Associated-Rediffusion

Associated-Rediffusion was the British Independent Television (commercial television) contractor for London, on weekdays between 1954 (transmissions started on September 22, 1955) and 1968.

Related Topics:
British - Independent Television - 1954 - September 22 - 1955 - 1968

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Captain Thomas Brownrigg RN (Retired), the general manager of Associated-Rediffusion from 1955, had a very clear idea of what his new commercial television station was to be like -- the BBC Television Service, with advertisements. To this end, the station had a heraldic-style on-air clock, referred to as "Mitch" by staff (after chief station announcer Leslie Mitchell who had not only made the first announcement when A-R went on the air in 1955, but had done the same when the BBC TV service started in 1936). A-R was determined to be the long arm of the 1930s extending into the 1950s, continuing the notion that Britain and the Empire counted for something in the world.

Related Topics:
Thomas Brownrigg - BBC - Leslie Mitchell - 1936 - 1930s - 1950s

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The company was based at Television House, Kingsway, London, which previously had been known as Adastral House when it was the headquarters of the Air Ministry - this gave its name to A-R's logo, the 16-point Adastral Star, which appeared at the start and end of each commercial break. (The motto of the Royal Air Force is "per ardua, ad astra" - "through adversity to the stars").

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In 1964 the directors had a change of heart, pensioning off Captain Brownrigg to the south coast and a directorship of the TV Times, and rebranding the station as "Rediffusion, London", with a very hip 1960s style, the face of swinging London in the shiny prosperous new Britain. However, the new Rediffusion did not survive for long -- in 1967 the Independent Television Authority announced that there was no place for Rediffusion in the redrawn franchise pattern. The parent company, BET, took a minority stake in the successor company, Thames Television, which was formed from a merger of Rediffusion and ABC Television, while most of the staff went to work for London Weekend Television.

Related Topics:
1964 - TV Times - 1960s - 1967 - Independent Television Authority - BET - Thames Television - ABC - London Weekend Television

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James Thurber once claimed that "Associated-Rediffusion" sounded more like a rare neurological disorder than a television company.

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The name "Associated-Rediffusion Television" and the adastral trademark are now owned by Victor Lewis-Smith and used by his production company.

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Programmes produced by Associated-Rediffusion included Double Your Money, Take Your Pick, Ready, Steady, Go!, Do Not Adjust Your Set and At Last the 1948 Show.

Related Topics:
Double Your Money - Take Your Pick - Ready, Steady, Go! - Do Not Adjust Your Set - At Last the 1948 Show

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Associated-Rediffusion also sent several staff to Hong Kong in the 1950s to help start the territory's first television service, also called Rediffusion, but later renamed Asia Television.

Related Topics:
Hong Kong - 1950s - Asia Television

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