This is a timeline of the history of Border Television (now known as ITV Border). It provides the ITV service for most of Cumbria in England and the southern parts of Scotland.
1960s
1960
Border Television is awarded the contract to provide an ITV service for the English counties of Westmorland and Cumberland and the south of Scotland. There had been one other applicant, from Solway Television. 1961 1 September – Border Television launches. The station had planned to go on air on February but construction problems with both transmitters resulted in delays until May. Border asked for a further delay as it felt that launching over the Summer holiday period would affect advertising revenue. 1962 Border manages to achieve a profit in its first year of broadcasting. 1963 Border attracts a regional share of 60%. This success means that Border is able to pay off its start-up costs within two years of going on air. 1964 Border is given a three-year extension to its licence. This is later extended by a further year. 1965 26 March – Border starts broadcasting to the Isle of Man. 1966 No events. 1967 The Independent Television Authority renews Border's licence for a further seven years. 1968 August – A technicians strike forces ITV off the air for several weeks although management manage to launch a temporary ITV Emergency National Service with no regional variations. 1969 No events.
1970s
1970
No events. 1971 1 September – Border Television marks its tenth anniversary and begins broadcasting in colour, but initially only from Caldbeck. 1972 1 March – Colour transmissions begin from the Selkirk transmitter. 16 October – Following a law change which removed all restrictions on broadcasting hours, ITV is able to launch an afternoon service and Border carves out a niche for itself by providing the network with afternoon quiz programmes, most notably Mr. and Mrs. which was hosted by Border TV's Assistant Controller of Programmes, Derek Batey. 1973 Late 1973 – Border's local programmes are made in colour for the first time. 1974 The 1974 franchise round sees no changes in ITV's contractors as it is felt that the huge cost in switching to colour television would have made the companies unable to compete against rivals in a franchise battle. 1975 4 September – Border announces that it may have to cut back on programme production following a substantial fall in net profits. 1976 No events. 1977 No events. 1978 No events. 1979 10 August – The ten week ITV strike forces Border Television off the air. The strike ends on 24 October.
1980s
1980
No events. 1981 October – Border announces a loss of £70,000 before tax. The financial situation had been so dire that Border had considered not reapplying for the renewal of its licence. 1982 1 January – The Kendal transmitter is transferred from Granada to Border. November/December – An industrial dispute forces Border to close for a month in a dispute over new technology, which ended only after letters asking for an improvement in industrial relations were withdrawn. 1983 1 February – ITV's breakfast television service TV-am launches. Consequently, Border's broadcast day now begins at 9:25am. 1984 No events. 1985 3 January – The last day of transmission using the 405-lines system. 1986 No events. 1987 7 September – Following the transfer of ITV Schools to Channel 4, ITV provides a full morning programme schedule, with advertising, for the first time. The new service includes regular five-minute national and regional news bulletins. 1988 2 September – Border begins 24-hour broadcasting. 1989 13 February – For the first time ITV starts broadcasting a national weather forecast. Previously, Border had aired its own regional weather forecast which they had broadcast at the end of their local news programmes and at closedown. 1 September – ITV introduces its first official logo as part of an attempt to unify the network under one image whilst retaining regional identity. Border adopts the logo. Border begins providing a sub-regional service for Scottish Borders viewers served by the Selkirk transmitter, consisting of a short opt-out during Lookaround each weeknight.