Wales West and North Television
| Company type | Independent Television franchise holder |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | June 6, 1961 |
| Defunct | January 26, 1964 |
| Fate | Acquired by TWW |
| Headquarters | Cardiff , Wales, United Kingdom |
Area served | North and West Wales |
| Products | Television broadcasting |
Wales (West and North) Television, identified on-air as Teledu Cymru (Welsh for "Wales Television") and abbreviated as WWN, was the Independent Television franchise holder for North and West Wales. Granted the license on 6 June 1961, it commenced transmissions on 14 September 1962 but ceased broadcasting on 26 January 1964 due to financial instability. Subsequently, its franchise territory was integrated with the South Wales and West of England region managed by TWW. TWW continued to use the Teledu Cymru name in the former WWN area, a practice upheld by its successor Harlech during an interim franchise period, only discontinuing the name once the formal takeover was completed.
History
The topography of Wales presented significant obstacles for the Independent Television Authority (ITA). While TWW had served South Wales since 1958, and Granada along with ABC had provided coverage to north-east and much of the northern coastline since 1956, much of interior north Wales lacked any ITV transmission.
Following appeals from Welsh-speaking entrepreneurs, the ITA sought permission from the Postmaster General to establish a dedicated North and West Wales region. Approval was granted under stringent conditions: the service was prohibited from offering exclusive programming unavailable elsewhere in Wales, and it was required to independently produce ten hours weekly of Welsh-language programming without dependence on Granada, ABC, or TWW.
In 1961, the franchise was awarded to Wales Television Limited, which was subsequently renamed Wales (West and North) Television Limited after objections from TWW. The ITA facilitated broadcasts using three VHF transmitters located at Preseli, Arfon, and Moel-y-Parc. The Preseli transmitter started transmissions on 14 September 1962, marking WWN as the seventeenth and final ITA franchise to launch. However, delays in bringing Arfon and Moel-y-Parc transmitters online until 1963 severely affected WWN’s financial position and staff morale.
Although ITV network programming combined with support from ABC, ATV, and TWW provided temporary relief, Granada’s withdrawal from producing Welsh-language content eliminated a crucial source of programming. Local production ceased in May 1963, leaving WWN operating at minimal capacity while awaiting a replacement.
TWW acquired WWN by presenting shareholders with an attractive offer; WWN terminated operations on 26 January 1964. By retaining former WWN personnel, TWW maintained the Teledu Cymru brand and secured a transmitter serving South Wales. WWN represented the final primetime Welsh-language broadcaster on ITV until the launch of S4C in 1982.
The successor to TWW, Harlech, preserved the Teledu Cymru name during an emergency transitional franchise period before retiring it upon commencing their own franchise.
Studios
WWN maintained its main offices and studio complex on Western Avenue in Cardiff, which lay outside their broadcast region and within neighbouring franchise TWW’s area. A regional office along with a news studio was operated in Bangor, located within WWN’s licensed territory. After TWW took over WWN, operations shifted from Western Avenue to TWW's enhanced facilities at Pontcanna in Cardiff to support presentation activities. The Bangor office reportedly remained under TWW management. The former Western Avenue studios were demolished and replaced by headquarters for the WJEC.
Identity
The visual branding of WWN consisted of a stylized dragon set against a black backdrop, with the station's name displayed underneath. This design is thought to have been the only ident used during WWN's short operational period. When TWW assumed control, the ident was altered to incorporate TWW's logo along with the phrase 'Network for Wales' positioned beneath the dragon symbol and station name, synchronized with TWW's ident music. After TWW lost its contract, the station name was reinstated by the Independent Television Service for Wales and the West until HTV commenced its broadcasts.
External links
- Harlech House of Graphics (unofficial fan resource)
- Television Wales and the West at TV Live
- TWW at TVARK