This is Westward

This documentary was made in 1961 when Westward Television opened the new studios in Plymouth broadcasting to the South West under a ten-year licence from the Independent Television Authority (ITA). Westward Television went on air 29 April 1961 with regional programmes such as Farming Today, Tight Lines and a weekly news programme entitled Westward Diary. Programmes were made on 16mm black and white negative film stock with inhouse printing and editing services.

The ITA was set up by the 1954 Television Act responsible for siting, building and running of VHF transmitters from transmission stations. It awarded franchises to commercial broadcasters who were to cover rental costs through advertising revenues. These programme companies were to be independent ensuring competition in the supply of programmes. Among the first in 1954 were Associated Rediffusion for London, Associated TeleVision (ATV) for London and the Midlands and Associated British Picture Corporation (ABC) for the North of England. The South West was split between South Wales and West of England’s Television Wales and West TWW (later HTV) and Westward Television (later TSW).