Story perspectives

WVTV: Pioneering Local TV's Legacy in Lancashire

12/30/2025

31 5

Summary

Story summary

In 1990, Granada Television launched The Television Village in Waddington, Lancashire, creating the local channel WVTV with amateur community presenters.
Despite low budgets and technical issues, WVTV attracted viewers who preferred it to mainstream shows such as Coronation Street.
The project highlighted hyper-local content and foreshadowed today’s user-generated media landscape.
The experiment ended after a few months, but its legacy remains, with many villagers unaware of its significance.

1 of 1

Story summary

In 1990, Granada Television launched The Television Village in Waddington, Lancashire, creating the local channel WVTV with amateur community presenters.
Despite low budgets and technical issues, WVTV attracted viewers who preferred it to mainstream shows such as Coronation Street.
The project highlighted hyper-local content and foreshadowed today’s user-generated media landscape.
The experiment ended after a few months, but its legacy remains, with many villagers unaware of its significance.