikeand the idea is given the green light. This leads to the establishment of theWelsh Fourth Channel Authority.
  • 13 November – TheBroadcasting Act 1980paves the way for afourth television channelin the UK.

• 1981
  • No events.

• 1982
  • 23 September – HTV launches a weekly current affairs programmeWales This Week.To this day, the programme continues to be broadcast.
  • October –Heddiwis broadcast for the final time.
  • 31 October – Programmes in Welsh are broadcast onBBC Walesand HTV Cymru Wales for the final time. The two broadcasters will continue to make Welsh-language programmes for broadcast on S4C.
  • 1 November –Sianel 4 Cymru(S4C) launches as Wales' fourth channel. Programmes include a weeknight BBC-produced news programme calledNewyddion.Soap operaPobol y Cwmtransfers from BBC Wales to the new channel.
  • 2 November – Channel 4 launches across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Wales, some Channel 4 output is broadcast at off-peak times on S4C.
  • November – HTV launches a Welsh-languagecurrent affairsseries on S4C calledY Byd ar Bedwar(The World on Four).

• 1983
  • 17 January –Breakfast Time,Britain's first breakfast show, launches on BBC1. The new service includes four opt-outs which allow BBC Wales to broadcast its own news bulletin.
  • 1 February – ITV’s breakfast television serviceTV-amlaunches. It is a UK-wide service and therefore contains no Wales-specific content.
  • BBC Waleslaunches theBBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.

• 1984
  • 3 September –Wales Todaymoves to the earlier time of 5.35 pm – one hour earlier than most of its counterpart BBC news programmes elsewhere in the UK.

• 1985
  • 3 January – The last day of transmission using the405-linessystem, ending HTV's "general" service to South Wales and the West of England.

• 1986
  • No events.

• 1987
  • No events.

• 1988
  • 22 August – HTV begins 24-hour broadcasting.
  • 5 September – BBC's main evening news programmeWales Todaymoves to the 6.30 pm timeslot.

• 1989
  • No events.

1990s

• 1990
  • April – Stereo broadcasts begin in Wales following the switching on ofNICAM digital stereofrom theWenvoe transmitting station.

• 1991
  • 16 October –HTVretains its licence to broadcast when it bids the highest amount for the right to broadcast to Wales from a total of four applicants.

• 1992
  • 14 September – S4C'sNewyddionnews programme moves to the 6pm programme slot.

• 1993
  • No events.

• 1994
  • 28 February –Wales at Sixis replaced byWales Tonight.

• 1995
  • 10 September –BBC Walesrelaunches its rugby union coverage under the name ofScrum V.It replacesRugby Special Wales.
  • 11 September –S4Claunches its second Welsh-language soap,Rownd a Rownd.

• 1996
  • No events.

• 1997
  • BBC Waleslaunches aWelsh-languagerugby unionprogrammeClwb RygbionS4C.

• 1998
  • 23 September – The BBC launches a digital-only channel,BBC Choice,and this features a weeknight output for Wales.
  • 1 November –S4C Digidollaunches.
  • 15 November – The public launch of digital terrestrial TV in the UK takes place.

• 1999
  • 8 March –Wales Tonightis renamedHTV Wales News.
  • 15 September –S4C2launches.It broadcasts coverage of theNational Assembly for Walesand extended coverage of events being shown on S4C.
  • BBC Cymru Waleslaunches short weekday lunchtime, mid afternoon and early evening bulletins onS4C.

2000s

• 2000
  • 6 June –S4Claunches theChwaraeon/Sport 2000promotional branding with theancient historytheme, featuring Welsh sport personalities and presenters to recreating classic works ofGreekandRoman artmasterpieces, bearing under the "you can see more" tagline. The idents later win three silver awards in the "Best In-House Promo" at the worldPromax Awardsceremony.

• 2001
  • 30 March –BBC Choice Walesends.
  • 5 November –BBC 2Wis launched. It provides weeknight programmes in English for Wales for digital viewers.

• 2002
  • 28 October – HTV's service in Wales is renamed ITV1 Wales.

• 2003
  • No events.

• 2004
  • 2 February –HTV Newsis renamedITV Wales News.

• 2005
  • TheFerryside television relay stationinCarmarthenshireis chosen as the site of the UK's experimentalswitchovertrial, and as such becomes the first UK TV transmitter to be converted todigitaltransmission.
  • 14 November —ITV Wales Newsis renamed back toWales Tonight.

• 2006
  • 29 December – HTV Ltd is renamed ITV Wales & West Ltd.

• 2007
  • No events.

• 2008
  • May –Wales on Saturdayis broadcast onBBC One Walesfor the final time. Originally the name of BBC Wales' Saturday afternoon news and sport programme, since 2001 it had served as a Welsh sports results programme, broadcast in place ofFinal Score.
  • 23 June – S4C launches a daily morning children’s programming block calledCyw.

• 2009
  • 2 January –BBC 2Wcloses as part of plans to achieve 3% savings atBBC Cymru Wales.Consequently, the digital version becomes asimulcast of BBC Twoon analogue with fewer Wales opt-outs.
  • 9 September –
    • Digital switchover begins in Wales when theKilvey Hilltransmitter is the first of eight main transmitters to complete digital switchover.
    • S4C's teletext serviceSbectelcloses down.
  • Three weekday afternoon five-minute news bulletins are launched on S4C.

2010s

• 2010
  • January – Coverage of proceedings from theSeneddare moved fromS4C2to the new BBCDemocracy Livewebsite.
  • 31 March –
    • Digital switchoveris completed in Wales when the analogue transmissions atWenvoeare switched off. Consequently, Channel 4 becomes available in all homes in Wales for the first time.
    • S4C begins broadcasting solely in Welsh.
  • 19 July –S4Cbegins broadcasting in high definition when it launches a channel called 'Clirlun'.
  • 16 September – S4C2 is removed fromSkychannel 507.
  • 20 October – TheChancellor of the Exchequer,George Osborne,announces that part of the responsibility for funding S4C is to be transferred to theBBC.
  • October – S4C2 is removed fromVirgin Mediachannel 168.
  • 30 November – S4C2 is removed fromFreeviewchannel 86.
  • 6 December – S4C2 ceases broadcasting when it is removed from theFreesatplatform.

• 2011
  • 14 January – TheS4C Authorityconfirms it has closedS4C2due to budget cuts imposed on it by theDepartment of Culture, Media and Sport.

• 2012
  • 1 December – S4C Clirlun closes and the following day Channel 4 HD taking over its transmission capacity.

• 2013
  • 14 January – As part of a rebranding of ITV Wales, a new logo is introduced and the Wales news magazine is renamedITV News Cymru Walesin 2013.
  • 29 January –BBC One Walesbegins broadcasting in high definition.
  • 1 April – Responsibility for the funding ofS4Cbegins to transfer to the BBC.
  • September – ITV Wales announces the launch of a new weekly current affairs programme,Newsweek Wales.

• 2014
  • 1 January – ITV in Wales is now officially known asITV Cymru Wales,and gains its own franchise instead of being part of the "Wales and West" franchise.
  • 30 June – ITV Cymru Wales moves into a new facility on the ground floor of 3 Assembly Square, located next to the Welsh Assembly inCardiff Bayand to mark the change, theWales at Sixname is reintroduced after 20 years.
  • 15 October –Made in Cardiffbegins broadcasting as Cardiff's local television channel.

• 2015
  • 25 August – ITV Cymru Wales begins broadcasting in HD.

• 2016
  • 7 June – S4C resumes high definition broadcasting.
  • 12 July –That's Swansea Baybegins broadcasting.
  • 7 September – It is agreed that the BBC will provide £74.5m a year funding to S4C from thelicence feeuntil 2022.

• 2017
  • 19 April – Cardiff TV's flagship news bulletinCardiff Newsis broadcast for the final time. The programme is replaced by a mixed bulletin of local and national news produced at Made TV's headquarters in Leeds.
  • 26 April – Local television comes to north east Wales whenMade in North Walesbegins broadcasting.

• 2018
  • February –Cardiff Liveis launched as Made in Cardiff's sole local programme. The bulletin however is not live but it is produced locally. At around the same time, Made in Cardiff and Made in North Wales are relaunched as Cardiff TV and North Wales TV respectively.
  • 29 March – The UK Government announces that it will continue providing £6.72m of funding for S4C until 2020, with the aim of S4C being funded wholly from the licence fee from 2022.This will see S4C's funding being decided as part of the licence fee settlement, for 10 year periods.
  • 29 November –BBC Two Walesbegins broadcasting in high definition.

• 2019
  • No events.

2020s

• 2020
  • BBC One WalesandBBC Two Walesbegin broadcasting from new studios in Cardiff'sCentral Square.
  • 28 September – The final edition ofBBC Cymru Wales's flagship news programme,Wales Today,is broadcast from itsLlandaffstudios shortly after 9am, and the first edition is aired from Central Square at lunchtime.

See also

• Timeline of ITV in Wales
• Timeline of S4C