Editing ABC Weekend TV (section)

====ATV again====
Of the original four ITV contractors, ABC had difficulty getting its programmes shown in the London region, which was hampering its reputation. Two of the other contractors had London franchises, and [[Granada Television|Granada]] seemed to have a good working relationship with [[Associated-Rediffusion]] to show its programmes. ABC found itself in a head-to-head battle with ATV, as, in the early years, these were the only two companies whose franchises operated at the weekend.<ref name="Howard6" />

ATV had close connections with the [[Moss Empires]] theatre chain (through ATV's [[Val Parnell]]) and the Grade Organisation theatrical talent agency (through ATV's [[Lew Grade]] and his brother [[Leslie Grade|Leslie]]) and felt they had the expertise to make expensive, high-status drama, variety and comedy shows, and leave the cheaper "provincial" off-peak weekend programming to ABC. This would have been to ABC's financial disadvantage, since ABC (with its two regions to ATV's one region at the weekends) would have to pay two-thirds of the expensive costs of ATV London's shows, while ATV would pay only one-third of the costs of ABC's cheaper shows.<ref name="Howard7">{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Russ J |title=Howard Thomas Part 7: Lew Grade|url=https://transdiffusion.org/2005/10/02/howard7/ |website=Transdiffusion |publisher=The Transdiffusion Organisation |access-date=16 June 2022 |date=2 October 2005}}</ref>

ABC fought back, first of all, by selling some of its pre-recorded shows to [[Associated-Rediffusion]] (instead of ATV) to broadcast to London on weekdays. Secondly, it refused to buy some of ATV's top-rated shows such as ''[[Sunday Night at the London Palladium]]'' and broadcast its own alternatives such as ''Blackpool Night Out''. Eventually ATV gave way and agreed to buy more of ABC's shows.<ref name="Howard7" />