North Wales TV
A British local television service serving communities in and around North Wales.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
North Wales TV is a British local television service serving Mold, Denbigh, Ruthin and surrounding parts of North Wales. The station is owned and operated by Local Television Limited and forms part of the Local TV network, a group of regional channels established to provide locally focused broadcasting alongside programming shared across the network. The service originated in the UK local-television licensing process. In January 2014, Ofcom awarded the licence for a local television service covering Mold and nearby areas to Bay TV, a bid associated with Bay TV Clwyd. The licence was unusually small in geographical scope, and it was also contested by the locally based Serch TV Mold group. Bay TV Clwyd had previously obtained a licence for Liverpool, but its proposed service for Bangor and Gwynedd was not approved amid concerns about the viability of the operation. Technical difficulties involving the Moel-y-Parc transmitter delayed the intended launch of the Mold service. The licence later changed hands. In March 2017, Made Television announced that it had acquired the Mold licence and would launch a service under the name Made in North Wales. The channel began broadcasting at 6 p.m. on 26 April 2017 on Freeview channel 8. It subsequently operated under the North Wales TV name and has also been identified as LOCAL TV North Wales and TalkNorth Wales. Its local production office was later located in Wrexham, while the service remained connected operationally to the wider Local TV network. The station's remit combines local output with programming supplied by sister stations, independent producers and external broadcasters. Its local schedule has included North Wales Live, a rolling evening block of pre-recorded local news, sport and feature material. The service is also required to provide an average of 6 hours and 42 minutes of first-run local programming each week. Welsh-language output has included the weekly half-hour programme Made Cymraeg, broadcast on Sunday afternoons. Local material has been supplemented by programmes produced elsewhere in the Local TV group and by acquired programming. North Wales TV's schedule has changed as the network's commercial and distribution arrangements evolved. In May 2017, the channel and other Made Television services began carrying blocks of programming from the UK and Ireland version of TruTV under a supply agreement with Sony Pictures Television. Later, the network carried substantial daily blocks from CBS Reality, and from the beginning of 2023 programming blocks from TalkTV were scheduled during daytime and evening periods. These arrangements allowed the station to maintain a fuller broadcast schedule while preserving a smaller local-news and local-features component. The station has faced questions about the location and scale of its Welsh production operation. Before launch, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg criticised the proposed level of Welsh-language programming and alleged that local output would be produced from Liverpool. The operator responded that it had hired production staff for Mold and that the North Wales service would be connected to Liverpool studios as part of its infrastructure. Production arrangements later changed, with local offices transferred to Wrexham and local programme production moved to other Made TV facilities in November 2017. North Wales TV therefore represents both a local broadcasting licence and a networked television brand, combining regional identity with shared infrastructure and acquired programming.
History
North Wales TV developed from the United Kingdom's local television licensing programme. In January 2014, Ofcom selected Bay TV for the local television licence covering Mold and nearby communities. The proposed coverage area was among the smallest local-TV licence areas in the country. A competing proposal was submitted by Serch TV Mold, a locally based group. Bay TV Clwyd, the company associated with the winning bid, had also secured a Liverpool licence, but its attempt to obtain a Bangor-area licence was unsuccessful after concerns were raised about the viability of the proposed Gwynedd service. The Mold service was originally expected to launch in October 2014. Its start was delayed, however, by technical difficulties affecting the Moel-y-Parc transmitter. While Bay TV's Liverpool service eventually began broadcasting in December 2014, that operation later entered administration in August 2016. It was subsequently sold to Made Television, ceased broadcasting under its previous arrangement and was relaunched as Made in Liverpool. The wider changes in Bay TV's business helped set the context for the eventual transfer of the Mold licence. In March 2017, Made Television announced the acquisition of the Mold licence and plans for a new service called Made in North Wales. The station launched at 6 p.m. on Wednesday 26 April 2017 and initially broadcast on Freeview channel 8. The service was intended to provide local news, sports and features for Mold and surrounding areas while operating within the infrastructure of the expanding Made Television network. The launch generated debate over the service's Welsh identity and production model. Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg objected to the proposed reliance on production facilities outside North Wales and criticised the commitment to only one half-hour Welsh-language programme each week. The operator stated that it had recruited production staff to work from Mold and explained that the channel's connection with the Liverpool studios was part of its network infrastructure. The local production office was later moved to Wrexham. In November 2017, production of local programmes was transferred to other Made TV stations, further integrating the service with the network's shared production model. North Wales TV has operated with a mixed schedule. Its regulated local-service obligation requires an average of 6 hours and 42 minutes of first-run local programming each week. By February 2018, the principal local output was North Wales Live, a rolling block of recorded local news, sport and features broadcast on weekday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The station also carried Made Cymraeg, a weekly half-hour Welsh-language programme shown on Sunday afternoons. Other programmes came from Local TV's sister stations, independent producers and external broadcasters. The non-local schedule has changed over time. From 25 May 2017, the station carried two daily blocks of TruTV programming, generally from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., with a Tuesday adjustment to accommodate America's Got Talent. By November 2017, the Local TV network was carrying CBS Reality for substantial parts of the day. From the beginning of 2023, the schedule included TalkTV blocks, generally running in the morning, afternoon and evening. These arrangements enabled a small regional station to offer a broad broadcast schedule without producing all of its output locally. The station has subsequently been associated with several names, including North Wales TV, Made in North Wales, TalkNorth Wales and LOCAL TV North Wales. Its present identity is best understood as a North Wales regional service within Local Television Limited's network of local channels, rather than as a wholly autonomous broadcaster. Its continuing role is to combine a local television licence and regional programming with shared network content and infrastructure.
- 2023
TalkTV enters the schedule
[1]TalkTV programming became part of the station's recurring daily schedule from the beginning of 2023.
- 2017
Made Television acquires the Mold licence
[1]Made Television announced that it had acquired the licence and would establish Made in North Wales.
- 2017
Made in North Wales launches
[1]The service began broadcasting on 26 April on Freeview channel 8.
- 2017
TruTV carriage begins
[1]The channel began carrying daily blocks of acquired TruTV programming through a Sony Pictures Television supply arrangement.
- 2017
Local production arrangements change
[1]The local office moved to Wrexham and production of local programmes was transferred to other Made TV stations.
- 2016
Bay TV Liverpool enters administration
[1]Bay TV's Liverpool service entered administration, preceding its sale to Made Television and later relaunch as Made in Liverpool.
- 2014
Ofcom awards the Mold local-TV licence
[1]Ofcom awarded the local television licence for Mold and surrounding areas to Bay TV, following a contest that included Serch TV Mold.
- 2014
Planned launch is delayed
[1]The planned Bay TV Clwyd launch was delayed by difficulties involving the Moel-y-Parc transmitter.
Products and positioning
A regional free-to-air television service combining North Wales news, sport, community features and Welsh-language content with programming supplied by a wider local-TV network.
Local news and features programme
North Wales Live
A recurring evening block of recorded North Wales news, sports coverage and feature material. It has served as the station's principal local programme, appearing on weekday evenings and helping the service meet its local-content obligations.
Welsh-language programme · 2017
Made Cymraeg
A weekly half-hour Welsh-language programme associated with the station's local schedule. Its presence reflects the service's North Wales remit and the linguistic environment of the region.
Regional television service · 2017
LOCAL TV North Wales
The regional broadcast service operating under the North Wales identity within Local Television Limited's network. It combines locally oriented programming with content produced by sister stations and acquired programmes from external broadcasters.
Brand decisions
2023
Replacement of earlier acquired-programming blocks with TalkTVStrategyBackground
The Local TV network used acquired programming to fill substantial portions of its schedule outside local output.
Action taken
TalkTV programming was introduced in recurring morning, afternoon and evening blocks.
Aftermath
The station continued to combine regional programming with externally supplied general-interest content.
2017
Acquisition of the Mold local-TV licenceM&ABackground
The Mold licence had originated with Bay TV Clwyd, but the planned service had been delayed. Made Television sought to expand its network of local channels.
Action taken
Made Television acquired the licence and announced the launch of Made in North Wales.
Aftermath
The new service launched in April 2017 and later became associated with the North Wales TV and LOCAL TV North Wales names.
2017
Integration into shared Local TV productionStrategyBackground
The station faced questions about how much programming would be produced locally and how its Mold operation would connect to the wider network.
Action taken
The local office was transferred to Wrexham, and production of local programmes was later moved to other Made TV stations.
Aftermath
The service operated as a networked regional channel, combining local output with programmes produced elsewhere.
Recent events
- 2023
TalkTV programming enters Local TV schedules[1]
Other
From the start of 2023, TalkTV programming replaced earlier acquired-network blocks in parts of the channel's daily schedule.
- 2017
Made Television acquires the Mold licence[1]
M&A
Made Television announced that it had acquired the licence for the Mold area and would launch a new North Wales service.
- 2017
Made in North Wales begins broadcasting[1]
Product launch
The service launched on 26 April 2017 on Freeview channel 8 under the Made in North Wales name.
- 2017
Welsh-language groups question launch plans[1]
Other
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg criticised the proposed production arrangements and the limited commitment to weekly Welsh-language programming before the channel launched.
- 2017
North Wales service adds TruTV programming blocks[1]
Other
The channel began carrying scheduled blocks of acquired TruTV programming under a supply agreement with Sony Pictures Television.
- 2014
Ofcom awards Mold local television licence to Bay TV[1]
Other
Ofcom awarded the local television licence covering Mold and surrounding areas to Bay TV, after competition from the locally based Serch TV Mold group.
Sources1 sources
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