Alpha Television

The company was formed in 1956 as a joint venture between two newly created Independent Television (ITV) companies, ATV and ABC. The former operated the contract to broadcast programming to the Midlands during the week, the latter at weekends.

The respective companies would later establish production centres near London and Manchester (ATV at Elstree, ABC at Teddington and Didsbury), but despite conflicts over contract applications and rivalry over the corporate acronym, the costs of creating separate facilities in the Midlands led to a decision to cooperate. A separate holding company to operate the centre, Alpha Television Services (Birmingham) Limited, was formed.

The new company purchased the former Astoria Cinema in Aston Road North which had closed a few months earlier.

Initial alterations created one studio with production facilities supplied by an outside broadcast vehicle, telecine facilities and separate presentation suites for ATV and ABC.

In 1963, ATV and ABC decided to upgrade facilities at Aston and a substantial investment saw the creation of an office block, canteen and second studio adjacent to the existing site (52.497425°N 1.884092°W / 52.497425; -1.884092), while the facade of the original cinema was re-constructed to match. New facilities included an enlarged telecine facility, master control and presentation suites.