JO
They aren't gonna not close a place because a news set is there which can easily be moved...
...or because there's a time capsule in the garden which a children's television programme put there.
aric2006 posted:
Oi! No way they'll be closing it. BBC World's news set is there... No way they'll remove BBC TV Center from closure! Stupid news article... 
They aren't gonna not close a place because a news set is there which can easily be moved...
edwin3001 posted:
what about the Blue Peter time capsule??
...or because there's a time capsule in the garden which a children's television programme put there.
GE
They aren't gonna not close a place because a news set is there which can easily be moved...
...one which is already planned to be moved to Broadcasting House, along with the rest of news.
Which, if I'm not mistaken, is one of the reasons why TVC will be so empty and possibly closed.
thegeek
Founding member
Jugalug posted:
aric2006 posted:
Oi! No way they'll be closing it. BBC World's news set is there... No way they'll remove BBC TV Center from closure! Stupid news article...
They aren't gonna not close a place because a news set is there which can easily be moved...
Which, if I'm not mistaken, is one of the reasons why TVC will be so empty and possibly closed.
PO
They aren't gonna not close a place because a news set is there which can easily be moved...
...or because there's a time capsule in the garden which a children's television programme put there.
The original time capsule (and silver birch tree planted nearby) were moved from front of TVC to the Blue Peter Garden in the 80s to make way for an extension to the buildings, so it could the new capsule could be moved too...
Jugalug posted:
aric2006 posted:
Oi! No way they'll be closing it. BBC World's news set is there... No way they'll remove BBC TV Center from closure! Stupid news article...
They aren't gonna not close a place because a news set is there which can easily be moved...
edwin3001 posted:
what about the Blue Peter time capsule??
...or because there's a time capsule in the garden which a children's television programme put there.
The original time capsule (and silver birch tree planted nearby) were moved from front of TVC to the Blue Peter Garden in the 80s to make way for an extension to the buildings, so it could the new capsule could be moved too...
GR
At first look at this I was shocked, but then thinking about it, if they move a lot of production out of London it's better if you work for them. At the moment, although right on the A40, it's still akward to get to, because its in London, not as bad as the London Studios (LWT) being in the centre.
It will be a shame to see it go. I love the old place.
What will happen to the Blue Peter garden? Some list it as a Grade 1 building quick.
It will be a shame to see it go. I love the old place.
What will happen to the Blue Peter garden? Some list it as a Grade 1 building quick.
DE
The BP garden is remarkably uninspiring when you actually see it for real (at least I thought so anyway!). It's pretty small and lurks behind the restaurant block surrounded by a brick wall topped with barbed wire (it backs onto the park and was famously broken in to and trashed in the 80s). So all in all, it's not exactly 'scenic' ! Apart from the weather on Breakfast and occasional outside barbecues on BP itself, is it still much used on screen? Probably not as much as in the 80s when Blue Peter used to show gardening features regularly to make up for children who didn't have a garden of their own (yes - really, that was one of the original reasons for creating it!)
Anyway, back to TC itself. As has been mentioned already in this thread, the main problem with any plan to close TC is not so much to do with the reduction in studio capacity that such a move would bring, but the fact that TC is the hub for an extraoridinary amount of television, radio and data communications (and not just for the BBC). Although a similar argument was put forward when Pebble Mill closed (as Birmingham was also a reasonably important comms hub) they managed to get it through by reducing the importance of Birmingham in the BBC network. It's no longer the place that the networks bail out to should something make working in W12 impossible for instance. It no longer has a network TV production studio. It cannot host a daily live networked magazine programme with inserts from around the country (i.e. The One Show) without a protakabin studio, a scanner parked around the back and a daily satellite booking back to TC to avoid block booking one of the regional circuits from Brum to W12.
As for TC's studios, well it's clear that in the proposal for Salford, the BBC does not intend to build new TV studios there, it intends to rent them as required from existing suppliers (3SixtyMedia presumably). Whether there's enough capacity at Quay Street for Childrens and Sport as well as ITV's commitments is anybody's guess. Is taking the live elements out of CBBC Presentation a step towards not having studio links between the programmes...? Until recently, CBBC Pres was a permanent occupier of at least three of TC's studios, with Sport being permanently resident in another studio not to mention the amount of VT galleries required by Sport.
So once Sport, Childrens and News haved moved out of TC, it's completely true that there isn't going to be much work on the books as things currently stands. I'm frankly not surprised that the notoriously short-sighted BBC have announced that it might consider closing the place.
Even so, although TC isn't the place it once was, I'd be very sorry to see the BBC lose yet another studio centre - and a jewel in the crown of one at that. They'd only sorely regret it later.
Anyway, back to TC itself. As has been mentioned already in this thread, the main problem with any plan to close TC is not so much to do with the reduction in studio capacity that such a move would bring, but the fact that TC is the hub for an extraoridinary amount of television, radio and data communications (and not just for the BBC). Although a similar argument was put forward when Pebble Mill closed (as Birmingham was also a reasonably important comms hub) they managed to get it through by reducing the importance of Birmingham in the BBC network. It's no longer the place that the networks bail out to should something make working in W12 impossible for instance. It no longer has a network TV production studio. It cannot host a daily live networked magazine programme with inserts from around the country (i.e. The One Show) without a protakabin studio, a scanner parked around the back and a daily satellite booking back to TC to avoid block booking one of the regional circuits from Brum to W12.
As for TC's studios, well it's clear that in the proposal for Salford, the BBC does not intend to build new TV studios there, it intends to rent them as required from existing suppliers (3SixtyMedia presumably). Whether there's enough capacity at Quay Street for Childrens and Sport as well as ITV's commitments is anybody's guess. Is taking the live elements out of CBBC Presentation a step towards not having studio links between the programmes...? Until recently, CBBC Pres was a permanent occupier of at least three of TC's studios, with Sport being permanently resident in another studio not to mention the amount of VT galleries required by Sport.
So once Sport, Childrens and News haved moved out of TC, it's completely true that there isn't going to be much work on the books as things currently stands. I'm frankly not surprised that the notoriously short-sighted BBC have announced that it might consider closing the place.
Even so, although TC isn't the place it once was, I'd be very sorry to see the BBC lose yet another studio centre - and a jewel in the crown of one at that. They'd only sorely regret it later.
BB
Is anyone out there interested in trying to save it? If so contact English Heritage...