Welcome to Transdiffusion
This is the Transdiffusion Broadcasting System (TBS), a not-for-profit historical society dedicated to documenting and preserving broadcasting history.
We have over three dozen websites devoted to all aspects of broadcasting and broadcasting history [sitemap], backed by the largest known private physical archive of historical presentation material.
In the most recent update...
Φ Back on the Late Shift NBC hasn't learned its lesson not to alienate its viewers... or its talent.
Φ Selling KERA An email to the local PBS stations leads to 60 seconds of fame
Φ City Road Tyne Tees's former home hits the wrecking ball
Φ Thirty Years of Grange Hill - Part III Popularity and hard hitting storylines.
Φ Paradise Lost Part IV - Central House Exploring the extension for the new company.
On the blog...
The latest musings from our editors
Φ 10 March 2010 - Marketing defeat
Φ 3 March 2010 - Most people like the BBC as it is
Φ 2 March 2010 - Beating the retreat
Φ 26 February 2010 - Sacrificial lamb
Φ 18 February 2010 - There's an app for that
30-second guide to...
ABC (1956-1968)
ABC, originally Associated British Cinemas (Television), later Associated British Corporation, was the original Saturday and Sunday contractor for the Midlands and the North. ABC came on air in the Midlands on Saturday 18 February, in the North West on Saturday 5 May and in Yorkshire on Saturday 3 November 1956, on the first Saturday of the opening of each of the three transmitters. ABC had studios in a converted cinema in Didsbury, Greater Manchester, timeshared the Alpha Studios with ATV in Aston Cross in Birmingham, and took over the former Warner Bros film studios in Teddington, Middlesex. In 1968, the ITA abolished the weekday/weekend splits outside London and ABC was left homeless.
Whilst the company had hoped to secure the London weekends contract from ATV, the appearance of the future LWT scuppered this plan. The ITA decided to offer the London weekday (to cover Monday mornings to Friday evenings) to a joint company formed by ABC and the incumbent, Rediffusion. ABC would hold the majority of the shares in the new company, called Thames Television. Famous figures in ABC included Howard Thomas, Brian Tesler and Sydney Newman. Famous programmes included The Avengers, Armchair Theatre, Redcap, Human Jungle, Eamonn Andrews Show, Public Eye, Callan, ABC at Large, Tempo, The National Stakes, Fighting Talk, State Your Case, The Cold War, Forum, Mystery & Imagination, Police Surgeon, Intrigue, Ambition, ABC Weekend, Holiday Town Parade, ABC Farming Comment, World of Sport and Thank Your Lucky Stars.
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