WH
Two studios are being built/fitted out in the UK at the moment:
Netflix signed a deal to take over Shepperton studios for TV and film production last year:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jul/03/netflix-strikes-production-deal-with-shepperton-studios
and Sky are building a complex at Elstree:
https://www.elstreestudios.co.uk/2019/12/sky-develop-major-new-studio-elstree/
Netflix signed a deal to take over Shepperton studios for TV and film production last year:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jul/03/netflix-strikes-production-deal-with-shepperton-studios
and Sky are building a complex at Elstree:
https://www.elstreestudios.co.uk/2019/12/sky-develop-major-new-studio-elstree/
DO
I would hazard a guess that there are more television studios in Britain today than there were in 1990. Admittedly a huge number of them are small with fixed sets and facilities rather than large multipurpose ones, but that is more a reflection of the sort of productions that are studio based these days.
RI
You may be right - even if you count spare bedrooms being used to create YouTube videos.
Prominent factors behind the decline of the large TV studios from the 2nd half of the 20th century and the rise of smaller studios in Britain has been the miniaturisation of production equipment along with changes in the types of programmes produced over the decades. Are any other countries still building large multipurpose TV studios in significant numbers?
I would hazard a guess that there are more television studios in Britain today than there were in 1990. Admittedly a huge number of them are small with fixed sets and facilities rather than large multipurpose ones, but that is more a reflection of the sort of productions that are studio based these days.
You may be right - even if you count spare bedrooms being used to create YouTube videos.
Prominent factors behind the decline of the large TV studios from the 2nd half of the 20th century and the rise of smaller studios in Britain has been the miniaturisation of production equipment along with changes in the types of programmes produced over the decades. Are any other countries still building large multipurpose TV studios in significant numbers?
VA
I was thinking about this the other day and made a list - just off the top of my head so not necessarily complete... Note that some of these (in italics) are TV studios in the sense of making /any/ TV but particularly drama, rather than "light entertainment TV" studios.
What's closed : Fountain, TLS, Granada (kind of), TVC (partial closure from 8 large studios to 3), Lime Grove, Teddington, Newcastle TVC, Southampton TVC, Cardiff Broadcasting House (including this since it's pretty close), Princess, Capital Wandsworth, original Sky Studios 1-5, Sky News Centre
What's opened : The Hospital Club (although may close imminently...), Pacific Quay, Space Studios , Roath Lock , MediaCityUK, dock10, Bottle Yard , New Broadcasting House, Birmingham Drama Village , LH2, Here East / Timeline Stratford, Sky 2, Sky Studios (replaced existing facilities primarily)
What's expanded : Maidstone, Elstree (GL given galleries, Studioworks take over 8&9), BBC Elstree (Stage 2 and 3 for EastEnders), Riverside (has been rebuilt), Pinewood (TV-three, although does that really count?; Richard Attenborough Stage was built for large TV shows), Wimbledon (Studio 3, Studio 5)
So, in answer to your question... the UK has definitely been building new TV studios, but whether they are worthy replacements for the likes of TLS and TVC is definitely debatable.
What's closed : Fountain, TLS, Granada (kind of), TVC (partial closure from 8 large studios to 3), Lime Grove, Teddington, Newcastle TVC, Southampton TVC, Cardiff Broadcasting House (including this since it's pretty close), Princess, Capital Wandsworth, original Sky Studios 1-5, Sky News Centre
What's opened : The Hospital Club (although may close imminently...), Pacific Quay, Space Studios , Roath Lock , MediaCityUK, dock10, Bottle Yard , New Broadcasting House, Birmingham Drama Village , LH2, Here East / Timeline Stratford, Sky 2, Sky Studios (replaced existing facilities primarily)
What's expanded : Maidstone, Elstree (GL given galleries, Studioworks take over 8&9), BBC Elstree (Stage 2 and 3 for EastEnders), Riverside (has been rebuilt), Pinewood (TV-three, although does that really count?; Richard Attenborough Stage was built for large TV shows), Wimbledon (Studio 3, Studio 5)
So, in answer to your question... the UK has definitely been building new TV studios, but whether they are worthy replacements for the likes of TLS and TVC is definitely debatable.
NJ
What was the TV-am studios at Camden Lock, which were bought by MTV after they went off the air. Later downsized studio wise, but seems the TV-am studio complex survived until 2012 and a refit, before being demolished and replaced with an office complex. Believe the entire interior has changed completely since the early 1990s and the only remaining clue of the building's former usage is the eggcups on the roof but I don't think you can see them from the front of the building, Street View seems to suggest you have to go out of your way to get a glimpse or trek along a nearby canal path.
Neil Jones
Founding member
I was thinking about this the other day and made a list - just off the top of my head so not necessarily complete... Note that some of these (in italics) are TV studios in the sense of making /any/ TV but particularly drama, rather than "light entertainment TV" studios.
What's closed : Fountain, TLS, Granada (kind of), TVC (partial closure from 8 large studios to 3), Lime Grove, Teddington, Newcastle TVC, Southampton TVC, Cardiff Broadcasting House (including this since it's pretty close), Princess, Capital Wandsworth, original Sky Studios 1-5, Sky News Centre.
What's closed : Fountain, TLS, Granada (kind of), TVC (partial closure from 8 large studios to 3), Lime Grove, Teddington, Newcastle TVC, Southampton TVC, Cardiff Broadcasting House (including this since it's pretty close), Princess, Capital Wandsworth, original Sky Studios 1-5, Sky News Centre.
What was the TV-am studios at Camden Lock, which were bought by MTV after they went off the air. Later downsized studio wise, but seems the TV-am studio complex survived until 2012 and a refit, before being demolished and replaced with an office complex. Believe the entire interior has changed completely since the early 1990s and the only remaining clue of the building's former usage is the eggcups on the roof but I don't think you can see them from the front of the building, Street View seems to suggest you have to go out of your way to get a glimpse or trek along a nearby canal path.
VA
Yeah, the history of that building is a bit of a mess to be fair! I didn’t include it because I completely forgot about it, but it still has some studio space AIUI. And playout and post facilities.
What was the TV-am studios at Camden Lock, which were bought by MTV after they went off the air. Later downsized studio wise, but seems the TV-am studio complex survived until 2012 and a refit, before being demolished and replaced with an office complex. Believe the entire interior has changed completely since the early 1990s and the only remaining clue of the building's former usage is the eggcups on the roof but I don't think you can see them from the front of the building, Street View seems to suggest you have to go out of your way to get a glimpse or trek along a nearby canal path.
Yeah, the history of that building is a bit of a mess to be fair! I didn’t include it because I completely forgot about it, but it still has some studio space AIUI. And playout and post facilities.
JO
OMA Film Studios is opening in Enfield in the summer:
https://deadline.com/2020/06/london-oma-film-studios-set-to-open-this-summer-1202954471/
https://deadline.com/2020/06/london-oma-film-studios-set-to-open-this-summer-1202954471/
GE
It's quite a pleasant stroll along the towpath
thegeek
Founding member
Believe the entire interior has changed completely since the early 1990s and the only remaining clue of the building's former usage is the eggcups on the roof but I don't think you can see them from the front of the building, Street View seems to suggest you have to go out of your way to get a glimpse or trek along a nearby canal path.
It's quite a pleasant stroll along the towpath
NJ
Collection here of some archive shots of Camden Lock in the TV-am days, both inside and out (nothing of the studios though):
https://www.dezeen.com/2015/08/26/postmodern-architecture-tv-am-television-studios-camden-london-terry-farrell/
Piece here about the remodelling that occurred a few years ago:
https://www.ribaj.com/products/viacom-building-london
Neil Jones
Founding member
Yeah, the history of that building is a bit of a mess to be fair! I didn’t include it because I completely forgot about it, but it still has some studio space AIUI. And playout and post facilities.
Collection here of some archive shots of Camden Lock in the TV-am days, both inside and out (nothing of the studios though):
https://www.dezeen.com/2015/08/26/postmodern-architecture-tv-am-television-studios-camden-london-terry-farrell/
Piece here about the remodelling that occurred a few years ago:
https://www.ribaj.com/products/viacom-building-london
TE
Prominent factors behind the decline of the large TV studios from the 2nd half of the 20th century and the rise of smaller studios in Britain has been the miniaturisation of production equipment along with changes in the types of programmes produced over the decades. Are any other countries still building large multipurpose TV studios in significant numbers?
Also large shiny floor shows ( think TC1) are being done from four Wallers like LH2 ...or almost any redundant warehouse ....
as there are more spaces sets just stand ..no more overnight set and light whuch was how TC ran in its heyday
Prominent factors behind the decline of the large TV studios from the 2nd half of the 20th century and the rise of smaller studios in Britain has been the miniaturisation of production equipment along with changes in the types of programmes produced over the decades. Are any other countries still building large multipurpose TV studios in significant numbers?
Also large shiny floor shows ( think TC1) are being done from four Wallers like LH2 ...or almost any redundant warehouse ....
as there are more spaces sets just stand ..no more overnight set and light whuch was how TC ran in its heyday