Timeline of local television in the UK
This is a timeline of local television in the United Kingdom. This refers to stations transmitting to a small area such as a city or part of a county, not to larger regions covered by ITV and BBC regions. 1970s 1972 The UK's Minister for Posts and Telecommunications authorises five experimental community cable television channels. The first to launch is Greenwich Cablevision. 1973 Sheffield Cablevision, The Bristol Channel and Swindon Viewpoint launch. 1974 March – The final community station, Wellingborough Cablevision, launches. 1975 14 March – After less than two years on air, The Bristol Channel closes. 24 March – Wellingborough Cablevision closes. 1976 2 January – Sheffield Cablevision closes when the funds run out. Greenwich Cablevision closes as a full time service although programming made by volunteers keeps the station on air in a restricted form until the early 1980s. Swindon Viewpoint’s experimental phase ends when EMI decided to pull out of funding the service. However, the channel continues after it was sold to the public of Swindon for £1. 1977 No events. 1978 No events. 1979 No events. 1980s 1980 April – Regular programming on Swindon Viewpoint ends when funding dries up. but continues intermittently for the next