Teledu Cymru (WWN)
was all but stillborn in September 1962.
The Wales Television Association had the backing of prominent Welshmen, and its politico-cultural aims were one reason behind its downfall. The aim was to provide a Welsh language tv channel for the whole of the country. That the station, uniquely in Britain, failed, was down firstly to the ITA, who while reducing their normal charges, were unable to create a single station in Wales, since TWW were already allocated the main centre of population in the Valleys, and Granada established in the far north. It was further stipulated that the company produce 10 hours of original programming per week, a tough demand on a station serving a generally rural area. Further, by the time the station opened only one of the three transmitters promised were in operation. Eventually the region was covered by transmitters at Presley (Channel 8), Arfon (Channel 10) and Moel-y-Parc (Channel 11).
Another major reason for WWN's failure was their poor management. The directors, in their zeal to provide Welsh tv, appear to have interfered excessively in the day to day running of the station. The senior management in their turn seem to have been dictatorial and at odds with their board. A recipe for disaster.
Three other groups had applied to run the station. The failed bids were from: Television Wales Norwest, fronted by Lord Tenby; Cambrian (North and West Wales) Television- the Marquis of Bute; and Cambrian Television- Lord Ogmore.
WWN main studios were in Western Avenue Cardiff (telephone 72364). Uniquely, its programme journal was produced locally, printed by the Caxton Press Oswestry.
The station opened on September 14th 1962 at 5.30pm. Croeso was hosted by actor Clifford Evans. Then after the ITN News, by tradition broadcast for an opening night from the WWN studio in Cardiff, there followed 55 minutes of original WWN programming, mostly in Welsh. Networked programmes followed, then at 10.40pm a tape of TWW's Crwydro'r Alban, a Journey in Scotland, was screened. The opening night concluded with a WWN film presentation, of the three year old American series Markham.
Monday 27th January 1964 was the day TWW officially took over the Teledu Cymru franchise, a consummation they had long coveted. The fee reported (in Aug 1963) was £250,000. Thus a channel that covered the whole of Wales was born. But the fact is that WWN had been ailing long before that, their final home grown Welsh language programme had been shown live on May 31st 1963. From June of that year, the Welsh language news bulletins were scrapped, and the only Welsh language programmes were all of TWW origin.
Photo: General manager Nathan Hughes, a Welsh speaker, who had been with A-R from July 1955, and then from March 1957 as Deputy Station Manager at TWW.

A few WWN programmes . . A WWN schedule . . WWN top tens
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Welsh language series:

Yn Llwybrau- a religious series
Pawb A'I Bethau- edition of May 28th 1963 on Rev E Tegla Davies
Heno I'R Plant children's series. On May 29th 1963 at 6.15pm it included Anturiaethau Twdl (The Adventuires) of Twdl, Oriel Y Plant (Children's Gallery), and Camera
Golwg Ar Gymru - interviews with important Welsh people

Other series:
Moment for Melody- a Monday to Friday 10 minute slot at 6.50pm featuring songs by singers such as Myron Williams, Meredydd Evans, Trevor Hill (organ), and Richard Rees. Director: Havard Gregory
Welsh Sportlight with Barri Haynes
SouthWesterly- on May 31st 1963 Kenneth Griffith talked to T Glynne Davies about his early career in Tenby. Director: Hugh Salisbury

Two WWN documentaries:
Our Neighbours- The Irish (February 11th 1963)
This Teledu Cymru documentary was filmed in Eire and directed by Ernest Byrne. It showed the ancient history of the republic and its place in the world today. In the company's Cardiff studios, distinguished guests then discussed issues raised.
This had been planned as a series of six, but whether any further were made, who knows? Publicity suggested others to be made in 1963 would feature Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, and "probably" the United States
A Festival of Arts (Mar 10th 1963)
A Teledu Cymru preview of University of Aberystwyth's Annual Festival of the Arts, with Peter Anthony Walton secretary of the festival, Alderman Clifford Knight mayor of Aberystwyth, and Dr Thomas Parry principal of the university. Interviewer: Barri Haynes. Director: Ernest Byrne
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TAM ratings for WWN area w/e 26 Jan 1963
1= Take Your Pick 48%
1= Dixon of Dock Green (BBC)
3 Steptoe and Son (BBC) 46%
4 Dial Rix (BBC) 45%
5 London Palladium Show 44%
6= Try for Ten (TWW) 43%
6= Double Your Money
6= London Palladium Show
6= Drama '63 This is Not King's Cross
9 Z Cars (BBC) 42%
10= This is Your Life (BBC) 41%
10= Emergency Ward 10 (Jan 25th)

WWN area TAM ratings w/e 17 Feb 1963
1 Steptoe and Son (BBC) 59%
2 Labour Party Leader (BBC) 52%
3 Going My Way (BBC) 50%
4= This is Your Life (BBC) 49%
4= Take Your Pick
4= Black and White Minstrels (BBC)
7= The Lucy Show (BBC) 48%
7= Double Your Money
9= The Rag Trade (BBC) 47%
9= Ser-Y-Siroedd (BBC)

WWN area TAM ratings w/e 3 Mar 1963
1 Labour Party Political 57% (WWN share=35%)
2 Double Your Money 51%
3 Try for Ten (TWW) 48%
4 The Lucy Show (BBC) 47%
5 Eric Sykes (BBC) 46%
6 Ser-Y-Siroedd (BBC) 45%
7 Dixon of Dock Green (BBC) 44%
8= What's My Line (BBC) 40%
8= Coronation Street (Feb 27th)
10= Discs a GoGo 39%
10= The Stag (BBC)

WWN area TAM ratings w/e 21 Apr 1963
1 Billy Smart's Circus (BBC) 56%
2 The Good Old Days (BBC) 44%
3 Here's Harry (BBC) 42%
4= Jane Eyre (BBC) 40%
4= Rejoice and Sing (BBC)
6= The Third Man (BBC) 37%
6= Perry Mason (BBC)
8= Z Cars (BBC) 36%
8= A Little Bit of Gold (BBC)
8= Take Your Pick

WWN area TAM ratings w/e 19 May 1963
1 The Lucy Show (BBC) 51%
2 Liberal Party Political 49%
(WWN share=28%, BBC 21%)
3 Emergency- Ward 10 (May 17th) 45%
4 Take Your Pick 44%
5 London Palladium 43%
6 77 Sunset Strip 39%
7 Try for Ten (TWW) 38%
8= Double Your Money 36%
8= Night of the Leopard (ATV play)
10 This Is Your Life (BBC) 35%

WWN area TAM ratings w/e 9th June 1963
1 Coronation Street (June 5) 33%
2= Double Your Money 31%
2= Heddiw (June 9- BBC)
4 Emergency- Ward 10 (June 7) 30%
5= Coronation Street (June 3) 29%
5= This Week
5= Take Your Pick
5= London Palladium
9 The Truth About Alan (ATV) 28%
10= The Lucy Show (BBC) 25%
10= Crane
10= Urdd Eisteddfod (June 7- TWW)

WWN area TAM ratings w/e 11 Oct 1963
1 Bertram Mill's Circus (BBC) 46%
2= Z Cars (BBC) 43%
2= London Palladium Show 43%
4= Coronation Street (Oct 7th) 41%
4= Coronation Street (Oct 9th) 41%
4= Take Your Pick 41%
7= Dixon of Dock Green (BBC) 40%
7= Armchair Theatre 40%
9 Emergency Ward Ten (Oct 11th) 38%
10= Dick Powell Thetare (BBC) 37%
10= MacMillan Special (BBC) 37%

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TAM ratings for WNN area w/e 8 Dec 1963
1 Take Your Pick 48%
2 Juke Box Jury (BBC) 46%
3= The Good Old Days (BBC) 45%
3= Dixon of Dock Green (BBC)
5 Coronation Street (Dec 4th) 44%
6= Coronation Street (Dec 2nd) 43%
6= Dickie Henderson Show
6= London Palladium Show
9 This Is Your Life (BBC) 42%
10= Double Your Money 41%
10= Leave All Hope Behind (ATV play)

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Teledu Cymru Programmes Thurs May 30th 1963
2.15 Epsom Summer Meeting
4.30 Interlude
4.40 Birthday Club *
4.45 Small Time with June Thorburn and Muriel Young
5.00 Criss Cross Quiz champion Michael Moss of Middlesex
5.25 The Adventures of Sir Lancelot The Queen's Knight +
5.55 News
6.05 Y Newydd, Y Tywydd *
6.15 Golwg Ar Gymru - Cassie Davies talks to Emyr Curry Jones *
6.40 News of Wales, Weather Forecast
6.50 Moment for Melody Myrion Williams sings Y Gog Lwydlas, and Saint Athan *
7.00 Double Your Money
7.30 Bootsie and Snudge The Maze
8.00 International Professional Boxing from Glasgow
9.00 ITN News
9.15 This Week
9.45 Alfred Hitchcock Hour Don't Look Behind You
10.40 The Vise Murder of a Ham +
11.05 Close down
Notes: * Teledu Cymru Production. + Teledu Cymru Presentation
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