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Fountain Studios To Close

Home of X Factor may soon be no more (January 2016)

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KE
kernow
I wonder if Simon ever considered (or even tried) buying the studios in order to save them?
WH
Whataday Founding member
I wonder if Simon ever considered (or even tried) buying the studios in order to save them?


So that Louis could turn to him and say "you really made that your own"?
davidmarper2010 and Brekkie gave kudos
DE
deejay
Was it used for the first night of ITV?


Not quite. Everything you need to know is on the excellent TV Studis History website. The Wembley site had been film studios but was bought by Associated Rediffusion in 1955. The studio used for X Factor is actually two television studios which are divided by a huge steel soundproof door and was originally known as Studio 5a and 5b. Studios 1-4 no longer exist but the site is still very recognisable.

http://www.tvstudiohistory.co.uk/studio%20history.htm#wembley%20rediffusion
IS
Inspector Sands
Was it used for the first night of ITV?

According to the TV Studio History website, the first programme from there was a children's programme on the 2nd day of ITV.


(the first night was produced by both the London companies, I know one of the opening programmes came from ATVs Wood Green Empire)
BR
Brekkie
So the first ITV show from there was a childrens show in a long demolish Studio 3. The remainder of the site doesn't look that huge in the grand scheme of things, but I guess in London every square foot counts - and pays.

Presumably the owners of Fountain are just taking the money and running rather than staying in the studios business.
GE
thegeek Founding member
However studios are still basically HD (though I think Timeline may have a UHD studio in their BT Sport operation now - where previously they would have used a UHD OB truck parked outside)

It still requires bringing a truck in, but it's quite neatly designed and shares some of the studio facilities: http://www.timeline.tv/2016/09/21/timeline-provides-studio-and-4k-uhd-ob-truck-facilities-for-rugby-tonight/
DE
deejay


MA
Markymark
I wonder if Simon ever considered (or even tried) buying the studios in order to save them?


Cowell is a businessman, if he had bought the studios, he'd have flogged them for the land value too.
NG
noggin Founding member
So the first ITV show from there was a childrens show in a long demolish Studio 3. The remainder of the site doesn't look that huge in the grand scheme of things, but I guess in London every square foot counts - and pays.

Presumably the owners of Fountain are just taking the money and running rather than staying in the studios business.


Have a feeling the owners were not the operators of the business?
NG
noggin Founding member
I wonder if Simon ever considered (or even tried) buying the studios in order to save them?


He's a businessman above all else - why would he throw money away to save them?
DE
deejay
If I might quote from the tv studio history site directly:

Quote:
Very unexpectedly, on 12th January 2016 Avesco, the owners of Fountain Studios, announced that they had sold the studios to Quintain - a property developer who are already building luxury flats in the Wembley area. Apparently, although the studios themselves were operating profitably Avesco were able to reduce the net debt on their balance sheet by making the sale. The land and buildings were sold for £16m (which doesn't sound much to me since Quintain are currently selling large numbers of 2 bed flats in Wembley for £1m each.) It is a sale and 5-year leaseback arrangement. However, the lease will be capable of termination by either party on not less than six months' notice, expiring no earlier than 31st December 2016.

What this means in plain English is that the studios are likely to close at the end of 2016. The staff were given legal warning of redundancy notices on the day the sale was announced. My understanding is that Britain's Got Talent will go ahead in June and depending on how much work the studios have booked, they may then close and reopen for The X-Factor in the autumn. After that it seems likely that they will close for ever.

Another serious loss to the industry. This superb studio will certainly be missed.


So within one year, the site is sold off and set for demolition, despite a distinct lack of studios in London, high demand and a company actually operating at a profit. Fountain was unique in offering two medium studios or a large studio as required.

I saw an article where a shareholder in the Quintain had expressed their delight that the "redundant" studio centre was to be demolished as they'd get a nice return on their investment. How sad.
DE
deejay
So Britain's Got Talent will come from George Lucas Stage 2 at Elstree (Where Strictly is made) and XFactor will come from LH2:
http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/techfacils/fremantle-secures-studios-for-2017-as-fountain-closes/5112045.article?blocktitle=Latest-News&contentID=1151

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