Associated-Rediffusion
In 1964, the company simplified its official name to "Rediffusion Television". Because of the new name they also rebranded the station as "Rediffusion London". In October 1967 the Independent Television Authority announced that the company would no longer serve the region after the contract expires in 1968. Due to changes in the ITV network, the weekend franchises in the Midlands and North of England being abolished. ABC Weekend TV, the holders of the now abolished weekend franchises tried applying for the London weekend franchise but the licence was awarded to the London Television Consortium. To preserve ABC, the ITA proposed ABC and Rediffusion make a new company: Thames Television. This was not a merger as commonly stated. ABPC, ABC's parent company and BET, Rediffusion's parent company, created Thames as a separate company. Thames would use staff from ABC's Teddington Studios and Rediffusion's Television House. BET took a 49% stake in Thames and was under-represented in the management. Rediffusion objected towards this and was given two options. Either Thames tok the contract or ABC took over. Rediffusion chose Thames Television and went of air on 29 July 1968 at 12:26 am. Rediffusion's employees at Wembley would work for London Weekend Television while the employees at Television House would work for Thames. Some staff re-located to Yorkshire Television in Leeds.