Film & TV Database

Notes Held ITV London franchise 24/9/1955-28/7/1968 (after that operated by LWT); held the ITV Midlands franchise 17/2/1956-1981/12/31 (after that operated by Central TV). Rights with Carlton International. Associated Television (ATV) was awarded the Midlands weekday and London weekend franchise in the 1954 round of franchise applications for the new independent television network (ITV). Its first transmission was on 22/9/1955 when, along with Associated-Rediffusion, it opened the London service with coverage of an inaugural banquet from the Guildhall in London. The initial contract for the franchise was to last up to July 1964. The company was re-appointed the franchise holder up to July 1967, when it seems to have adopted the name ATV. The contract was further extended to July 1968. After this date it held the seven day Midlands franchise. During the 1980 round of franchise bids, ATV was restructured and became Central Independent Television. The owning company of ATV was ACC. The company was originaly based at Television House, Kingsway, London (the same building as Associated Rediffusion). It moved to ATV House in Great Cumberland Place in 1961 (?). The company had studios at Elstree which were bought by the BBC in the 1980s. The local news programme library is held by Central Independent Television. The other programmes (variety shows, entertainment series etc) were held by ITC Entertainment, which is now controlled by Polygram Television International and who own the rights to that material. Polygram was taken over by Carlton in April 1999. ATV regional programme contact Carlton Broadcasting Central Region (01159 863 322); ATV network and ITC Entertainment contact Carlton I nternational (020 7612 7353).