Thames and LWT produced programmes on Channel 4

Indeed, because after 1993 it changed so that network programmes were decided by ITV Network Centre, rather than the previous system where the network schedule would be decided by a consortium of the Big Five. Obviously before 1993 it would always be the case that Thames would schedule their network programmes for nights they were on air, and LWT the same. But after 1993 the Network Centre would comission programmes from Carlton and LWT and schedule them on whatever nights they saw fit, and if that was a night they weren't on air themselves, so be it. Of course it also helped when Granada bought LWT and Carlton brought Central so they were both seven-days-a-week companies.

All ITV companies had some rivalry and politics between them but the Thames/LWT rivalry was very bitter. They really didn't like each other. LWT and Carlton got along much better and co-operated intimitely with shared playout and news operations.

The weekday/weekend split was always a bit eccentric. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did and presumably still does in a legal sense. That said, a breakfast time franchise is even more eccentric. I wonder if it's unique or if any other countries did something similar.

I think the NED(erlands) 1, 2, and 3 PSB channels take different providers channel sharing to new levels ?

NOS have to provide the news broadcasts, but I think everything else (inc Current Affairs) is provided by multiple production companies under their own editorial and legal control (unlike the commissioning/publishing template here that started with C4, and was adopted by BBC and ITV et al later on),

The London franchise sharing scheme was a reduction of what existed 1955 to 68. Remember London, Midlands, and the North (back then Lancs and Yorks) all had weekday/weekend splits, and some companies covering more than one region.

Im sure ATV hated LWT, Im also sure there was some battle between Yorkshire, Granada and LWT about weekend line ups. LWT /tvs would still rearrange its Saturday night light up to have Price is right later than the rest of the network.

ATV hated LWT for taking away "their" franchise apparently. Then ended up nearly going bust because they were so highbrow, which probably had Lew Grade laughing away.

I think the politics between the ITV companies helped to drive up the standards, everybody wanted the commission and the opportunity to stick it to their rivals!

Lets be fair some of the show which were better, never got the good time slots.

One of the editions of It'll Be Alright On The Night, titled "It'll Be Alright Late At Night", debuted on Channel 4 on Thursday 11th July 1985, around a year or so before it was first seen on ITV. This was an LWT production, as its parent programme was (and still is).