Timeline of TSW

This is a timeline of the history of the British broadcasterTelevision South West(TSW) and its predecessorWestward Television.Between them, they provided theITVservice for the South West of England from 1961 to 1992.

Westward

• 1961
  • 29 April –Westward Televisionstarts broadcasting. Westward had fought off 11 competing bids to win the licence to broadcast to south west England.

• 1962
  • No events.

• 1963
  • No events.

• 1964
  • Westward is given a three-year extension to its licence. This is later extended by a further year.

• 1965
  • No events.

• 1966
  • No events.

• 1967
  • TheIndependent Television Authorityrenews Westward's licence for a further seven years.

• 1968
  • 22 April – TheHuntshaw Cross transmitting stationopens, providing better reception across northDevon.
  • August – A technicians strike forces ITV off the air for several weeks although management manage to launch a temporaryITV Emergency National Servicewith no regional variations.
  • September – The final edition of Westward's listings magazineLook Westwardis published. Listings are subsequently carried in a Westward edition ofTVTimeswhich now becomes a national publication.

• 1969
  • 17 January – Westward merges with theKeith Prowsecompany, due to Westward's chairmanPeter Cadburyalso being chairman of Keith Prowse.
  • Later in 1969 –EMIpurchases Keith Prowse Music Publishing from Westward.

• 1970
  • January – Peter Cadbury is sacked, and rehired within days as the chairman of the Westward board, after he made outspoken remarks against the levy imposed on advertising revenue imposed by theIBA.

• 1971
  • 22 May —Westward Televisionstarts broadcasting in colour from theRedruthtransmitter.
  • 13 September – Westward begins broadcasting in colour from theStockland HillandCaradon Hilltransmitters, and to mark the change, Westward's ident is reshot in colour.

• 1972
  • 16 October – Following a law change which removed all restrictions on broadcasting hours, ITV is able to launch an afternoon service.

• 1973
  • 5 November – Colour transmissions begin from theHuntshaw Cross transmitter.

• 1974
  • The 1974 franchise round sees no changes in ITV's contractors as it is felt that the huge cost in switching to colour television would have made the companies unable to compete against rivals in a franchise battle.

• 1975
  • No events.

• 1976
  • No events.

• 1977
  • No events.

• 1978
  • No events.

• 1979
  • 10 August – The ten weekITV strikeforces Westward Television off the air. The strike ends on 24 October although Westward staff returned to work a few days before the rest of the country.

• 1980
  • 28 December – TheIndependent Broadcasting Authorityannounces that Westward has lost its franchise toTSW.

• 1981
  • Early in 1981 – Rather than waiting until after its franchise ends, Westward's management decide to sell up quickly to TSW which purchases Westward Television for £2.38 million.
  • 12 August – TSW goes on air in all but name, continuing to use the Westward name until the end of the year.
  • 31 December – At just before midnight, Westward Television says goodbye rather than at the end of the day's programmes as the other companies that lost their franchises did.

TSW

• 1982
  • 1 January –TSWlaunches at midnight and closes down for the night 40 minutes later with TSW branding.

• 1983
  • TSW concludes a two-year £4 million investment programme in its studios which sees the introduction of new production equipment and the building of an additional studio.

• 1984
  • No events.

• 1985
  • 3 January – The last day of transmission using the405-linessystem.
  • May – TSW unveils a computerised version of its ident.

• 1986
  • Channel Televisionswitches its feed of the ITV network from TSW toTVS.

• 1987
  • 7 September – Following the transfer ofITV Schoolsto Channel 4, ITV provides a full morning programme schedule, with advertising, for the first time. The new service includes regular five-minute national and regional news bulletins.
  • TSW changes the name of its regional news programme fromToday South WesttoToday.

• 1988
  • 2 September – TSW begins 24-hour broadcasting.

• 1989
  • TSW renames its news programme fromTodaytoTSW Today.
  • Autumn – TSW chooses to refresh its on-screen presentation rather than use the 1989 ITV corporate look.
• 1990
  • TSW becomes one of the first ITV companies to start broadcasting inNICAM digital stereo.

• 1991
  • 16 October – TheITCannounces that TSW has lost its licence. It loses out toWestcountry Television.Westcountry had tabled a lower bid but the ITC awarded the licence to Westcountry because it felt that TSW's bid of £16.1 million was too high.Westcountry was the second highest of the other two applicants and was awarded the licence with a bid of £7.82 million.

• 1992
  • February – TSW's appeal to have the ITC's decision to relieve TSW of its licence fails when it is rejected by theHouse of Lords.
  • 31 December – At just before midnight, TSW stops broadcasting as after the chimes of Big Ben, the new licensee,Westcountrytakes over as franchise holder for south west England.

• After 1992
  • TSW undertakes areverse takeoverwith the White Ward Group, makers of safety footwear and associated articles. The name of the company was changed to UK Safety Ltd, and traded for a number of years, before enteringadministrative receivership.
  • The directors of TSW create theTSW Film and Television Archive,one of the first and largest of what has now become a network of regional film archives. It was later renamed theSouth West Film and Television Archive(SWFTA)and it holds the entire surviving back catalogue of both Westward and TSW programmes

See also

• History of ITV
• History of ITV television idents
• Timeline of ITV
• Timeline of Westcountry Television– TSW's successor