That's not a great deal of money for some prime real estate in West London. It's not great deal of money for a landmark piece of architecture. Its not a great deal of money for much these days, but Stanhope plc have been the successful bidder in the purchase process.
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| The foundation stone inside TVC |
As yet no-one knows what their plans are for the site - they have quite a portfolio of buildings and projects in the capital and according to their corporate website one of their "partners" is BSkyB (prop. R Murdoch). So could we see the dirty digger moving his broadcast empire (see also complete load of shite) into the soon to be vacated W12 7RJ? Doubtful, but at least television would still be made there.
Those of you who aren't in TV probably couldn't give a fat flying monkeys arse about this concrete structure, but for the TV staff who have worked there and whom it symbolised everything glamourous about television, will miss it and feel a slight tinge of sadness when those three white blocks with black Gill Sans letters are removed from the side of studio 1.
It IS television in the UK.
It's not the first purpose built television studios ever, that honour went to Granada Television on Quay Street in Manchester (currently being vacated), not the first studios specifically built for colour television, that went to Southern Television in Southampton (sold, demolished, site redeveloped), but the first television village. Everything you needed under one roof and designed as such.
Much has been written about the design of the building so I won't go over old ground but I have never worked in another studio that has had the same feeling and aura about it. When I first got my job at BBC Television in the late 80's TV Centre was always the place to aim for. Every time I got to go there I would get a flutter of excitement as I walked through the reception doors. It still makes me feel like that today. I will always find an excuse to go to TVC whenever I am in London, much to the annoyance of the present (and former) Mrs. J!
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| The plan of TVC published in 1958 |
So what does it mean for the BBC? Well it means they will no longer have their own dedicated studio space in London. Their studios at Elstree will be the only network capable studio centre close to London. The New Broadcasting House in central London has two new tv studios but they will be in constant use for news programmes and they're not designed for 'real' television shows.
I can hear Teddington Studios and London Studios hastily revising their studio rate card as we speak because one day soon after the keys to TVC have been handed over someone high up in the BBC will suddenly sit bolt up right in bed, covered in cold sweat and scream "FUCK.... WE HAVEN'T GOT ANY STUDIOS IN LONDON ANYMORE!"
"WHAT HAVE WE DONE???"
Although studio production is not as prevalent as it once was there is still a need for a studio facility. It's not just the four sound proof walls and the lighting, it's also the peripherals, like editing, office space, make up, scenic services. Television Centre has it all, and all of it so well designed that it would be the envy of any television company that built it today.
Sure, the BBC can book studios at LWT, Teddington or Pinewood but they will have to pay commercial prices to make their own programmes. It'll be like Producer Choice all over again! Remember that kids? Producer Choice was the brainchild of one Mr. J Birt. He sold off assets and made the BBC more commercial and opened up the studios to outside productions. The trouble was that BBC producers couldn't afford to shoot their BBC shows in a BBC studio anymore so they went off site with their BBC money and spent it in cheaper commercial facilities. It took a long time for BBC producers to come back to TVC and shoot there again and use the best facilities and crews in the industry. Trouble was, the studios weren't getting work, so the crews got laid off.. a vicious circle starts.
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| Hello..? Can someone shoot me a sitcom...?? Hello..?? |
My sources told me that one of the preferred bidders in the sale process was a company called... wait for it.. BBC Studios & Post Production. Yes, the wholly owned subsidiary of the BBC was going to buy the site and keep it running as a BBC studio facility, just like it is now and continue running it to generate income for the rest of the BBC.
But it didn't win the bid.
So what is the future for Television Centre? I don't think its going to be as glittering as its past. And we'll never see the likes of this type of building again.
