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.
[2] 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°29′51″N 1°53′03″W / 52.497425°N 1.884092°W / 52.497425; -1.884092),[3] while the facade of the original cinema was re-constructed to match.
ABC were offered the London weekday contract upon condition of a merger with the existing holder Rediffusion, in the process becoming Thames Television.
[5] As a result, ABC decided to sell their stake in Alpha Television to ATV as their interest in the Midlands had ended.