Associated-Rediffusion

Associated-Rediffusion
Founded	September 22, 1955
Closed	July 29, 1968 (merged with ABC Television to become Thames Television)
Company	Associated Newspapers, British Electric Traction
Notable Series

Associated-Rediffusion (later known as Rediffusion London from 1964 to 1968) was a television station in the United Kingdom.

History

Associated-Rediffusion (A-R), a partnership of Associated Newspapers (owner of the Daily Mail newspaper) and Rediffusion Ltd. (owned by British Electric Traction) was a charter member of the ITV Network, signing on as the UK's first commercial TV station and the original London weekday ITV franchise on September 22, 1955. The logo used by A-R through its existence was a 16-point Adastral star (named for the motto of the British Royal Air Force, per ardua, ad astra—"through adversity to the stars").

A-R's programming schedule during its early years, under the guidance of station manager Capt. Thomas Brownrigg, RN, consisted primarily of high-end shows, giving A-R the appearance of a commercial version of BBC Television and setting the standard for ITV as the network grew in later years. That changed when Associated Newspapers sold off its stake in A-R to Rediffusion Ltd. and the station's directors later released Brownrigg from his position, in 1964. That year, the station shifted direction and changed its name to Rediffusion London, mixing in lighter fare with the quality shows.

Rediffusion, in its previous form, shut down on July 29, 1968 as the result of losing the London weekday contract in the 1967 ITV franchise round, merging its operations with those of ABC Television (as a condition of ABC gaining the London weekday franchise) to form a successor company, Thames Television, which signed on the following day.

The name and logo for A-R are now used by British journalist Victor Lewis-Smith for his production company, Associated-Rediffusion Television.

Notable programs

• Do Not Adjust Your Set
• At Last the 1948 Show
• This Week
• Double Your Money
• Take Your Pick
• Ready, Steady, Go!
• Crane
• Riviera Police
• Five O'Clock Club

External links

• Associated-Rediffusion history site
• Associated-Rediffusion page at TV Ark
• 1956 animated A-R logo from 625.uk.com (requires Adobe Flash Player version 6 or later)
• 1964 animated Rediffusion logo from 625.uk.com