Harlech Television
 
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|
| Based in |
ITV Cymru Wales: Cardiff, Wales ITV West Country: Bristol, England |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area |
Wales West of England |
| First airdate | 20 May 1968 |
| Closed | Lost on-air identity on 27 October 2002 Licence ended on 31 December 2013 |
| Slogan | "Serving Wales and the West of England since 1968" |
| Formerly called | Harlech Television (HTV) |
| Replaced | Television Wales and the West/Independent Television Service for Wales and the West |
| Replaced by | ITV Cymru Wales / ITV West Country |
| Owned by | ITV plc |
| Website |
Cymru Wales ITV Cymru Wales West of England ITV West |
| Former logo | |
 The HTV logo used from 6 April 1970 – 31 December 1992 |
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ITV Wales and West, previously known as HTV, refers to the Independent Television franchise area until 31 December 2013, licensed to a broadcaster by the regulator Ofcom.
There is no channel, past or present, named "ITV Wales and West". The licence relates to a 'dual region', meaning that the franchise area was divided into two regions, each of which must be served by distinct and separate ITV programme services as more fully defined within the licence. Today, those services are known as ITV Cymru Wales and ITV West Country (since ITV West and ITV Westcountry merged into a single region). They are provided by ITV plc which owns and operates the two services through its subsidiary ITV Broadcasting Ltd.
From January 2014, the dual-region licence was split in two, with ITV Cymru Wales for Wales and ITV West Country covering the West of England. Both licences remain held by ITV Broadcasting Ltd and the legal names of the former HTV companies have not yet been changed again.
HTV (Harlech Television) was awarded its contract by the Independent Television Authority in July 1967, replacing the incumbent TWW. While no official reason was given for the decision, it was believed TWW's preferral to base its corporate headquarters in London, rather than within the region, played a key factor. Harlech would base its headquarters within the transmission area, based out of TWW's former studios at Pontcanna in Cardiff and Bath Road in Bristol. TWW refused to purchase shares in the new consortium and opted to cease broadcasting early on Sunday 4 March 1968, selling its remaining airtime to Harlech for £500,000. As the new service was not ready to launch, an unbranded emergency service was provided by former TWW staff until Harlech's launch on Monday 20 May 1968. The opening night was marked by a networked variety special.
Initially, the station used the name Harlech Television (after the head of the company, Lord Harlech), but from the introduction of colour on 6 April 1970, this was dropped in favour of HTV, which was simpler and largely ended concerns from the West of England, that the Harlech branding was only associated with the Welsh part of the dual region. The initial Harlech board of directors boasted a high-profile line-up including actor Richard Burton and his wife Elizabeth Taylor, opera singer Sir Geraint Evans, entertainer Harry Secombe and veteran broadcaster Wynford Vaughan-Thomas. The board contributed relatively little to HTV's output, although notable productions included several opera specials and documentary series including Great Little Trains of Wales and The Dragon Has Two Tongues.
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