Subject: National Welsh R3171 (XWO 450J)
Chassis: Bristol RELL6L
Body: ECW B53F
Location: Pontypridd, Corn Stores Hill
Date: 27-Jun-1981

R3171 pulls out from the top of Corn Stores Hill onto Merthyr Road.

Rediffusion has a long history in broadcasting but the premises here would result from the Home Office granting several experimental licenses to broadcast subscription television services. Rediffusion received licenses for five areas, Burnley, Hull, Pontypridd, Reading and Tunbridge Wells and relayed under the Starview name. These services were launched on the 9th September 1981 and the schedules were mostly made up of feature films.

BET started to take a financial interest in Rediffusion in 1947 and by 1983 owned all the share capital. This is the same BET that once majority holdings in local bus operators Rhondda and Western Welsh.

Photograph by courtesy of John Jones