View source for ITV Central

{{short description|Independent Television franchisee for the Midlands}}
{{Lead too short|date=April 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox broadcasting network
| name = ITV Central
| logo = ITV Central 2013.svg
| logo_size = 150
| logo_alt = Central Independent Television.svg
| logo caption = Logo used since 2013
| image = ITV Central 2015 locator map.svg
| image_size = 150
| image_alt = 
| caption = 
| type = Region of television network
| branding = [[ITV1]]
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| airdate = {{start date and age|1982|1|1|df=yes}}
| available = 
| founded = {{start date and age|1980|4|14|df=yes}}
| founder = Lew Grade (founder of ATV)
| motto = {{plainlist|
* "The One to Watch"
* "Even More"
* "The Shape of Television"
* "Central is ITV"
* "Central Just the ticket"
  }}
| tvtransmitters = [[Sutton Coldfield transmitting station|Sutton Coldfield]], [[Waltham transmitting station|Waltham]], [[Ridge Hill transmitting station|Ridge Hill]], [[The Wrekin transmitting station|The Wrekin]]<br />''(formerly [[Oxford transmitting station|Oxford]], [[Lichfield transmitting station|Lichfield]], [[Membury transmitting station|Membury]])''
| headquarters = [[Birmingham]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]
| broadcast_area = [[Midlands|The Midlands]] and parts of the South West
| nation = England
| owner = [[ITV plc]]
| parent = 
| key_people = 
| dissolved = lost on-air identity on {{end date|2002|10|27|df=y}} (now known as ITV1 at all times)
| former_names = {{plainlist|
* Central Independent Television
* Carlton Central
* ITV1 Carlton for Central England
* ITV1 for Central England
  }}
| Picture format = [[1080i]] [[HDTV]], downscaled to [[16:9]] [[576i]] for [[SDTV]]
| affiliation = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| groups = 
| former_affiliations = 
| webcast = 
| website = {{URL|itv.com/central}}
| replaced = [[Associated Television|ATV]]
| replaced_by = 
| subsidiary = 
| footnotes = 
}}

'''ITV Central''', previously known as '''Central Independent Television''', '''Central ITV, Carlton Central''', '''ITV1 for Central England''' and commonly referred to as simply '''Central''', is the [[ITV (TV network)|Independent Television]] franchisee in [[Midlands|the English Midlands]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Central ITV |url=http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/tv-broadcast-licences/current-licensees/channel-3/carlton_central/ |work=Channel 3 Broadcast Licensees |publisher=[[Ofcom]] |access-date=20 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415101042/http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/tv-broadcast-licences/current-licensees/channel-3/carlton_central/ |archive-date=15 April 2012}}</ref> It was created following the restructuring of [[Associated Television|ATV]] and officially began broadcasting on 1 January 1982. The service is owned and operated by [[ITV plc]] under the licensee of ''ITV Broadcasting Limited''. Historically Central made a major contribution to the ITV network schedule – especially in entertainment and drama – but today its main responsibility is the regional news service.

==History==
{{further|Timeline of Central Independent Television}}

===Background===
During the 1970s [[Associated Television|ATV]], the previous Midlands licence holder, was often criticised for its lack of regional output and character. Although ATV had purpose-built a modern colour production complex in the centre of [[Birmingham]], most of its major productions were recorded at its main studios at [[ATV Elstree Studios|Elstree]] in Hertfordshire, a legacy of the period when the company also held the London Weekend franchise until 1968, when it was awarded to [[London Weekend Television|LWT]]. Its corporate headquarters were in Central London.

ATV attempted to address its problem in 1980 as part of its franchise reapplication; with plans for a second major facility in the area (to be based in [[Nottingham]]) and as part of the [[Independent Broadcasting Authority]]'s plan for the contract to provide separate news coverage for both the East Midlands and the West Midlands. The company name would also be changed from ATV Network Limited to ATV Midlands Limited, thus reinforcing the greater regional focus. The IBA accepted ATV's assertion that ATV Midlands Ltd planned to take a more local identity and awarded the contract to ATV Midlands Ltd on the basis that further changes were to be implemented, including that the parent company, Associated Communications Corporation, would divest 49 percent of its shareholding in ATV Midlands Ltd in an attempt to introduce local shareholders and that ATV Midlands Ltd's registered office should be within the region. To demonstrate this change of share structure the IBA insisted that ATV change its company name, to show that it was a substantially new company due to the requirement for a dual region.<ref name="ATV ITW1">{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=Jeremy |title=ATV (Associated Television) History |url=http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/itw/ATV/history.html |publisher=Independent TeleWeb |access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="Gosling, Kenneth 1980, p. 1">Gosling, Kenneth. "Southern and Westward TV lose franchises and others to be restructured", ''The Times'', 29 December 1980, p. 1</ref>

===Launch===
The station began transmitting at 9:25&nbsp;am on Friday 1 January 1982 with an authority announcement by duty announcer Su Evans, followed by an extended five-minute promo entitled ''Welcome to Central'', voiced by [[Peter Wheeler (broadcaster)|Peter Wheeler]], previewing the company's network and regional programming, and the schedule for the first day of transmission.<ref name="Welcome to Central">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNl2CBK6zPg ITV Central], YouTube. Retrieved 29 December 2015.</ref>

Central initially ran a sole pan-regional service from Birmingham, as a result of an industrial dispute which prevented its East Midlands service from Nottingham commencing before September 1983. The split allowed Central to serve the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] with its own service from Birmingham.<ref name="subTV ATV">{{cite web|last=Robertson|first=Jason|title=ATV History|url=http://www.sub-tv.co.uk/atvhistory.asp|publisher=sub-TV|access-date=20 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326015259/http://www.sub-tv.co.uk/atvhistory.asp|archive-date=26 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> There were few differences between the East and West sub-regions, but each had its own news service, advertisements, and during the early years of operation, continuity. This would lead to the [[BBC]] launching its own sub-regional service for the East Midlands during the 1980s, which became a region in its own right in January 1991, with the launch of ''[[BBC East Midlands Today]]''.

===Operations===
By March 1984, the reorganisation of the company was complete, allowing pre-tax profits to double from £3.5&nbsp;million to £6.5&nbsp;million in its first two financial years.<ref>Cornelius, Andrew. "Earnings jump at HTV and Central", ''The Times'', 23 March 1984, p. 23</ref> Shortly afterward, [[Zenith Productions]] was established as a subsidiary of Central Television, which produced programming for the UK and the USA – most famously including the company's television adaptations of the ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' novels.<ref>Fiddick, Peter. "Zenith and the art of film-making", ''The Guardian'', 5 October 1984</ref> The formation of Zenith Productions on 3 April 1984 allowed the company to exploit markets outside of the US and UK, similarly to how [[Thames Television|Thames]] operated its [[Euston Films]] subsidiary.<ref>{{cite news |title=British Central TV Aiming at U.S. Market with Prod Subsid |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=4 April 1984 |page=68}}</ref> Central's interests in onscreen fiction saw the company buy the Korda Film Library in 1986.<ref>Central advert, ''The Times'', 3 November 1986; p. 33</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Korda classics for Central |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Korda+classics+for+Central.-a0182117521 |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>

In January 1987, Central acquired the European division of the American production company [[FilmFair]] for £1.5million,<ref>NEWS IN BRIEFThe Guardian (1959–2003); 6 January 1987;</ref> which went on to produce several of the station's networked children's series before being sold onto the Storm Group (Caspian) in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/%2FC+O+R+R+E+C+T+I+O+N+--+CINAR+Films+Inc.%2F(Correction+Notice)-a018898126|title=/C O R R E C T I O N – CINAR Films Inc./(Correction Notice)|publisher=Thefreelibrary.com|access-date=16 December 2014|archive-date=6 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806220736/https://www.thefreelibrary.com//C+O+R+R+E+C+T+I+O+N+--+CINAR+Films+Inc./(Correction+Notice)-a018898126|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://playbackonline.ca/1996/12/02/18489-19961202/|title=News Briefs|publisher=Playbackonline.ca|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> On the same day, Central bought a stake in Starstream, who co-founded and operated [[The Children's Channel]] – the 22% stake was sold in November 1991 to United Artists Cable International (formerly a subsidiary of United Artists Theatres, the parent company now a division of [[Regal Entertainment Group]], and the former cable company merged into [[Tele-Communications, Inc.|TCI]], the predecessor of [[Liberty Media]]). A few months later, Central became the first ITV station to broadcast its own overnight service, including short news bulletins, imported output and the long-running ''Jobfinder'' service – launched in 1986 in partnership with the [[Manpower Services Commission]] – which went on to run for 17 years and won a Royal Television Society award. Central was also awarded the Queen's Award to Industry for Export twice, for selling its range of programming to over 80 countries around the world, in April 1987<ref>"Central", ''The Times'', 21 April 1987, p. 30</ref> and April 1989.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hayward |first=Anthony |title=Philip Jones: Television executive who sold 'Inspector Morse' to the world |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/philip-jones-television-executive-who-sold-inspector-morse-to-the-world-1739868.html |work=The Independent |location=London |date=10 July 2009 |access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="MELANIPHY">{{cite news |last=Melaniphy |first=Mike |title=Central |url=http://www.theidentgallery.com/misc/misc/IBA1988-Central.png |publisher=Television and Radio 1988: The IBA's Yearbook |date=n.d.}}</ref>

Under its growing business portfolio, Central created CTE ([[Central Television Enterprises]]) in December 1987 and opened international bureaux in [[Hamburg]], New York City and Sydney for sales, sponsorship and newsgathering operations. CTE, the company's key international distributor of programming, would later represent output sales for Carlton Communications (for its television channel programme-[[ITV Wales & West|HTV]], [[ITV Meridian|Meridian]] and [[Carlton Television|Carlton]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1993/more/news/carlton-taps-cte-int-l-distrib-103198/|title=Carlton taps CTE int'l distrib|work=Variety|date=21 January 1993 |access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> who took over Central in 1994.

In 1989, the company founded [[Zodiac Entertainment]] – an American entertainment firm specialising in the production and distribution of animated cartoons. Central invested $35&nbsp;million in the company before deciding to discontinue its production business in 1994, leaving Zodiac to become a distributor. Also in 1989,<ref>"Central Independent Television plc", ''The Times'', 23 March 1989, p. 37;</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wildscreen.org.uk/about-trustees|title=Wildscreen – Board|publisher=Wildscreen.org.uk|access-date=16 December 2014|archive-date=2 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223919/http://www.wildscreen.org.uk/about-trustees|url-status=dead}}</ref> Central established ''[[Television Sales and Marketing Services Ltd]]'' (TSMS), a joint venture with [[ITV Anglia|Anglia Television]] providing airtime sales and program sponsorships, in part to recover production costs.<ref name="Fundinguniverse.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/central-independent-television-history/|title=History of Central Independent Television |publisher=Fundinguniverse.com|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> In March 1994, Anglia acquired Central's stake in the company to take full control with Central moving over to Carlton's sales department.<ref name="The Times 1994, p. 25">"Too much reward without risk", ''The Times'', 4 March 1994, p. 25</ref>

In March 1990, Central formed a partnership with ''[[The Observer]]'' newspaper to create ''Central Observer'', making environmental themed films for [[British Satellite Broadcasting]] and terrestrial channels, with funding from the charity Television Trust for the Environment.<ref>Observer to pioneer green broadcasting. The Observer; 4 March 1990; P3</ref>

Central was unopposed in [[1991 ITV franchise auctions|retaining its franchise in 1993]], which allowed the company to bid only a token £2,000 a year (just over £5 a day)<ref>Bell, Emily. "The darling bids of May", ''The Observer'', 19 May 1991</ref><ref>Wittstock, Melinda. "40 bidders emerge at deadline in contest for new ITV contracts", ''The Times'', 16 May 1991, p. 2</ref> – though the company stressed the need to cut more jobs to become more cost-efficient,<ref>"Big two face toughest TV franchise fight", ''The Guardian'', 16 May 1991</ref> as the company had agreed to pay 11% of their annual advertising revenue on top of their winning bid. The station's workforce was reduced to 1500 by 1990 and then to 900 by the start of 1992 – less than half of the payroll Central had employed in 1987.

Central also profited from the auction after [[ITV Meridian|Meridian]], a consortium in which Central held a 20% stake, won the franchise to serve the South and South East of England.<ref>'The deadline of 15 May was looming. All bids, sealed in an envelope, ...The Observer (1901– 2003); 20 October 1991;</ref><ref>Head of Central intelligence: Leslie HillLindsay, VincentThe Observer (1901– 2003); 20 October 1991;</ref> Post-1993, the company's ITV network presence was further strengthened when it took over commissioning, presentation and compliance responsibility for a number of continuing [[Thames Television]] productions, such as ''[[Count Duckula]]'', ''[[The Tomorrow People]]'', ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'', ''[[Des O'Connor Tonight]]'', ''[[Mr. Bean]]'', ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'', ''[[Strike It Lucky]]'' and ''[[Wish You Were Here...?|Wish You Were Here]]''.

By April 1993, with the added increase of 8.8% in advertising revenues to £250&nbsp;million and its income from programme sales rising to £83.4&nbsp;million, Central became the most successful ITV company after the start of the new franchises.<ref>Laurance, Ben. "Central already coining it before franchise coup: Outlook", ''The Guardian'', 1 April 1993</ref>

===Ownership and takeover===
Although the IBA required 49% of the new station to be owned locally by companies and individuals,<ref name="Gosling, Kenneth 1980, p. 1"/> the take-up was nowhere near as expected, leaving companies outside the region to buy shares including [[DC Thomson]] (15%), Ladbrokes (10%), Pergamon (9%) and British Rail (2%).

Shortly after the station began broadcasting, Australian entrepreneur [[Robert Holmes à Court]] – via his Bell Group – started the process of acquiring ACC, but was halted by the IBA, since the law prohibited foreign companies from controlling British television companies.<ref>Grade is ousted in £37 m ACC takeoverBrown, MaggieThe Guardian (1959–2003); 15 January 1982;</ref> By March, a rival bid from Gerald Ronson's Heron Corporation also entered the race to takeover ACC.<ref>Robinson, Philip. "New ACC bid by Holmes a'Court", ''The Times'', 11 March 1982, p. 15</ref><ref>Brown, Maggie. "Stampede to buy TV empire", ''The Guardian'', 22 January 1982, p. 25</ref> In April 1982, ACC was taken-over by Holmes à Court,<ref>Robinson, Philip. "ACC shareholders set to accept £60m offer", ''The Times'', 15 April 1982, p. 13</ref> with the IBA approving the deal in June on condition that ACC's 51 percent stake in Central be put in trust, thus divesting ACC of all voting power until it had reduced its shares in the broadcaster.<ref>"IBA gives ACC go-ahead", ''The Guardian'', 2 June 1982</ref>

By January 1983, 167 staff had bought shares in the station for a £1 each as part of an innovative shareholding scheme to help offload shares to local people in the Central region.<ref>Barker, Dennis. "TV staff willing to buy bigger stake in company", ''The Guardian'', 5 January 1983</ref> In May 1983, ACC finally sold off its stake in Central; Sears Holdings purchased 20%,<ref>Clare, Jonathan. "Sears buys stake in Central TV", ''The Times'', 7 May 1983; p. 11</ref> while Ladbrokes and DC Thomson also increased their stakes to 20% each, and Pergamon took its ownership to 12.5%, with 27.5% being held by single stakeholders.<ref>"Central Independent Television Plc", ''The Times'', 28 May 1983, p. 13;</ref>

In March 1987, [[Carlton Communications]] acquired 20 percent of Central from Ladbrokes for £30million<ref>Feltham, Cliff. "Ladbroke sale fuels takeover speculation", ''The Times'', 16 March 1987, p. 19</ref> which finally gave Carlton its first stake in a terrestrial broadcasting company, after a bid to buy [[Thames Television]] was blocked by the IBA two years beforehand.<ref>Stoddart, Robin. "Carlton buys Central stake from Ladbroke", ''The Guardian'', 16 March 1987</ref> In January 1994<ref>Dawtry, Adam. "Carlton's Central Takeover Done Deal", ''Variety'', 10 January 1994, p. 56</ref> Central was bought in its entirety by Carlton for £750&nbsp;million<ref name="The Times 1994, p. 25"/><ref>Waller, Martin. "TV bid will spark more takeovers", ''The Times'', 30 November 1993, p. 23</ref> The new owners later restructured the company further by combining Central's operations into one and moving its Birmingham studios to a smaller complex elsewhere in the city centre. Network programmes were now classed as ''Carlton UK Productions'' and around 140 jobs were lost from the downgraded Birmingham operation.<ref>Culf, Andrew. "Axing of 180 jobs fuels fears for regional TV", ''The Guardian'', 7 September 1994</ref><ref>Frean, Alexandra. "Shake-up at Carlton to cost 180 jobs", ''The Times'', 7 September 1994, p. 24</ref>

On 6 September 1999, the station was rebranded on-air as Carlton Central, though the registered company name remained Central Independent Television Limited. The new identity, produced by [[Lambie-Nairn]], was also used on Central's sister stations in the [[Carlton Television|London]] and [[Westcountry Television|Carlton Westcountry]] regions. Only the "Carlton" name was used on air; however, Central's regional news programmes retained the "Central" brand. With the merger of Carlton and Granada on 2 February 2004, the brand became ITV1 Central. It is currently owned by [[ITV plc]] and on 29 December 2006, the registered company name was changed from ''Central Independent Television Ltd'' to ''ITV Central Ltd''. This company is, along with most other regional companies owned by ITV plc, listed on www.companieshouse.gov.uk as a "[[Dormant company]]".

===Incidents===
On 5 April 2005, it was revealed ITV Central could be fined by regulator [[Ofcom]] for broadcasting a pre-recorded late ''[[ITV News Central|Central News]]'' bulletin for the East Midlands. The regulator later permitted ITV to pre-record some regional news bulletins shortly before transmission.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/apr/05/itv.television ITV faces live news fine] Jason Deans, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 5 April 2005</ref>

On 15 July 2008, the station was fined £25,000 for contempt of court.<ref>[https://www.5rb.com/case/Attorney-General-v-ITV-Central-Ltd Attorney General v ITV Central Ltd] 5RB, 15 July 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=16 July 2008|title=£25,000 contempt of court fine for ITV Central|url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/25000-contempt-of-court-fine-for-itv-central/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909042420/https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/25000-contempt-of-court-fine-for-itv-central/|archive-date=2020-09-09|access-date=2020-09-09|website=Press Gazette|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Studios==
{{Main|Gas Street Studios|Carlton Studios, Nottingham}}

Initially, Central inherited ATV's Broad Street studios, [[Associated TeleVision#Broadcasting|ATV Centre]], which was renamed Central House when the contractor changed its name – they were retained as Central's headquarters, West Midlands studios and transmission facilities until 1997. Upon winning the franchise, Central decided to construct new studios for its East sub-region, based in Lenton Lane, [[Nottingham]] – the new complex was to be called 'East Midlands Television centre'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transdiffusion.org/tv/studioone/inside_lenton_l|title=Inside Lenton Lane – Studios |publisher=Transdiffusion.org|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> Up until the studios were opened, Central's East Midlands operations were based on an industrial estate at [[Giltbrook]], near Eastwood on the outskirts of Nottingham. A temporary radio link from Giltbrook to the [[Waltham transmitting station|Waltham]] transmitter via BT Bowman/Sheriff (Nottingham) Telephone Exchange provided the contribution feed into the studio/transmission network. The Nottingham studios were to be staffed by employees originally based at Elstree (in the studio complex that became BBC Elstree), which led to many problems due to the relocation, including industrial action, which resulted in a long delay for the promised separate [[ITV News Central|news service for the East Midlands]] until September 1983.<ref name="TBS Giltbrook">{{cite web|last=Buxton|first=Roddy|title=A trip to Giltbrook|url=https://www.transdiffusion.org/tv/studioone/a_trip_to_giltb|work=Studio One|publisher=Transdiffusion Broadcasting System|access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref>

The Nottingham studio complex finally opened in January 1984, followed by an official opening by [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]], on 2 March 1984.<ref>"Court Circular", ''The Times'', 3 March 1984, p. 10</ref> Five years later, Central opened a computerized news centre in [[Abingdon, Oxfordshire|Abingdon]] for the launch of its third sub-region, serving the South Midlands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4105574.TV_s_Wesley_says_fond_farewell/|title=TV's Wesley says fond farewell|author=Andrew Ffrench|work=Oxford Mail|date=6 February 2009 |access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> ''[[ITV News Central|Central News South]]'' was broadcast from the Abingdon studios, supplemented by news bureaux in Aylesbury, Gloucester and Swindon.

[[File:ITV Central Headquarters Gas Street.jpg|thumb|The ITV Central headquarters in Gas Street, Birmingham.]]
The Broad Street studios in Birmingham – which were rented – came under Central's ownership in November 1991, by which time, its network and large scale programming capability had been transferred to Nottingham, scaling down the Birmingham operation to providing ''Central News West'', regional programming and presentation operations, including those for [[CITV]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transdiffusion.org/tv/insidetv/history/the_rise_and_fa|title=The rise and fall of Lenton Lane – Politics |publisher=Transdiffusion.org|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> In 1994, Central's new owners Carlton acquired land on nearby Gas Street to begin work on building a new, smaller digital studio complex. The new centre was completed in 1997, when Central West's regional news department moved from its Broad Street base, which was eventually demolished during the spring of 2015 to make way for the new 'Arena Central' development."<ref>{{cite web|last=Buxton|first=Roddy|title=A trip to Broad Street|url=https://www.transdiffusion.org/tv/studioone/a_trip_to_broad|work=Studio One|publisher=Transdiffusion Broadcasting System|access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref> Having been one of the first fully computerised news programmes, ''Central News South'' was again a pioneer of new technology when, in the Spring of 2001, state-of-the-art [[Quantel]] digital video servers and edit suites were installed, along with a complete re-fit of camera and VTR equipment, placing Central South at the forefront of digital news-gathering in regional news.

In February 2004, [[ITV plc]] announced plans to close and sell the Lenton Lane production centre in Nottingham with over 350 jobs being axed in the process<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/feb/26/broadcasting.ITV1|title=ITV axes up to 400 jobs as Nottingham studio closes|author=Claire Cozens|work=The Guardian|date=26 February 2004 |access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> Following the closure of the studios, a new news-gathering centre was established in the city, but production and transmission of ''Central News East'' moved to the Birmingham studio in Spring 2005. The former studio complex is now part of the [[University of Nottingham]] and is known as '[[King's Meadow Campus]]'.<ref>{{cite web|title=King's Meadow Campus|url=https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/about/campuses/kingsmeadowcampus.aspx|publisher=University of Nottingham|access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref> It still maintains one Studio (Studio 7), and this is rented out to television and film companies, generating income for the university. In October 2004, [[ITV plc]] closed Central's presentation/transmission department and moved transmission to the Northern Transmission Centre in [[Leeds]]. Although there was heavy opposition, the role of presentation and transmission at Birmingham had been significantly reduced after network presentation was centralised to [[London News Network|LNN]] in London in 2002 and so there was an inevitability that this function would be moved out. [[CITV]] (Children's ITV), which had been presented by Central since 1983, was also re-homed to [[Granada Television|Granada]]'s studios in [[Manchester]], with all content pre-recorded and with out-of vision presentation.

A documentary about the Broad Street studios was later released on DVD in October 2011. Entitled 'From ATVLand in Colour' (referring to the nickname used on Tiswas, and the building being purpose-built by ATV for colour broadcasting), the documentary featured presenters, actors, announcers and behind-the-scenes staff talking about their time working in the studios, and the programmes that were made there by Central, and predecessor ATV.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Press Release |url=http://www.atvlandproductions.com/atv/project.html |publisher=ATVLAND.production |access-date=20 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104122055/http://www.atvlandproductions.com/atv/project.html |archive-date=4 January 2012 }}</ref> The five-part documentary, produced by ATVLAND Productions, was followed up in November 2012 by ''From Headlines to Tight Lines'', a DVD on the history of the regional news magazine programme ''[[ATV Today]]''.

ITV have since also sold the Gas Street office building to Cube Real Estate, a commercial property developer, which has refurbished the interior of the building. While Central maintains office space and a single ground floor studio, the other studio and floors are available to rent as office space. The property is marketed as '22 Gas Street'.

==Sub-regions==
Central currently operates two sub-regions:
*'''Central West''' serving [[City of Birmingham]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], [[Staffordshire]], [[Warwickshire]], [[Shropshire]], [[Worcestershire]], [[Herefordshire]] and parts of [[Gloucestershire]] and [[Cherwell (district)]].
*'''Central East''' serving [[Nottinghamshire]], [[Derbyshire]], [[Leicestershire]], [[Rutland]] and parts of [[Lincolnshire]], [[Cambridgeshire]] and [[Northamptonshire]] - broadcast from Birmingham with a newsgathering centre based in Nottingham.

Initially, as a result of a long-running industrial dispute, Central broadcast a single pan-regional news service from Birmingham. The East Midlands service of news, local advertisements and presentation was launched in September 1983, leaving the Birmingham-based service to adopt its focus on the rest of the region. In January 1989, Central launched a third sub-region for the South Midlands (the Oxford and Ridge Hill transmitters previously served by Central West), carrying its own news service and local advertisements.

The Central South region was disbanded in December 2006 after 17 years in operation – with the eastern half of the area merging with Meridian's North region to form an [[ITV Thames Valley]] region.<ref>{{cite news|last=Holmwood|first=Leigh|title=Launch of ITV region delayed|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/sep/20/broadcasting.ITV|access-date=20 April 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=20 September 2006|location=London}}</ref> At the same time, [[ITV Wales & West|ITV West]]'s broadcast footprint was expanded to cover North Gloucestershire from the West's [[Bristol]] studios, while [[Herefordshire]] and [[Ludlow]] re-joined Central News West from [[Birmingham]]. While all Thames Valley news programmes were broadcast from Meridian's studios in Whiteley in Hampshire, Central's former Abingdon base was retained as a newsgathering centre.

Further changes in February 2009 saw the end of wholly separate programmes for Central's East and West sub-regions. The pan-regional service included a short six-minute opt out within the 6&nbsp;pm programme and separate late night bulletins for the two areas. In the former Central South area, ITV's [[ITV Thames Valley|Thames Valley]] operations were fully merged with those in Meridian's South sub-region<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107052130|title=Whatever happened to Central South, Meridian Newbury and ITV Thames Valley?|author=Brian Butterworth|work=UK Free TV|access-date=16 December 2014|archive-date=7 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707034231/http://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107052130|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/4133572.ITV_under_fire_over_new_regional_show/|title=ITV under fire over new regional show|author=Amanda Williams|work=thisisoxfordshire|date=17 February 2009 |access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> and its former territory – including Oxfordshire, Swindon and Buckinghamshire – was formally transferred to the Meridian region when the regional licence was renewed in 2014.

On 23 July 2013, proposals for a more localised Channel 3 news service were approved by Ofcom – ''ITV News Central'' extended the East and West opt-out services from six minutes to twenty minutes during the half-hour 6&nbsp;pm programme, in addition to separate lunchtime and weekend bulletins for the two sub-regions.<ref>[http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2013/07/23/ofcom-sets-out-licence-terms-for-itv-stv-utv-and-channel-5/ OFCOM sets out licence terms for ITV, STV, UTV and Channel 5] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726234355/http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2013/07/23/ofcom-sets-out-licence-terms-for-itv-stv-utv-and-channel-5/ |date=26 July 2013 }}, OFCOM, 23 July 2013</ref> In the former Thames Valley region, plans were approved for a ten-minute opt out within the 6&nbsp;pm edition of ''[[ITV News Meridian]]'' for the south of England.

==Identity==
[[File:CentralIndependentTelevision.jpg|thumb|The first Central logo, used from 1982 to 1983.<ref name="tv-live1">{{cite web|title=Central: Idents|url=http://tvlive.org.uk/tv-presentation/itv/regions/central/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123050811/http://tvlive.org.uk/tv-presentation/itv/regions/central/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=23 November 2016|publisher=TV Live|access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref>]]

===Globe: 1982–85===
Upon launch, Central's on screen presentation featured a sphere (which resembled a moon or a total eclipse) which would burst open with light, before reforming, accompanied by a light jingle, but was dropped and revised during 1983, so the moon ident would just appear out of darkness with the [[Visible spectrum|colour spectrum]] appearing to its left hand side.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/UV1ooMptQWc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140517151320/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV1ooMptQWc Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|title=Central Ident 1982|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV1ooMptQWc|via=YouTube|access-date=20 April 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvlive.org.uk/tv-presentation/itv/regions/central/1982-1985/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220042526/http://tvlive.org.uk/tv-presentation/itv/regions/central/1982-1985/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=20 December 2016|title=Central: 1982–1985|work=TV Live|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> This ident was dropped locally in 1985, but remained on the front and end of networked programmes until August 1988.

Although the symbol is well known as the "globe", Russ J Graham of Transdiffusion said the ident passes through several stages that make the viewer wonder "what is it?", before "revealing nothing", noting he thought of it as an [[egg]], but noted it was apparently based on a [[UFO]] hovering over the Midlands.<ref>{{cite web |author=Russ J Graham |url=https://www.transdiffusion.org/2004/05/24/central-2 |title=Central - Album - Transdiffusion Broadcasting System |publisher=Transdiffusion.org |date=2004-05-24 |accessdate=2021-11-27}}</ref>

===Cake: 1985–98===
[[File:Central Independent Television.svg|thumb|The Central cake logo.]]
On 30 August 1985 at 7pm, a new presentation package was launched, which saw the moon redesigned into a three-dimensional shape. It was initially used solely for regional continuity purposes. It did not appear as a pre-programme front ident on network programming from Central, however, it having only been adopted for branding network programmes in April 1988, it began to be used as one of only a few animated end captions in ITV’s history, a few months after pre-programme ITV idents were dropped. The new logo was a circle in shape, but with a curved line running down the left hand side and five horizontal lines dividing the sphere up into twelve segments. The left six segments were coloured red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple and the whole symbol was computer-animated. The symbol, nicknamed "The Aspirin", or more popularly ''The Cake'', would have a variety of form ups, mainly involved with bringing the segments together or applying the colour to the symbol. The soundtrack was the same composition, but played in a variety of different ways.<ref name=TVARKcentral>{{cite web|title=Central Index|url=http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itvmidlands/central_index.html|publisher=TVARK|access-date=25 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127115631/http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itvmidlands/central_index.html|archive-date=27 January 2012|url-status=usurped}} Pages contain video images of all the idents.</ref> On 25 April 1987,{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}} a new promotional package was introduced with a new slogan ''Let's Get Together'' in 1988.

Central also adopted the [[History of ITV television idents#1989|ITV 1989 generic look]] as another ident to use alongside the ''Cake''. The generic ident was used in its raw form, along with altered music, and as part of another ident giving greater emphasis to the ''cake'', and was only used into the ITN News.<ref name=TVARKcentral/> Between 1985 and 1997, well over 10,000 different sequences were made by Central's Presentation team in Birmingham, including break bumpers, idents, "next" animations and trail designs, which give the channel a wider range of presentation than any other British television station. The last batch of Cake idents to be created was introduced on 1 January 1997, in which the ''cake'' became more abstract with both more advanced computer graphics used and more live action models & sequences (including a physical neon sign version).<ref name=TVARKcentral/>

===Central: 1998–99===
From 19 January 1998, the channel started to be called ‘Central ITV’ during continuity announcements, although on screen it was just branded ‘Central’; trailers for programmes were now branded with the 1989 (and later 1998) ITV logo. The ''cake'' lasted 13 years before being replaced on 27 April 1998, by adapting a version of the idents that had been used by [[Carlton Television|Carlton]] since 25 November 1996. This featured the name ''Central'' in the font [[Gill Sans]] in centre screen against a bright and colourful background. The idents featured a 2D animation of either the letters interacting in some way, a letter being replaced with another object, or the word being part of a larger scene, such as a cross word of place names in the region. The look was retired on 5 September 1999.<ref name=TVARKcentral/><ref name="tv-live.org.uk">{{cite web|url=http://tvlive.org.uk/tv-presentation/itv/regions/central/1998-2006/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121220242/http://tvlive.org.uk/tv-presentation/itv/regions/central/1998-2006/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=21 November 2016|title=Central: 1998–2006|work=TV Live|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>

===Carlton: 1999–2002===
{{main|Carlton Television#1999}}
Central adopted the Carlton 'Star' branding on 6 September 1999, shortly before much of the network adopted the [[History of ITV television idents#October 1998 – October 2002|second generic look]] under the theme of 'Hearts'. The Carlton idents featured an opening film featuring a heart at the end, before a star shaped light came from the heart, engulfing the screen, and showing the endboard, which featured a background of spinning stars in different colours with the brand name centre screen above an ITV logo. The ident itself technically was praised, however the presentational package received complaints and criticisms due to the fact that the Central brand was replaced by the ''Carlton'' brand. These idents only featured the Carlton name on screen but the announcements that featured with idents used the name "Carlton for the Central Region" and separate continuity was retained.<ref name="tv-live.org.uk"/><ref name=TVARKcarlton>{{cite web|last=Barnes|first=Steve|title=Carlton Midlands Index|url=http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itvmidlands/carlton_index.html|publisher=TVARK|access-date=25 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318050031/http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itvmidlands/carlton_index.html|archive-date=18 March 2012|url-status=usurped}}Contains videos of the idents.</ref>

===ITV Central===
[[File:ITV Central.svg|thumb|ITV Central logo used from 2006 to 2013.]]
On 11 August 2001, the ITV1 brand was formed in which replaced the 'ITV' on the Carlton idents. As the ITV1 idents began to be used on their own more and more, and Carlton and Granada owned all the franchises in England and Wales, Carlton and Granada decided to axe regional branding, and replace it with a full-time ITV1 identity. Before regional programmes, the logo 'ITV1 Carlton' was used, until 1 December 2003, when they were known as 'ITV1 for Central England'. The regional idents were gradually phased out, and by 2006, on most days, the only regional branding was for the regional news. In November 2006, the Central name was retired, when regional idents were axed. It would then be known as just ITV1 at all times.

The Carlton brand continued to be seen on production captions until February 2004, with the caption ''A Carlton Production'' or ''A Carlton Production for Central England'' being used. This was replaced, following the merger of [[Granada plc]] and [[Carlton Communications]] to form [[ITV plc]], with an ITV regional logo featuring the word ''Central'' below the ITV logo with the caption ‘An ITV Production’. Today, the majority of productions have been moved away from the Midlands region, and any productions are accredited to [[ITV Studios]].<ref name=TVARKcarlton/> On 14 January 2013, the station's on-air identity reverted to [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]], along with all other ITV plc-owned franchises.

==Programmes==
Taking over from ATV as one of the '[[History of ITV#The Big Four and Big Five|Big Five]]' of ITV companies, Central performed strongly on networked output, carrying on several ATV shows, most notably the soap-opera ''[[Crossroads (British TV series)|Crossroads]]'' and game shows including ''[[Bullseye (British game show)|Bullseye]]'' and ''[[Family Fortunes]]''. Original programming included comedy series such as ''[[Auf Wiedersehen, Pet]]'' (more recently revived by the BBC) and the multi award-winning ''[[Spitting Image]]'',<ref>Davalle, Peter. "BBC picks up eight awards", ''The Times'', 30 April 1986, p. 3</ref><ref>"British TV scoops Emmys", ''The Times'', 26 November 1986; p. 11</ref> drama series ''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]'' and game shows such as ''[[The Price Is Right (British game show)|The Price is Right]]'' and ''[[Blockbusters (British game show)|Blockbusters]]''.

Perhaps the station's most successful drama title was its adaptations of the ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' novels, produced by its subsidiary [[Zenith Productions]]. Central also produced the critically acclaimed film ''[[Walter (1982 film)|Walter]]'' – starring [[Ian McKellen]] – for [[Channel 4]]'s first night of transmission. Less successful was one of Central's first networked contributions – the ''[[Tiswas]]'' spin-off ''[[O.T.T. (TV series)|O.T.T.]]'', which drew high viewing figures but also heavy criticism for its racy adult content. It was axed after one series and replaced by a low-budget sequel entitled ''[[Saturday Stayback]]''. The company also attracted ire with the 1987 sitcom ''[[Hardwicke House]]'' (starring [[Roy Kinnear]]) about an anarchic comprehensive school. The first two episodes received so much public condemnation that the remainder were never transmitted.

Central also formed numerous international partnerships to produce major drama and documentary series – including ''Legacy of Civilization'' with [[Maryland Public Television]], ''Nuclear Age'' with [[WGBH-TV]] (another key PBS affiliate) and [[NHK]]<ref name="Fundinguniverse.com"/> and ''[[Edens Lost]]'' (1989) with [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]].

In the field of news and current affairs, Central had enhanced and bettered on ATV's reputation as a regional news provider by becoming the first British television station to offer three distinct services for different parts of the transmission area. It was also a major contributor to current affairs locally and nationally – from its documentary output such as ''Viewpoint'', ''30 Minutes'' and ''England Their England'' to more populist series, including ''[[The Cook Report]]'' and the long-running debate show ''[[Central Weekend]]'', which ran for 15 years in the Midlands on Friday nights. The programme was also the first on British television to examine seriously the AIDS virus, leading to a drama series on the topic, called ''Intimate Contact''.<ref name="MELANIPHY"/> Central also first reported on the Ethiopian famine in July 1984 with the documentary ''Seeds of Despair''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/117491|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100109035225/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/117491|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 January 2010|title=Seeds of Despair|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> In the same year, the company completed production on one of its more controversial programmes, ''Question of Leadership'', a four-part series directed by [[Ken Loach]] about trade unions' responses to government actions. The IBA was concerned it breached balance guidelines, while the unions criticised it as defamatory. Even after several re-edits, the series was never transmitted, which was described as political censorship.<ref>Linton, Martin. "Central kills off Loach union programme", ''The Guardian'', 1 August 1984</ref><ref>Brooks, Richard, "It's the South Blank Show", ''The Observer'', 26 September 1993</ref><ref>Hewson, David. "'Defamatory' TV films on unions scrapped", ''The Times'', 1 August 1984, p. 3;</ref>

Central also played a major role in the ITV network's infrastructure – not only producing children's and schools programming, but also providing scheduling and presentation services with its dedicated [[Children's ITV]] and [[ITV Schools]]' strands – the latter moving to Channel 4 in 1987.

With the creation of a dedicated [[ITV Sport]] network unit, Central also played a significant part in networked sports output under the leadership of [[Gary Newbon]]. The station produced nearly all of ITV's football coverage for over a decade – including the [[FA Cup]], [[UEFA Champions' League]], the [[FIFA World Cup]], the [[UEFA European Championship]] and Premier League highlights, as well as extensive live regional coverage of Football League matches involving Midlands clubs in ''The Central Match''. The station also played its part in coverage of key European athletics meetings and world championship boxing with ''[[The Big Fight Live]]'' as a long-standing Saturday night fixture. In 2004, the department was moved to London and merged with the [[London News Network]]'s operations to form [[ITV Sport]] Productions.

===Children's ===

{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[The Adventures of Grady Greenspace]]'' (1994–95)
*''[[The Adventures of Portland Bill]]'' (1983, co-produced with [[Filmfair]])
*''[[Astro Farm]]'' (1992–96, co-produced with [[FilmFair]]/David Yates)
*''[[Bangers and Mash (TV series)|Bangers and Mash]]'' (1989, co-produced with [[Filmfair]])
*''[[Bernard's Watch]]'' (1997–2005)
*''[[Bill the Minder]]'' (1986, co-produced with Bevanfield Films)
*''[[The Blunders]]'' (1986, co-produced with [[Filmfair]])
*''[[Count Duckula]]'' (1993, previously produced by [[Thames Television]])
*''[[Dramarama (TV series)|Dramarama]]'' (1983–89, Contributions)
*''[[The Dreamstone]]'' (1990–95, co-produced with [[Filmfair]])
*''[[Emu's World]]'' (1982–84)
*''[[Emu's All Live Pink Windmill Show]]'' (1984–86) 
*''[[Emu's Wide World]]'' (1987–88) 
*''[[EMU-TV]]'' (1989)
*''Eye TV'' (1995–2000)
*''Fox Tales'' (1985, co-produced with [[Pullover Productions]])
*''From the Top'' (1985–86) 
*''[[The Gingerbread Man (TV series)|The Gingerbread Man]]'' (1992, co-produced with [[FilmFair]]/David Yates)
*''[[Grotbags]]'' (1991–93)
*''[[Harry's Mad]]'' (1993–96)
*''[[Huxley Pig]]'' (1989, co-produced with [[FilmFair]])
*''[[The Legends of Treasure Island]]'' (1993–95, co-produced with [[FilmFair]])
*''[[Let's Pretend (TV series)|Let's Pretend!]]'' (1982–88)
*''[[The Little Green Man]]'' (1985, co-produced with Pentagon Motion Pictures)
*''[[Luna (TV series)|Luna]]''
*''Molly's Gang'' (1994, co-produced with Martins Gates)
*''[[Moschops (TV series)|Moschops]]'' (1983, co-produced with [[Filmfair]])
*''[[The Moomins (TV series)|The Moomins]]'' (1983–85, co-produced with [[Filmfair]])
*''[[Murphy's Mob]]'' (1982–85)
*''[[Nellie the Elephant (TV series)|Nellie the Elephant]]'' (1990, co-produced with [[FilmFair]])
*''[[Orm and Cheep]]'' (1984–87, co-produced with Tony Martin/Orm and Cheep Enterprises Ltd.)
*''[[Out of Sight (TV series)|Out of Sight]]'' (1996–98)
{{col-2}}
*''[[Paddington Bear (1989 TV series)|Paddington Bear]]'' (1989–90, co-produced with [[Hanna-Barbera]])
*''Palace Hill'' (1988–91)
*''[[Playbox (1987 TV series)|Playbox]]'' (1987–92, co-produced with Ragdoll Productions)
*''[[The Pondles]]'' (1987, co-produced with Chatsworth Television/Pondle Promotion Company)
*''Potamus Park'' (1996–99, co-produced with Zoo Gang Productions)
*''[[Press Gang]]'' (1989–93)
*''Professor Lobster'' (1987, co-produced with Mirageland Productions)
*''Pullover'' (1982, co-produced with [[Pullover Productions]]/[[ITC Entertainment]])
*''[[The Ratties]]'' (1987–88, co-produced with Ratties, Ltd./F-Productions)
*''[[Rocky and the Dodos]]'' (1998–99, co-produced with [[Cosgrove Hall Productions]])
*''[[Rod 'n' Emu]]'' (1991, co-produced with [[Filmfair]])
*''[[Rosie and Jim]]'' (1990–2000, co-produced with Ragdoll Productions)
*''The Saturday Show'' (1982–85, renamed ''The Saturday Starship'' for the final series)
*''[[Scratchy & Co.]]'' (1995–98, co-produced with [[Mentorn]])
*''[[Stanley's Dragon]]'' (1994)
*''[[Starting Out (British TV series)|Starting Out]]'' (1982–92, previously produced by ATV)
*''[[Stories of the Sylvanian Families]]'' (1988, co-produced with [[Filmfair]])
*''[[X-Bomber|Star Fleet]]'' (1982)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itvmidlands/central_progs.html|title=TVARK – Central Television Programmes|publisher=Tv-ark.org.uk|access-date=16 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053309/http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itvmidlands/central_progs.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
*''[[Tales from Fat Tulip's Garden]]'' (1985–87)
*''[[Tales from the Poop Deck]]'' (1992, co-produced with [[Talkback (production company)|Talkback Productions]])
*''[[Thomas & Friends|Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends]]'' (1984–1986, co-produced with Clearwater Features and Britt Allcroft Ltd)
*''[[Tiswas]]'' (1982, previously produced by ATV)
*''[[Tots TV]]'' (1993–98, co-produced with Ragdoll Productions)
*''[[Towser]]'' (1984; co-produced with [[King Rollo Films]])
*''[[Wail of the Banshee]]'' (1992)
*''[[What-a-Mess]]'' (1990, co-produced with Bevanfield Films)
*''What's Happening?'' (1982–85)
*''[[Windfalls]]'' (1989, co-produced with [[FilmFair]])
*''[[The Winjin Pom]]'' (1991, co-produced with Spitting Image Productions)
*''[[Wolves, Witches and Giants]]'' (1995–98, co-produced with [[Honeycomb Animation]])
*''[[Woof!]]'' (1989–97)
*''[[Your Mother Wouldn't Like It]]'' (1985–88)
{{col-end}}

===Drama===

{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
*''A Kind of Alaska'' (1984) 
*''[[Annika (1984 TV series)|Annika]]'' (1984)
*''[[Auf Wiedersehen, Pet]]'' (1983–86, co-produced with [[WitzEnd Productions|WitzEnd]])
*''[[The Blackheath Poisonings (TV series)|The Blackheath Poisonings]]'' (1992)
*''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]'' (1986–92; 1995)
*''The Bretts'' (1987–88) 
*''[[Cadfael (TV series)|Cadfael]]'' (1994–98)
*''[[Chancer]]'' (1990–91)
*''Coming of Age'' (1986)
*''[[Coming Through (1985 film)|Coming Through]]'' (1985)
*''[[Connie (TV series)|Connie]]'' (1985) 
*''[[Crossroads (British TV series)|Crossroads]]'' (1982–88 & 2001–03, previously produced by ATV)
*''[[A Dangerous Life]]'' (1988) co produced with ITC, HBO, Zenith Productions, ABC Australia
*''[[Dangerous Lady]]'' (1995)
*''[[Dangerous Women (American TV series)|Dangerous Women]]'' (1992 co-produced with Grundy) 
*''Drumbeat'' (1999)
*''[[Edens Lost]]'' (1989)
*''[[Faith (British TV series)|Faith]]'' (1994)
*''[[Family Pride (TV series)|Family Pride]]'' (1991–92)
*''[[The Free Frenchman]]'' (1989)
*''[[The Grasscutter]]'' (1989)
*''The Guilty'' (1992)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/31277|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227105852/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/31277|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 December 2013|title=The Guilty|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''[[Hard Cases (TV series)|Hard Cases]]'' (1988–89)
*''Heart of the High Country'' (1985) 
*''Home Front'' (1983)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/8734|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100114111758/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/8734|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 January 2010|title=Home Front|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''[[I Remember Nelson]]'' (1982, co-produced with ITC Entertainment and [[RAI|RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana)]])
*''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' (1987–2000, co-produced with Zenith)
*''[[Intimate Contact]]'' (1987)
*''[[The Jump (1998 TV series)|The Jump]]'' (1998) 
*''[[Kavanagh QC]]'' (1995–2001)
{{col-2}}
*''[[Kennedy (1983 miniseries)|Kennedy]]'' (1983)
*''[[The Last Place on Earth]]'' (1985)
*''[[Looks and Smiles]]'' (1982, co-produced with ITC Entertainment)
*''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' (1993-94, previously produced by Thames Television)
*''Muck and Brass'' (1982)
*''[[Peak Practice]]'' (1993–2002)
*''[[Picking Up the Pieces (TV series)|Picking Up the Pieces]]'' (1998)
*''On the Line'' (1982)
*''[[The One Game]]'' (1988)
*''[[The Other Side of Paradise]]'' (1992, co-produced with Grundy)
*''[[Sapphire & Steel]]'' (1982, previously produced by ATV)
*''[[Saracen (TV series)|Saracen]]'' (1989)
*''[[Seekers (TV series)|Seekers]]'' (1993)
*''[[Sharpe (TV series)|Sharpe]]'' (1993–97)
*''[[Soldier Soldier]]'' (1991–97)
*''[[Stanley and the Women]]'' (1991)
*''[[Tanamera – Lion of Singapore]]'' (1989, co-produced with Grundy)
*''[[Tales of Sherwood Forest]]'' (1989)
*''Tales out of School'' (1983)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishtelevisiondrama.org.uk/?p=1627|title=TALES OUT OF SCHOOL (1983)|date=10 July 2011 |publisher=Britishtelevisiondrama.org.uk|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''[[TECX]]'' (1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098923/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1|title=TECX (TV Series 1990– )|date=7 July 2007|publisher=IMDb|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''[[Thief Takers]]'' (1995–97)
*''[[The Shell Seekers (1989 film)|The Shell Seekers]]'' (1989)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/428955|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126050238/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/428955|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2009|title=The Shell Seekers|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''The Waiting Time'' (1999)
*''The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady'' (1984)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/655|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130914193539/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/655|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 September 2013|title=Scene Southwest|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> 
*''[[The Widowmaker]]'' (1990)
*''[[The Woman in Black (1989 film)|The Woman in Black]]'' (1989)
*''When the Whales Came'' (1989, co-produced with Golden Swan)
*''[[Unnatural Causes (TV series)|Unnatural Causes]]'' (1986)
*''[[Yesterday's Dreams (TV series)|Yesterday's Dreams]]'' (1987)
{{col-end}}

===Comedy===
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[A Kind of Living]]'' (1988–90)
*''[[About Face (TV series)|About Face]]'' (1989–91)
*''All Cricket and Wellies'' (1986)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/130891|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100122011211/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/130891|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2010|title=All Cricket and Wellies|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''All in the Game'' (1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/22678|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926171729/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/22678|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 September 2013|title=All in the Game|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''[[And There's More]]'' (1985–88)
*''[[Astronauts (TV series)|Astronauts]]'' (1982–83, previously produced by ATV)
*''[[Barbara (TV series)|Barbara]]'' (1999–2003)
*''Bushell on the Box'' (1996)
*''The Cabbage Patch'' (1983)
*''Cool Head'' (1991)
*''[[Comedy Firsts]]'' (1995)
*''[[Constant Hot Water]]'' (1986) 
*''Cue Gary'' (1987)
*''[[Cuffy (TV series)|Cuffy]]'' (1983)
*''[[Des O'Connor Tonight]]'' (1993–99, previously produced by Thames Television)
*''[[Dead Ernest]]'' (1982)
*''Eh Brian! It's a Whopper'' (1984)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/7185|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709053119/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/7185|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 July 2008|title=Eh Brian, It's a Whopper|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Father Charlie'' (1982)
*''Freddie Starr'' (1993–98)
*''Gas Street'' (1988)
*''[[Girls on Top (British TV series)|Girls on Top]]'' (1985–86)
*''[[Gone to the Dogs (TV series)|Gone to the Dogs]]/[[Gone to Seed]]'' (1991–92)
*''[[Goodnight and God Bless]]'' (1983) 
*''[[Hardwicke House]]'' (1987)
*''I Thought You'd Gone'' (1984)
*''[[The Joe Longthorne Show]]'' (1988–91)
*''[[Just a Gigolo (TV series)|Just a Gigolo]]'' (1993) 
{{col-2}}
*''[[Law and Disorder (TV series)|Law and Disorder]]'' (1994, co-produced with Thames Television)
*''Les Girls'' (1988)
*''[[Married for Life]]'' (1996, co-produced with [[Sony Pictures Television]])
*''Mike Reids, Mates and Music'' (1984)
*''[[Mog (TV series)|Mog]]'' (1985–86) 
*''[[Mr. Bean]]'' (1993-95, previously produced by Thames Television)
*''[[New Faces]]'' (1986–88, previously produced by ATV)
*''The Nineteenth Hole'' (1989)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18812|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831191254/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18812|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 August 2011|title=The Nineteenth Hole|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''[[The Old Boy Network]]'' (1992)
*''[[The Other 'Arf]]'' (1982–84, previously produced by ATV)
*''[[Outside Edge (TV series)|Outside Edge]]'' (1994–96) 
*''[[O.T.T. (TV series)|O.T.T.]]'' (1982)
*''[[Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's...]]'' (1996–97)
*''Paul Squire, Esq''/''PS It's Paul Squire'' (1983) 
*''Pull the Other One'' (1984) 
*''[[Roll Over Beethoven (TV series)|Roll Over Beethoven]]'' (1985)
*''[[Saturday Stayback]]'' (1983)
*''Saturday Royal'' (1983) 
*''[[Spitting Image]]'' (1984–96)
*''[[Spooner's Patch]]'' (1982, previously produced by ATV)
*''Starburst'' (1982–83, previously produced by ATV)
*''[[Shine on Harvey Moon]]'' (1982–85, co-produced with Witzend)
*''[[Tom Jones: The Right Time]]'' (1992)
*''Troubles and Strife'' (1985–86)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088633/|title=Troubles and Strife (TV Series 1985–1986)|author=Mark|date=13 July 2010|publisher=IMDb|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Valentine Park'' (1987–88)
*''[[Very Big Very Soon]]'' (1991)
*''[[The Upper Hand]]'' (1990–96, co-produced with Sony Pictures Television)
*''Young at Heart'' (1982, previously produced by ATV)
*''[[Young, Gifted and Broke]]'' (1989)
*''[[Wayne Dobson – A Kind of Magic]]'' (1990–92)
{{col-end}}

=== Documentaries and features ===
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
*''24 Hours'' (1996–99)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/26464|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130819191100/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/26464|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2013|title=24 Hours|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''30 Minutes'' (1999–2004)
*''The Album Show'' (1993–94)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/23011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130818183926/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/23011|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 August 2013|title=The Album Show|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Ancient Lives'' (1984, for Channel 4)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/5284|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100120212941/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/5284|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 January 2010|title=Ancient Lives|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Apollo 13 to the Edge and the Back'' (1993, co-production with [[WGBH-TV]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/590187|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822153527/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/590187|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 August 2011|title=Apollo 13 To the Edge and Back|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Asian Eye'' (1993–2001)
*''Burp! Pepsi v. Coke in the Ice-Cold War'' (1984)
*''Central Lobby'' (1983–2006) (2015–)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/central/topic/central-lobby/ |title=ITV Central Central Lobby news for Birmingham, Nottingham & Midlands |publisher=Itv.com |date= |accessdate=2021-11-27}}</ref>
*''[[ITV News Central|Central News]]'' (1982–)
*''Central Sport''
*''Central Week'' (1986)
*''[[Central Weekend]]'' (1986–2001)
*''[[The Cook Report]]'' (1987–99)
*''Chicken Ranch'' (1982)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/114866|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129120452/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/114866|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 January 2009|title=Chicken Ranch|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Death of a Nation: The Timor Conspiracy '' (1994) 
*''Eastern Mix'' (1996–2001)
*''Encounter'' (1983–93)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/7260|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100121075039/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/7260|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 January 2010|title=Encounter|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Eco'' (1984–87)
*''England Their England'' (1978–88)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/3275|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010094813/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/3275|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 October 2009|title=England Their England|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''[[Find a Family]]'' (1989–91)
*''First Cut'' (1994–2004)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/20473|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118145938/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/20473|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 January 2009|title=First Cut|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Gardening Time'' (1983–95)
*''Getting On'' (1982–87)
*''[[God, the Universe and Everything Else]]'' (1988)
*''Heart of the Country'' (1989–2006)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18772|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112072134/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18772|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 January 2012|title=Heart of the Country|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Here and Now'' (1986–89)
*''Home Town'' (1988–90)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18726|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130818170509/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18726|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 August 2013|title=Home Town|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''It's Your Shout'' (1994–2003) 
*''Jesus 2000'' (2000)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/32935|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130819191133/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/32935|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2013|title=Jesus 2000|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
{{col-2}}

*''Legacy of Civilization'' (1989)
*''Link'' (1982–99)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/1199|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126034258/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/1199|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2009|title=Link|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Look Good, Feel Great'' (1987)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18728|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130818170515/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18728|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 August 2013|title=Look Good, Feel Great|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Loved Ones'' (1994)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/23752|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130819191057/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/23752|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2013|title=Loved Ones|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Missing (Missing: Have You Seen This Person?)'' (1993–97)
*''[[Network First]]'' (1994–97, contributions)
*''Not Fade Away'' (1996–98)
*''N'Division'' (1982)
*''The Nuclear Age'' (1988)
*''[[On the Ball (ITV television show)|On the Ball]]'' (1998–2004)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/30045|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100110214809/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/30045|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 January 2010|title=On the Ball|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Our House'' (1996–2004)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/25798|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100121135428/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/25798|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 January 2010|title=Our House [Itv Regional, 1996– ]|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Premiere'' (1996–98)
*''The Price of Progress'' (1987)
*''Pulling Power'' (1997–2005)
*''[[Respect (TV series)|Respect]]'' (1995)
*''Royal International Air Tattoo'' (1994–2002)
*''Seeds of Despair'' (1984)
*''Seeds of Hope'' (1985–86) 
*''Sob Sisters'' (1989)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18824|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125040259/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18824|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2009|title=Sob Sisters|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Sky High'' (2001–07)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379144/|title=Sky High (TV Series 2001– )|publisher=IMDb|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Travel Trails'' (1993–1995)
*''The Night the Bombs went off'' (1999)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/646826|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804002952/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/646826|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2011|title=The Night the Bombs Went Off|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''[[The Struggle for Democracy]]'' (1990, co-production with [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18808|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130914214257/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18808|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 September 2013|title=Struggle for Democracy|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''The Tuesday Special'' (1991–97)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/21970|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103061347/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/21970|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2014|title=The Tuesday Special|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''The Other Americas'' (1992, co-production with [[WGBH-TV]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historians.org/perspectives/issues/1992/9210/9210FIL1.cfm|title=Perspectives on History – AHA|publisher=Historians.org|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Viewpoint'' (1986–93)
*''Vietnam'' (1983, co-production with [[WGBH-TV]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/15208|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130829210224/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/15208|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 August 2013|title=Vietnam|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Workout'' (1986)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/15800|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130911174111/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/15800|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2013|title=Workout|publisher=BFI|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref>
*''Xpress'' (1995)
{{col-end}}

===Game shows===
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[The $64,000 Question (British game show)|The $64,000 Question]]'' (1990–93)
*''Anything for Money'' (1991–92, for Sky 1)
*''[[Blockbusters (British game show)|Blockbusters]]'' (1983–93; 1994–95 for Sky 1)
*''Bob's Your Uncle'' (1991–92)
*''Body Heat'' (1994–96)
*''[[Bullseye (British game show)|Bullseye]]'' (1982–95; previously produced by ATV)
*''[[Celebrity Squares]]'' (1993–97, co-produced with Grundy; previously produced by ATV)
*''[[Dale's Supermarket Sweep]]'' (1993–2001, co-produced with Talbot Television, Fremantle Productions (UK))
*''[[Family Fortunes]]'' (1982–85, 1987–2002; previously produced by ATV)
{{col-2}}
*''Home Run'' (1990s)
*''[[Lingo (British game show)|Lingo]]'' (1987–88)
*''Midas Touch'' (1995–96, co-produced with Grundy)
*''Pot of Gold'' (1993-95, co-produced with Grundy)
*''[[The Price Is Right (British game show)|The Price is Right]]'' (1984–88; Sky 1 version 1989) 
*''[[Sporting Triangles]]'' (1987–90)
*''[[Steal (game show)|Steal]]'' (1990)
*''[[Take Your Pick!]]'' (1994-98, previously produced by Thames Television)
*''Swot or Wot?'' (1994–95)
{{col-end}}

==See also==
*[[Murder of Tracey Turner#Murder of Tracey Turner|Murder of Tracey Turner]] – when in 1994 ITV Central broadcast a reconstruction of a recent murder, it incited the killer [[Alun Kyte]] to go out and commit the murder of Turner

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*{{itv.com|id=central|title=ITV Central}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-other|[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] regional service | #00C0C0 }}
{{s-bef | rows=2 | before=[[Associated Television|ATV Network]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=Midlands | years=1 January 1982 – present }}
{{s-non | reason = Current provider | reason2=as '''ITV Central''' }}
{{s-break}}
{{s-ttl | title=Oxfordshire | years=1 January 1982 – 3 December 2006<br />''(on-air brand & franchise)''<br />4 December 2006 – 31 December 2013<br />''(franchise only)''}}
{{s-aft | after=[[ITV Thames Valley]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Carlton Communications}} 
{{ITV}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Carlton Television]]
[[Category:ITV franchisees|Central]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1982]]
[[Category:Television stations in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Television in England|Central]]