(none)
17 September 2006
Sunday 17 September 2006 11:15-12:00 (Radio 4 FM)
Repeated: Friday 22 September 2006 9:03-9:45 (Radio 4 FM)
TV-am was Britain's first ever commercial breakfast station, launched in a fanfare of publicity and hosted by a stellar cast of presenters. Its subsequent boardroom struggles were played out in the press and it was on the verge of collapse - the electricity board came round to switch off the power whilst the programme was still broadcasting.
But by the time it lost its licence, TV-am was one of the most successful companies of its kind. Key members of the launch team are reunited to remember that turbulent period: former US Ambassador and TV-am Chairman Peter Jay; Sir David Frost, one of the Famous Five presenters; shareholder Jonathan Aitken; Nick Owen, who began on the sports desk before moving over to become the channel's face of the 80s; and Greg Dyke, the man credited with turning the station around.
