Thames Television



Thames Television was the most notable of the new stations which came about because of the ITV franchise reshuffle of 1967 which saw some of the biggest changes that the network had ever experienced. The Independent Television Authority (ITA) were dissatisfied with the performance and management style of Associated Rediffusion (AR) who had previously held the weekday London franchise. At the same time they viewed in high regard ABC Television, who held the weekend franchise for the Midlands and North of England while having their main studio facilities in London, while also favouring the application for the weekend London franchise from London Weekend Television. Not wanting to lose the skills of ABC nor cause too much disruption to the television industry and studio facilities in London they suggested a merger between the latter company and AR and the result was Thames Television with a franchise for weekday London coverage.

The strongest player in providing networked programmes, the new station first went on the air on 30th July 1968.

The station lost its franchise in a controversial decision as part of the 1992 franchise reshuffle and its final programmes were transmitted on 31st December that year. Thames was succeeded by Carlton Television.