Shouldn't be allowed. I can't see it making sense commercially, either. Who cares about Pearson? If anything, they should have gone back to the proper skyline logo and bathed in all the residual goodwill that would have provided.

But in a world where Carlton can scrub Central and Westcountry off the face of the planet, anything's possible.

It's like when Marathon became Snickers and Oil of Ulay became Oil of Olay.

So they're going to drop Thames huh? Hmmm...

That is my understanding.... Don't quite know what to do about it. Do letter or e-mail campaigns actually work?

Doubt it.... oh dear :(

Funny how the media industry dosn't know how industry works. It's the BRAND that now has the most value and THAMES is the brand, not Pearson- never has, never will.

Yes, it's an odd choice considering...

It's just like Carlton removing station names like Central and Westcountry. I've heard Granada are going to rename LWT "Granada" too.....

If Granada were going to rename their stations why on io would they invest bucket loads of money on the Leeds broadcast centre so that they can do more links which feature the regions names? What bollocks.

If the companies get their way, we'll only have Carlton (inc ex-Cent, ex-Westc), Granada (inc YTV, TTTV, LWT), Scottish (inc Grampian), United (Mer, Ang, HTV) and the 'real' independents: Border, UTV, and CTV. i think that scrapping the IBA and replacing it with the ITC was a stupid iddea. the iTC benefits the big broadcasters not the viewers

You think Border will stay independent? You obviously didn't see the report on Waveguide that said that Scottish had expressed an interest in buying it.

With the Carlton/United review due around May, these could be interesting times

Posted By Andrew Bowden on Tue Mar 14 21:21:18 GMT 2000:
"You think Border will stay independent? You obviously didn't see the report on Waveguide that said that Scottish had expressed an interest in buying it.

With the Carlton/United review due around May, these could be interesting times "


no, i hadn't read that Scottish wants to buy Border. That would ultimately mean that they would control the ITV in Scotland. I hope that the Carlton/United 'merger' (takeover) falls through. i've mourned the loss of Thames; i'd hate to see Meridian go too...

Now a bit more than expressing an interest - Scottish have actually put in a bid for it. Border are not commenting until an official statement tomorrow.

Who will be next? When does the bidding war for Channel start?

>I've mourned the loss of Thames; i'd hate to see Meridian go too...

You would mourn Meridian? They've over-perpetuated the natural TV career expectancy of cheese-meister Fred Dineage, and his flick-over hairstyle, for 8years. "HOW?" or more to the point, "WHY?"

'm looking forward to seeing what Granada will do if and when the United/Carlton merger occurs, such as munching up one, the other, or both! That would make for even more interesting times...

I thought it was Scottish Radio holdings that wanted to buy Border telly ?!

Quite correct. It is Scottish Radio Holdings who are bidding for Border. The last time I looked they had nothing to do with SMG ...

As far as Carlton/United's concerned, United are officially the bigger company and are effectively buying out Carlton. So, if anything, it could see the end of this pathetic 'let's put all our regions under the same banner' talk. I predict the re-emergence of the Central and Westcountry names. However, if GMG get involved then anything could happen!

I actually realised the other day that it was Scottish Radio... Whoops. Oh well. I seem to remember that they were trying to link up in some way with SMG but perhaps I imagined it. Of course, its not likely that Scottish Radio are that interested in the TV side of the business...

The Scottish Radio bid details mentions that they have no plans to sell off BTV but do plan to further co-operate with Granada's companies around it. So farewell to BTV continuity announcers as they want to resurrect the plan to broadcast Border from the Leeds transmition centre.

On would question the future of Border under that arrangement. Before the infamous franchise round I do remember the ITC considering merging the Border and Tyne Tees regions to match it up more closely with BBC North East and Cumbria...perhaps it'll happen after all...well at leats in terms of more co-productions

>>I've mourned the loss of Thames; i'd hate to see Meridian go too...
>
>You would mourn Meridian? They've over-perpetuated the natural TV career expectancy of cheese-meister Fred Dineage, and his flick-over hairstyle, for 8years. "HOW?" or more to the point, "WHY?"
>
Yes, well i *did* prefer TVS, but Meridian is not too bad... it is much better than Scottish , Granada or Carlton neway.. so it'd be sad to see it go...


>'m looking forward to seeing what Granada will do if and when the United/Carlton merger occurs, such as munching up one, the other, or both! That would make for even more interesting times...

that would make one itv company. no competition and no choice. you'd actually like that?

>>that would make one itv company. no competition and no choice. you'd actually like that?

Oh deary me, can't one be facetious any more?!

There isn't exactly any competition or choice on ITV now, is there, not while the Granada-dominated Network Centre runs everything.

I doubt there ever was much choice in the old days anyway ("the good old days" never did exist, for anything - it's all a conspiracy you know!), because the big companies like Thames, LWT, & Granada had such a stranglehold on ITV.

But what would I know about it? I was only a child, and I was always very happy with the choice between Rainbow and You and Me, and the competition between Magpie and Blue Peter!

I'm a huge Thames fan - that glorious opening ident was such a thrilling fanfare for the programmes. Ah, All those brightly lit variety shows, and such good children's programmes.
Hey, Simon, your friend at Pearson couldn't get hold of copies of the groundbreaking and controversial kids' shows 'You Must Be Joking' and 'Pauline's Quirkes' could he?!! I've longed to see them again for 25 years!! :-)
(I'd add Roger Price's third kids' sketch series 'You Can't Be Serious' but sadly, Thames wiped that!)

>Your friend at Pearson couldn't get hold of copies of the groundbreaking and controversial kids' shows 'You Must Be Joking' and 'Pauline's Quirkes' could he?!! I've longed to see them again for 25 years!! :-)

Alas, no, I've asked if he can get stuff for me before but he works in the wrong part of the company or something, he says it's not like the Beeb where most employees seem able to call up whatever they like out of the archives - don't really understand, but I believe him.

>Alas, no, I've asked if he can get stuff for me before but he works in the wrong part of the company or something, he says it's not like the Beeb where most employees seem able to call up whatever they like out of the archives - don't really understand, but I believe him.

Sigh. It also seems quite easy for employees at ITV stations to order up programmes from the archives, but perhaps Pearson have a different policy.
You can actually buy copies of old Thames programmes from Pearson, but it's quite expensive - around £90-£100 I think for the first ep, then a bit cheaper for the next few.
I really do wish some of those Roger Price sketch shows would come into circulation ... (Other great Thames kids' shows: Funny Ha Ha, Hold the Front Page, Pardon My Genie, Robert's Robots ...)

Sorry, that last one should have been signed David S. not DFavid S/. but it somehow posted itself before I could correct it!

I HOPE GRANADA DON'T RENAME LWT GRANADA AS LWT IS TEN TIMES BETTER THAN CARLTON (COULD THIS PERSON TELL ME WHERE THEY SAW THIS INOFRMATION). I'M LUCKY THAT IN LONDON THEY HAVE A WEEKEND SERVICE SO I DON'T HAVE TO SUFFER CARLTON AT THE WEEKEND. ANYWAY I HOPE THAMES DOESN'T DISSAPEAR AS THEY MAKE THE BETTER PROGRAMMES THAN THE REST OF PEARSONS COMPANIES. I ALSO THINK THAT THAMES SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN CABLE CHANNEL SHOWING ALL OF IT'S OLD CLASSIC CHANNELS. DOES ANYBODY ELSE AGREE WITH ME?

I ALSO THINK THAT THAMES SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN CABLE CHANNEL SHOWING ALL OF IT'S OLD CLASSIC CHANNELS. DOES ANYBODY ELSE AGREE WITH ME?

Thames (pre Pearson) was one of the founding companies that set up UK Gold.
However, I don't know what the situation is now.
Flextech owns the channel and has the deal with the BBC, which produces most of the programmes on the UK channels (Arena, Horizons etc).
Some Thames programmes, like The Bill, are still shown on UKG.

>Thames (pre Pearson) was one of the founding companies that set up UK Gold.
>However, I don't know what the situation is now.

IIRC, Pearson exchanged its stake in UK Gold, for a stake in Flexitech. Could be wrong on that though.

There appears to still be some Thames TV programmes on UK Gold. There are lots however on Granada Plus. I don't beleive that they show it with their original THAMES reflections ident, neither the THAMES COLOUR PRODUCTION endcap. It's a shame, since in France, when Benny Hill is shown, they always show the THAMES idents and endcaps in entireity. Therefore the fun is spoilt. Also, whenever BBC2 show Morecame and Wise, they always show the ATV animated ident, and at the end, the atv endcap.

Bizarrely, Pearson has a 1/4 share of Channel 5. Do they show any Thames programmes? Are they going to start showing Home and Away? (even though Pearson owns Grundy, why not Neighbours?)

Is Channel 5 and Pearson conning us?

>Bizarrely, Pearson has a 1/4 share of Channel 5. Do they show any Thames programmes? Are they going to start showing Home and Away? (even though Pearson owns Grundy, why not Neighbours?)

C5 does own the rights to start broadcasting Home and Away and the reason C5 doesn't do Neigbours is cos the Beeb owns the rights to broadcast the show. Think of it this way - Granada owns a TV station and it makes What The Papers Say, The Royale Family and Mrs Merton for the Beeb...

Just because Pearson owns a stake in C5 doesn't automatically mean that all Pearson programs will be on C5. The Bill is of course a Thames prog and thats still on ITV.

C5 did though show The Sweeny - can't remember is that was Thames or not...

Thames certainly did make The Sweeney through Euston Films (owned by Thames).

And BBC Manchester comissions Granada to make University Challenge. BTW - The LWT people should make the most of it, I can't see the seperate Weekend franchise lasting very long.

>Bizarrely, Pearson has a 1/4 share of Channel 5.

Actually, after the merger of Pearson with two continental groups announced on Saturday, Pearson owns about 60 per cent of C5. At long last, they might put some money into it and make some programmes worth watching.

>>> Pearson owns about 60 per cent of C5. At long last, they might put some money into it and make some programmes worth watching.


I somehow doubt it - I reckon eventually C5 will merge into the big ITV/ITN package, since Channel 4 seem to be branching out on their own with their new channels - They've even given up on the main digital Teletext service and started their own - and very good it is too.

I STILL WANT TO KNOW THOUGH WHO SAW ABOUT THE LWT BECOMING GRANADA AND WHAT ELSE IT SAID

>They've even given up on the main digital Teletext service and started their own - and very good it is too.

I suppose it is fast, but I think it should be entitled - GoOnAndSubscribeToFilmFourYouKnowYouWantToText

The only reason C4 have Teletext Ltd providing their main text service on Ch 4 is that the government sell the C3/C4 Teletext franchise seperately from the franchise to run ITV Stations. THe same applies to Channel 5, where Sky won the franchise for the main Teletext service. Don't forget however, the ancilliary services which are under the domain of the company that runs the TV channel (though not necessarily operated by it, many are contracted out to Intelfax).

ITV is 600, C4 is 300, C5 is 500 (I think)

>
>ITV is 600, C4 is 300, C5 is 500 (I think)

Not quite sure what you mean here - the C3/4/5 text services on analogue are completely seperate. FourText is eventually going to Cover C4 and E4 (when it launches) but started off with just FilmFour listings, you have to start somewhere!

>>
>>ITV is 600, C4 is 300, C5 is 500 (I think)
>
>Not quite sure what you mean here - the C3/4/5 text services on analogue are completely seperate.

Most of the text services on ITV/4/5 are seperate, but each channel has its own bit. For example, page 600 on ITV is entitled Border Text/LWT Plus/UTV Plus etc. There is a certain amount of space reserved for each regional ITV station.

4-Tel is completely seperate from Teletext Ltd's service

and although p500 is also called 5 text (IIRC) it is under the domain of Channel 5 and not Sky like the rest of the service.

About Five Text, the service is poor as its just a clone of Sky text and promotes Sky Tv programmes at every opportunity.

Speaking of which, is it true that Intelfax are the old Oracle company?

To Johnny Banana, Granada have no intention of changing LWT's name, they won't be doing anything until the takeovers are completed. Incidentally, it is looking like Granada will bid for United, not Carlton. Pity.

Which French channels show Benny Hill? I have access to most if not all of them... Would be nice to see one of the old idents live at the start of the programme the old style again.

>To Johnny Banana, Granada have no intention of changing LWT's name, they won't be doing anything until the takeovers are completed. Incidentally, it is looking like Granada will bid for United, not Carlton. Pity.

not really. i don't mind if granada bid for united as they're not likely to change the names. and anyway, everyone hates carlton... would you like to see Carlton Meridian, Carlton Anglia, and Carlton HTV regions? Nein danke.

>Which French channels show Benny Hill? I have access to most if not all of them... Would be nice to see one of the old idents live at the start of the programme the old style again.

ISTR it was either TF1 or F2. Where do you live? Or do you receive the signals from the Telecom satellite at 5 degrees West?

J/P www.ch4.homepage.com

>> Incidentally, it is looking like Granada will bid for United, not Carlton. Pity.

>not really. i don't mind if granada bid for united as they're not likely to change the names. and anyway, everyone hates carlton... would you like to see Carlton Meridian, Carlton Anglia, and Carlton HTV regions? Nein danke.

Sorry, I didn't make myself very clear there. Granada would prefer to gobble up United than they would Carlton. Not sure why. The reason I said it was a pity is because if Granada gobbled Carlton, the Carlton name would disappear for good. Westy and Central would likely as not reappear. You're right, though, the worst outcome would be for Carlton to merge with United, although even here I can't see all the stations becoming Carlton.

>ISTR it was either TF1 or F2. Where do you live? Or do you receive the signals from the Telecom satellite at 5 degrees West?

5 west.

>Sorry, I didn't make myself very clear there. Granada would prefer to gobble up United than they would Carlton.

Well... if the G-meister gobble up Carlton, they end up owning 50% of Ask Jeves UK, and the whole of On Digital. Thats two reasons... Granada does have a fair few joint ventures with Carlton and none with United. Perhaps this is part of the reason.

i was wondering i saw a bit of "wipeout" on bbc 1 12:oopm and saw the end credits and saw tom edwards name as the announcer is this the same Tom Edwards that used to present THAMES

you can still hear the thames fanfare from the reflection logo on "the Chris Moyles show" on BBC RADIO 1 @ 4:00

although he comes from yorkshire he's obviously a fan

Pearson should show more of Thames' classics on channels five as they do own 60% then Channel 5 would be decent. Prehaps we might see some MINDER again

One thing has just struck me as important to say in this thread.

Thames is still with us.

>One thing has just struck me as important to say in this thread.
>
>Thames is still with us.
>
> yes but only making: the bill, wish you were here, this is your life & family affairs (awful soap)

also i have a question did thames or any itv company for that matter make through the keyhole because i noticed recently that itv was made by some company i have never heard of

Yorkshire Television made Through The Keyhole, and it was shown on the ITV network for many years on primetime. YTV continued to make the programme for Sky and then the BBC, and I think it's still made in the Leeds studios (but now done by an independent).

Oh and yes itv were made by a company you've probably never heard of... Lew Grade's ITC... Now it's just something you WISH you'd never heard of...!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist...

>Yorkshire Television made Through The Keyhole, and it was shown on the ITV network for many years on primetime. YTV continued to make the programme for Sky and then the BBC, and I think it's still made in the Leeds studios (but now done by an independent).

Hmm but doing some channel hopping the other day I noticed there was the BBC logo in the opening titles which I thought was only on in-house productions.. I could be wrong though, do independents sometimes put it on too?

I also noticed Hugh Heffner's Playboy Mansion was on it, which is better than most of the guests on it these days - normally you still have to work out who it is when you see thier face (and often the names too)!

>Hmm but doing some channel hopping the other day I noticed there was the BBC logo in the opening titles which I thought was only on in-house productions.. I could be wrong though, do independents sometimes put it on too?

I *think* it is currently dependent on the production company's arrangement with the BBC. Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) and Castaway 2000 for example both had the BBC logo on the title sequence where as Have I Got News For You doesn't. All three are independent productions.

I suspect it will be eventually a situation where all programmes commisioned for a BBC Channel will have the BBC logo in the titles.

>One thing has just struck me as important to say in this thread.
>
>Thames is still with us.
>
>
When I started the thread I was reacting to information I'd received from a friend at Pearson - I think it's supposed to be a slow withdrawal of the brands as opposed to instantaneous death. A slow, drawn out, lingering, painful demise - a sorry fate for a great TV name, more the sort of thing one would wish on Jim Davidson or Ian Lee...

It obviously is going to happen now. Look at endcaps on "The Bill" and you'll note (underneath the Thames logo) it's a Pearson Television Production or somesuch

I thought that had pretty much always been like that? Certainly they were there last year when i last remember them...

Indeed. The Pearson branding on the Thames logo is nothing new.

I WONDER IF THAMES ARE GOING TO MAKE ANY MORE MR. BEAN EPISODES.

ALSO IF ANYONE READ IN THE TV TIMES ABOUT A MILLENIUM SPECIAL OF MINDER THAT IS ALL BOLLOCKS AS I ASKED PEARSON TV AND THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY A RUMOR BUT AT LEAST THEY SAID SORRY

ALSO WHO ELSE THINKS IT IS ABOUT TIME LWT CHANEGD THEIR SATURDAY SCHEDULE

>I WONDER IF THAMES ARE GOING TO MAKE ANY MORE MR. BEAN EPISODES.

I doubt it - not since the film.

>ALSO WHO ELSE THINKS IT IS ABOUT TIME LWT CHANEGD THEIR SATURDAY SCHEDULE

Obviously ITV doesn't think a change is required. I have to say I have not watched ITV on Saturday evenings for ages.