Associated Television

Associated Television. It was a major franchise holder for the ITV network in the United Kingdom, operating from 1955 until 1982. Founded by theatrical impresarios Prince Littler, Lew Grade, and Val Parnell, the company became renowned for its lavish entertainment and drama productions, significantly shaping British popular television. Its franchise area originally covered the Midlands on weekdays and London at weekends, a unique dual-region arrangement that ended in 1968 when it consolidated its operations solely in the Midlands.

History

The company was awarded its initial franchise by the Independent Television Authority in 1954, beginning broadcasts in the London region on 24 September 1955. Under the leadership of the ambitious Lew Grade, who became managing director, it quickly established itself as a powerhouse of light entertainment and action-adventure series. A significant restructuring occurred in 1966 when the parent company, Associated Television Corporation, merged with the British Electric Traction-owned ABC Weekend Television, forming a new entity, Associated Television Corporation Ltd. This led to a major franchise reshuffle in 1968, where it relinquished its weekend London broadcast rights to London Weekend Television and focused exclusively on the seven-day Midlands franchise, broadcasting from new studios in Birmingham. Throughout the 1970s, it faced increasing scrutiny from regulators over programme quality and regional commitment, culminating in the loss of its franchise in 1980 to a new contractor, Central Independent Television, which began broadcasting in January 1982.

Programming

The company was famed for its high-budget, internationally marketable entertainment shows, many produced by its in-house arm, ATV Network. Landmark programmes included the action series *The Saint* and Danger Man, which starred Roger Moore and Patrick McGoohan respectively, achieving global success. It dominated Saturday night television with variety spectaculars like Sunday Night at the London Palladium, hosted by Bruce Forsyth, and produced popular music shows such as Thank Your Lucky Stars. In drama, it was responsible for the prestigious anthology series Armchair Theatre and, most famously, the epic historical saga *The Adventures of Robin Hood*. During the 1970s, it invested heavily in family entertainment, producing the hit science-fiction series Space: 1999 and the lavish musical specials of The Muppet Show. Its drama department also created the acclaimed series The Prisoner and Department S.

Studios and facilities

Its original production base was at ATV House on Great Cumberland Place in London, home to its executive offices. For studio production, it primarily used facilities owned by Associated-Rediffusion at Wembley Studios and later the ABC Studios at Teddington Studios. Following the 1968 franchise change, it constructed a large, modern studio complex in the Midlands at ATV Centre in Birmingham, which became its primary production hub. This facility, noted for its advanced EMI electronic studio cameras, housed multiple studios and was the base for most of its 1970s output, including New ATV Colour Studios. The company also maintained the famous Elstree Studios in Borehamwood for film and television production, where series like Space: 1999 were filmed.

Corporate affairs

The parent company underwent several significant corporate transformations. The 1966 merger with ABC Weekend Television created a powerful conglomerate with extensive interests in television, film, and music publishing. This entity, under Chairman Lew Grade (later Lord Grade), expanded aggressively into film production through its subsidiary Associated Television Corporation Ltd., with notable but costly ventures like the movie *Raise the Titanic*. Other key subsidiaries included the distribution company ITC Entertainment and the music publisher ATV Music. The group's ambitious diversification, particularly into feature films, led to substantial financial difficulties in the late 1970s. Following the loss of the ITV franchise, its assets, including the valuable ATV Music catalogue which contained rights to songs by The Beatles, were eventually sold, with the television operations rebranded as Central Independent Television.

Legacy

Its impact on the global television industry was profound, with its action-adventure and puppet series achieving iconic status and enduring international syndication. The company's model of producing television for both the ITV network and the international market paved the way for later British television exports. Its closure marked the end of an era of dominant, entrepreneur-led franchise holders within the ITV system. The ATV Centre in Birmingham was later used by successor companies Central Independent Television and Carlton Television, and ultimately by the BBC. Many of its classic programmes remain in circulation through archives and digital releases, preserving the legacy of a formative period in British television history.

Category:Television companies of the United Kingdom Category:ITV franchise holders Category:Defunct television networks in the United Kingdom Category:Companies established in 1955 Category:Companies disestablished in 1982