SWR Fernsehen is a German regional television channel targeting the states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is produced by Südwestrundfunk (SWR) and is one of eight regional "third channels" broadcast by the ARD members.The channel started on April 5, 1969 as a collaboration between Süddeutscher Rundfunk (SDR), Südwestfunk (SWF) and SR named "Südwest 3". SDR and SWF merged in 1998 to form SWR and the channel was renamed "Südwest Fernsehen".