In anticipation for the new service, a campaign with the slogan "Wales gets its very own TV service in 1964" aired, displaying the locations of the five transmitters to be used,[4] as well as a minute-long animated information film about how to retune in South Wales, and about the problem of mountains blocking signals, which was being remedied by new transmitters.

[5] BBC Wales produced twelve hours per week of regional programming specifically for the new service, five in English and seven in Welsh.

[7] With the launch of S4C in 1982, and the increase in the number of hours of Welsh-language programming per week from seven to ten as consequence, as well as the move of all Welsh programmes to the new service, the channel was simply renamed BBC Wales.

The move was welcomed by English speakers, who had complained about the constant presence of programmes in a language they did not understand for years.

A high-definition simulcast of BBC One Wales launched on 29 January 2013 on Freeview, Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.