This is the first study of the early formative years of one of Wales's most important cultural organisations - Sianel Pedwar Cymru (S4C). The volume chronicles the decisions and activities of the channel during its trial period between 1981-5. Through a detailed study of minutes, correspondence and interviews with individuals who were key to the channel's development during its early years, it chronicles the many challenges, successes and failures which faced the S4C Authority and its staff as they aimed to create a Welsh-language television service that would meet the desires and needs of the audience in Wales. S4C is no ordinary channel, and no other period in its history portrays this more effectively than the trial period given to it at the beginning of the 1980s.

Dyma'r astudiaeth gyntaf ar hanes blynyddoedd cynnar un o sefydliadau diwylliannol pwysicaf Cymru - Sianel Pedwar Cymru - sy'n cloriannu penderfyniadau a gweithgareddau'r sianel yn ystod blynyddoedd ei chyfnod prawf rhwng 1981 a 1985. Trwy gyfrwng astudiaeth o gofnodion, gohebiaeth a chyfweliadau gydag unigolion fu'n allweddol i fenter gyffrous S4C, eir ati i ddarlunio'r sialensiau, y llwyddiannau a'r methiannau fu'n wynebu Awdurdod a swyddogion S4C wrth iddynt fynd ati i lunio gwasanaeth teledu Cymraeg fyddai'n ateb gofynion ac anghenion y gynulleidfa yng Nghymru. Ceir yn y gyfrol hefyd ddadansoddiad o'r gwersi y gall hanes y sianel ei gynnig i'w swyddogion cyfredol wrth iddynt fynd ati i'w gosod ar seiliau cadarn ar gyfer dyfodol sy'n ymddangos yn gynyddol ansicr.