Thames Television

History

Thames Television was formed in 1968 by an enforced merger of the Associated British Corporation (ABC) and Associated-Rediffusion (A-R), a result of the 1967 review of Independent Television franchises by the Independent Television Authority.

Thames was awarded the ITV franchise for London Weekdays, i.e. the whole of Monday to Thursday, and Friday until 7pm and took over this responsibility from A-R on 30 July 1968.

The franchise was renewed in 1982, shortened to 5:15pm on Friday.

In 1992 Thames Television were lost the London Weekday Franchise to Carlton Communications. However, they continued as an independent producer for ITV, and more recently the BBC and satellite/cable. Additionally Thames is part owner of the TCC, UK Living and UK Gold satellite channels, with UK Gold drawing on the extensive catalogue of Thames programmes. Their former Children's Television Department has become Tetra Films.

Thames Television is now a subsidiary of Pearson plc, who also own part of BSkyB, and are developing satellite services jointly with the BBC.

Programmes

In 1977 Thames bought a whole week on WWOR (New York) and filled its schedules entirely with their own programmes. Therefore what is below is just a very small illustrative selection of their output over many years.

Comedy

oBenny Hill
oBless This House
oFather Dear Father
oFresh / French Fields
oMan About The House

Light Entertainment

oDes O'Connor Show
oOpportunity Knocks
oTake Your Pick
oThis Is Your Life

Drama

oThe Bill
oMinder
oNaked Civil Servant
oRumpole of the Bailey
oThe Sweeney

Children

oAce of Wands
oDanger Mouse (by Cosgrove/Hall, then a subsidiary)
oMagpie
oSpatz
oRainbow
oThe Tomorrow People

News/Documentary

oDeath On The Rock
oThis Week
oWorld At War
oWish You Were Here

Address

Thames Television
Broom Road
Teddington Lock
Teddington
Middlesex TW11 9WT

Note that other addresses for Thames such as Euston Road/Tottenham Court Road are no longer valid.

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This Page was committed by Jeremy ``Jez'' Rogers, jeremy.rogers@aea.orgn.uk and was last modified Tuesday 23 May 1995. Jeremy Rogers is in no way associated with Thames television, Tetra films, or the Nickelodeon network.