1 Lew Grade Quotes

FameRank: 5

"Lew Grade, Baron Grade, O.St.J., KC*SS", born "Lovat" or "Lev (Louis) Winogradsky", was a Ukrainians/Ukrainian-born British media proprietor and impresario.

Originally a dancer, and later a talent agent, Grade's interest in television production began in 1954 when, in partnership, he successfully bid for Franchising/franchises in the newly created ITV (TV network)/ITV network, which led to the creation of Associated Television (ATV). Having worked for a time in the United States, he was aware of the potential for the sale of TV programming to American networks, and a subsidiary, the ITC Entertainment/Incorporated Television Company (ITC; commonly known as ITC Entertainment) was formed with this specific objective in mind. Grade had some success in this field, and a number of these TV series, such as Gerry Anderson's various Supermarionation series like Thunderbirds (TV series)/Thunderbirds, Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner, and Jim Henson's The Muppet Show still have an international following.

Later, Grade invested in film production. However, several expensive Box office bomb/box office failures caused him to lose control of ITC, and ultimately resulted in the disestablishment of ATV after it lost its ITV franchise.