Talkback Thames split

Well they used this for a while:

http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/itvlondon/itvlondon-thamesmain/endboards/end1978-pearsonlogo-quatl.jpg

And the last version they used was this:

http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/itvlondon/itvlondon-thamesmain/endboards/end2002-thamesl.jpg

So we'll hopefully get something at least similar to that, with the mirror logo.

Didn't Mel Smith & Griff Rhys Jones have something to do with Talkback originally?

The end of the 'The BIll' theme went well with the 'THAMES' card, it would appear and the two drum beats would play! Quite nice, would love to see the skyline return

The way I see it all these brands will be part of FreemantleMediaUK, which will then announce in a few years that it has decided to bring all of its units under one identity, and it won't be Thames or Talkback.

Apparently they formed it, and according to Wikipedia it only became part of FremantleMedia in 2003.

That's right. Their partner Peter Fincham continued to run it, and indeed the whole Talkback Thames company, until 2005 when he moved to become controller of BBC1 and then onto ITV. Ironically he was at the helm of Talkback Thames for two years, during one of which 'The Bill' secured what I think was perhaps ITV's biggest ever orders, and who was the person to axe The Bill in 2010?

I don't know why people get so caught up in names. I doubt the culture of Talkback Thames is anything like the Thames everyone seems so fond of. It is a nice correlation to make, however, when you think of the original Thames and how that name continues to produce the two biggest entertainment programmes for ITV in 2011.

Wouldn't get your hopes up!

And it is just the entertainment department's programmes that will carry the Thames brand. X Factor, BGT etc.

Oh, cynical you.

I'd usually be inclined to agree but surely, being this long into their ownership, they would have just gone ahead and done that by now, with only the one shotgun wedded brand to dispose of, if that is their ultimate desire? Why go through all this unnecessary leg work?

I agree.

Fremantle aren't some big bad wolves. As an indie Thames is one of the biggest in the business. The Bill loss hurt, but for entertainment Fremantle know what they're doing.

I think they were using that up until 2000! A good run.

They used it until 2001, I think the new/blue Thames logo was used during the first series of Pop Idol in 2001.

Although I didn't mind that logo I found it annoying they were using it on older programmes when re-editing them, most notable during repeats of The World At War and George & Mildred.