ATV Network Limited

05/09/2026

To mark the 50th anniversary of The Muppet Show here's a photo from the other end of the production in 1980. Pictured in a 1986 edition of internal magazine 'Central Globe'

04/09/2026

Remembering Richard O’Sullivan, 1944-2026, who had great success in the 70s and 80s with Thames TV sitcoms.

Prior, in just one of many TV and film roles, Richard appeared in ATV twice-weekly serial Emergency Ward 10 in the mid-sixties as John Brown.

29/08/2026

Coming soon (by which we don't mean 'imminently', so take a breath): our latest print project. Probably going to be expensive, even though it's being done for cost without any profit. Somewhere between £25 and £30, about 230 pages, 21x28cm, softback. Made by humans with no AI.

27/08/2026

Remembering Reg Watson on what would have been his 100th birthday.

From repertory theatre and radio in Australia to TV in the UK in 1955, where he joined ATV.

With ATV he was there on ITV's first night, writing the scripts for the continuity announcer Bob Danvers-Walker. (the first evening saw ATV and ARTV staff working together).

At one point Reg was producing up to 14 programmes a week, with roles at both ATV Midlands and ATV London. At some points two or three programmes on any given day.

He was a storyliner for Emergency Ward 10, brought daily live daytime television to ITV and when ATV was short staffed was noted to have read the Midland News.

Popular early rating successes for ATV with Reg included Val Parnell's Startime, Lunch Box. Hit the Limit, Tingha and Tucker, Midland Profile and For Teenagers Only - to name just a few.

In 1958 Reg visited America to study the daytime soap operas - spending time with the productions of As The World Turns and The Guiding Light - as Lew Grade was pondering the first daily half-hour soap for the UK. In 1964 they finally attempted it with Crossroads.

Reg Grundy had visited ATV in 1971, with his own plans to 'get into' producing soap. He attempted to lure Reg back to Australia, but it took three years with Reg finally agreeing to join Reg in 1974.

Once with Grundy Television Reg Watson also brought across from ATV director Alan Coleman and a few other trusted names including wardrobe mistress Rene Buckley.

With Grundy came a run of successes, The Young Doctors, Prisoner (Cell Block H), Sons and Daughters, Neighbours, Richmond Hill and many more along the way. However, the standout show was Neighbours - running for 40 years and nearly 10,000 episodes.

Reg was proud of all of his programmes and his 19 years with ATV.

26/08/2026

Tim Curry, 1946-2026.

Pictured on the 1978 ATV/RAI production of 'Life of Shakespeare' which was produced at ATV Elstree with Tim starring in the title role as William.

20/08/2026

Remembering Jim Bowen on his birthday with that time Emu went straight for the Bullseye

20/08/2026

We see that those in the know at Transdiffusion have noted this was indeed broadcast in 1982 a number of times before black and white films.

Now, does any intros survive on VHS? ...we'd love to see it in action!

Time to bring out the Central eclipse again. This is a rarer used slide from 1982.

18/08/2026

One of the early stars of ATV Midlands is 100 today!

Lunch Box resident singer David Galbreath. We hope it's been a lovely day.

14/08/2026

Let's end the week with one more Central-era slide, and head to The Last Place on Earth - although not right now - soon.

(Just for Edgar who loves the slides of Central 😂 )

13/08/2026

Following on from yesterday's Central eclipse slide, here is another from the presentation slides that survive - and this one we know was used at least once on the opening morning of Central in 1982 introducing viewers to the station without the regular 'Central' lettering.