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Broadcasting began on 3 May 1956 under the original "North of England" weekday franchise, which also covered most of Yorkshire. Granada Television's productions were marked by a distinctive northern identity. In 1968 the transmission area was divided into two, with Granada holding the "North West England" franchise on all days and continues to do so today. Granada TV's parent company Granada Group initiated hostile takeovers of many fellow franchisees from 1994, and by 2004 it and Carlton Communications had between them acquired a duopoly of the ITV franchises in England and Wales. The Granada Group merged with Carlton to form ITV plc that year. Granada credits include programmes such as Coronation Street, Seven Up, The Royle Family, World in Action, University Challenge, The Krypton Factor and many more. Currently, Granada is still based at The Manchester Studios but will move to MediaCityUK by 2013. Although Granada Television has ceased to continue as a separate entity, the Granada identity still continues with the North West of England referred to as the Granada region. ITV still use the Granada moniker as evidenced in the ITV Granada channel but the iconic red neon Granada TV signage that adorned the Granada Studios which was a fixture on the Mancunian skyline for nearly 60 years was removed in September 2010 prompting anger among some Mancunians. |
