ITV Cymru Wales
![]() Logo used since 2014 | |
![]() | |
Type | Region oftelevision network |
---|---|
Branding | ITV1Cymru Wales |
Country | |
First air date | 1 January 2014 |
TV transmitters | Wenvoe,Carmel,Preseli,Blaenplwyf,Llanddona,Moel-y-Parc,Long Mountain,Kilvey Hill |
Headquarters | Cardiff |
Broadcast area | Wales |
Owner | ITV plc |
Picture format | 1080iHDTV,downscaled to16:9576iforSDTV |
Affiliation(s) | ITV |
Official website | www |
Language | English (andWelshproduction forS4C) |
Replaced | ITV Wales & West |
ITV Cymru Walesis theITVfranchise forWales.The new separate licence began on 1 January 2014, replacing the long-serving dual franchise regionITV Wales & Westserving Wales and the West of England, which had previously used the branding "ITV Wales" within the Wales subregion.
Licence
[edit]The licence continues to be held by ITV Broadcasting Ltd, who hold all Channel 3 licences in England and Wales.
As of January 2023, the former HTV West company is still legally named ITV Wales and West Ltd. The company is, along with most other regional companies, owned by ITV plc, though listed atCompanies Houseas a "dormant company".[1]
History
[edit]The broadcasting licence was created following the split ofITV Wales & West.[1]It is hoped that the separate licence will benefit local viewers.[2]
In May 2012, Ofcom raised the possibility of a stand-alone licence for Wales.[3]
On 25 August 2015, ITV Cymru Wales began broadcasting in HD (prior to this HD viewers in Wales received ITV Central HD), including the company's news service and non-news programming including current affairs and documentaries.[4]
Programming
[edit]ITV Cymru Wales produces around six hours a week of national news, current affairs and features programming in English. Its flagship programmeWales at Sixbroadcasts each weeknight at 6pm with shorterITV News Cymru Walesbulletins throughout the day and during the weekend.
The news service is supplemented by regular current affairs programmes includingNewsweek Waleson Sunday lunchtimes, the long-running investigative seriesWales This Weekand the political reviewSharp Endon Monday nights. Several feature series are also broadcast throughout the year, including rural affairs seriesCoast and Country,political interview strandFace to Face,sports chat showIn Touchand documentary series such asHelimedsandTime of Your Life.
ITV Cymru Wales also producesWelsh languageoutput forS4Cin the fields of current affairs, features, drama and entertainment. Two of its flagship titles figure among S4C's longest-running and most popular programmes, the rural documentary seriesCefn GwladwithDai Jonesand the investigative current affairs programmesY Byd ar BedwarandEin Byd.
ITV Cymru Wales are also known for a number of half hour documentaries, which debut in Wales before getting a slot on the main ITV network at a time which usually provides a convenient opt-out slot for viewers in Scotland watching on ITV Border or on STV. Many of the documentaries are of a format which tracks year in the life of a coastal resort or area,[5]withThe Villagedocumenting Portmeirion,[6][7][8]The Straitshowing life around the Menai Strait[9]andThe Harbourshowing a year in Tenby.[10][11][12]ITV Cymru Wales' latest coastal six-part series isThe Pier,with Llandudno Pier[13]having been filmed during the summer of 2021. The series started on ITV Cymru Wales on 4 October 2021,[14][15]with one episode from the series broadcast so far on ITV in England on 13 March 2022.[16]
In addition to these shows,The Mountain[17]andReturn to the Mountainwere filmed on Mount Snowdon, while Sean Fletcher[18]has presented a couple of walking documentaries for ITV Cymru Wales withWonders of the Bordertaking Flecher along theOffa's DykePath[19][20][21]andWonders of the Coast Path[22][23][24][25]showing him along the 870-mile long Wales Coast Path. In addition to these programmes, which have also been broadcast by ITV in England, Fletcher is currently a presenter onCoast & Country[26][27]alongside Ruth Dodsworth, with the programme transmitted in Wales since 2013.
References
[edit]- ^abITV Cymru Wales news shake-up under new Ofcom licence,Huw Thomas,BBC News,23 July 2013
- ^Ofcom agrees ITV news shake-upJake Kanter, Broadcast Now, 23 July 2013
- ^"Licensing of Channel 3 and Channel 5: A report to the Secretary of State under section 229 of the Communications Act 2003".Ofcom. 23 May 2012.Retrieved25 June2013.
- ^"ITV Cymru Wales HD launches on August 25".itv.com.11 August 2015.
- ^"The Strait – Slam Media".
- ^"The Village: Episode 1".ITV.
- ^"Tourism chiefs hope ITV series on Portmeirion will boost visits post-lockdown".24 April 2020.
- ^"New ITV Cymru Wales series the Village launches".ITV Cymru Wales. 14 April 2019.
- ^"Popular TV series 'The Strait' to be broadcast across the UK".The Bangor Aye.7 September 2018.
- ^"The Harbour: Episode 1".ITV.
- ^"Tenby Features on ITV Series 'The Harbour'".November 2017.
- ^"The Harbour".Slam Media.
- ^Lennox, Aaran (4 October 2021)."Llandudno pier stars in series showing highs and lows of summer like no other".North Wales Live.
- ^"The Pier - ITV Wales -".
- ^"The Pier - ITV Wales -".29 September 2021.
- ^"The Pier: Episode 1".ITV.
- ^"The Mountain".ITV Cymru Wales.
- ^Harrison, Jack (7 January 2022)."Offa's Dyke Path to star in new ITV series — Wonders of the Border".The Leader.
- ^"Wonders of the Border - Watch episodes".ITV Hub.
- ^"Wonders of the Border (TV Series)".Radio Times.
- ^"Wonders of the Border Episode 1".ITV Press Centre.
- ^"Wonders of the Coast Path - Watch episodes".
- ^"Wales Coast Path / Wonders of the Coast Path ITV Wales series".
- ^"Wales Coast Path / Search / Walking Wales Sean Fletcher Wales Coast Path coast ITV".
- ^"Wonders of the Coast Path (TV Series)".Radio Times.
- ^"Sean Fletcher to join Coast & Country on ITV Cymru Wales".17 September 2020.
- ^"Coast & Country".