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BBC Television Centre: Difference between revisions
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→Site history: adding a bit of clarity about which part of the BBC — which is to say NO part of the BBC proper — now inhabits the TVC
(-{{update}}. article didn't actually suggest that the building stood vacant; only that it closed, which is an accurate description. article amended to better clarify that point.) |
(→Site history: adding a bit of clarity about which part of the BBC — which is to say NO part of the BBC proper — now inhabits the TVC) |
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Building commenced on Television Centre almost at the dawn of the television age in Britain. Groundbreaking was in 1951, and the building was officially opened in 1960. At the time it was possessed of a highly innovative design that allowed all its studios to be essentially interchangeable. Even the exterior was remarkable, as it deliberately formed the shape of a question mark.<ref>The "question mark" design is readily apparent in this satellite imagery: <center><googlemap lat=51.5104 lon=-0.2262 type=hybrid zoom=17 width= height=400 controls=none selector=no scale=yes></googlemap></center></ref> Numerous upgrades to the site allowed it to maintain its utility as a producer of drama into the 1990s. However, as the whole basis of the design had assumed multi-camera, video recording, TV Centre suddenly became useless when most dramas switched to single camera set-ups. The BBC Wales version of ''Doctor Who'', for instance, simply could not be filmed at Television Centre due to this inherent design element. In the mid-1990s, it switched its focus from drama to news and other forms of non-fictional entertainment that still use multiple cameras. However, a 2007 assessment determined that, even with the change of emphasis, the facilities were still under-used. As a result, a decision was taken to sell off the property in an effort to make better use of the BBC's assets. | Building commenced on Television Centre almost at the dawn of the television age in Britain. Groundbreaking was in 1951, and the building was officially opened in 1960. At the time it was possessed of a highly innovative design that allowed all its studios to be essentially interchangeable. Even the exterior was remarkable, as it deliberately formed the shape of a question mark.<ref>The "question mark" design is readily apparent in this satellite imagery: <center><googlemap lat=51.5104 lon=-0.2262 type=hybrid zoom=17 width= height=400 controls=none selector=no scale=yes></googlemap></center></ref> Numerous upgrades to the site allowed it to maintain its utility as a producer of drama into the 1990s. However, as the whole basis of the design had assumed multi-camera, video recording, TV Centre suddenly became useless when most dramas switched to single camera set-ups. The BBC Wales version of ''Doctor Who'', for instance, simply could not be filmed at Television Centre due to this inherent design element. In the mid-1990s, it switched its focus from drama to news and other forms of non-fictional entertainment that still use multiple cameras. However, a 2007 assessment determined that, even with the change of emphasis, the facilities were still under-used. As a result, a decision was taken to sell off the property in an effort to make better use of the BBC's assets. | ||
On 16 July 2012, it was announced that Centre was sold to Stanhope plc for around 200 million pounds.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/18783351|Television Centre to be sold for around £200m]</ref> The building was closed | On 16 July 2012, it was announced that Centre was sold to Stanhope plc for around 200 million pounds.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/18783351|Television Centre to be sold for around £200m]</ref> The building was closed as a BBC-owned facility on 31 March 2013. As a {{w|Grade II listed building}}, it was not demolished thereafter, but instead extensively refurbished by its new owners. Space was then rented to several parties, including various BBC ''commercial'' entities, like [[BBC Worldwide]] and BBC Post Production.<ref name=closure/> But the non-profit "BBC proper", which had owned the facility, moved to {{w|BBC Broadcasting House}}. A highly publicised grand opening, which included a brief meeting between HM [[Elizabeth II]] and [[Jenna Coleman]], formally launched the new age of BBC television production.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/Jenna-Coleman-is-presented-to-Her-Majesty-The-Queen- "Jenna Coleman is presented to Her Majesty The Queen". bbc.co.uk. 7 June 2013.]</ref> | ||
== Alternate name == | == Alternate name == | ||
