Newsroom South East split

I heard that Nottingham was going to be 16:9 when the switch occured in October.

Sadly it appeared not to be true!

Midlands Today say they will be 16:9 when the move to the Mailbox.

Are Leeds and Norwich moving then?

I know about the opt-outs that are coming for Look North but I didn't know Look East was moving!

Yep - I would expect Midlands Today to be 16:9 when they move to a new site. It would be pointless to build a new 4:3 only studio - even for regional news! (Pity Cambridge launched a year or two to early...)

Look East / BBC East is moving out of All Saints' Green in the next 18 months I understand. They are moving to the newly-rebuilt library complex. (The old Norwich Library burnt down in the early 90s) Again it would be very unlikely that a 4:3 studio would be built... Though Cambs might look odd sub-opting out in 14:9 if that doesn't get upgraded...

(It is a pity that Norwich has to move. The current Norwich BH is a lovely building - a converted manor house, with a gorgeous curved staircase in reception. Unfortunately the building covers many different levels, and has no lifts, so is very inaccessible to those who have mobility problems. )

I believe Leeds is moving to a new building - though whether this will be before or after the launch of the Hull sub-opt I don't know. The Hull sub-opt will work like Oxford I think - with a second gallery in Leeds being used (as a second Gallery is used in So'ton for Oxford) though I have heard a rumour that the studio itself will be in Hull... Interesting way of doing things!

Newcastle and Leeds have just been given new cameras (their old ones were some of the last in the BBC to have tubes rather than CCDs) I don't know if Leeds were given 4:3 only versions. If this were the case it could limit their move to 16:9...

Haven't heard anything about Leeds moving before - I wonder where they are going to? I know their current building on Woodhouse Lane is an old church or something and the BBC Radio Leeds studios are really small!

Anyone got any clues as to where and when?!

They are having new studios at the National Museum of Photography in Bradford and are building new premises in Sheffield - so I suppose a new home for the main building would not be unexpected!

I've recently heard that BBC Leeds will be moving to new purpose-built premises in St. Peter's Square, Quarry Hill, adjacent to the West Yorkshire Playhouse and adjoining the Leeds College of Music - Leeds's up-and-coming 'culture quarter'. Plans do exist for the new building, which would provide not only the BBC studios, but on the top floors, a music auditorium/concert hall for the Leeds College of Music. I've got no idea as to whether the plans have been approved yet, or when/if construction will start, but I should think that the BBC will have left their inadequate Woodhouse Lane premises within the next five years.

For those of you mentioning the 'Hull-opt', unlike Calendar East which is broadcast from Leeds, Look North's 'Hull-opt' will be broadcast from an improved TV studio at BBC Radio Humberside's premises in Chapel Street, Hull. Whether the studio will resemble Cambridge's (Look East 'Western-opt') as opposed to Leeds's small 'breakfast studio' remains unknown. Does anyone know which type of studio Oxford has; a full set like Cambridge or just a breakfast-type studio?

As I understand it the Oxford opt comes from So'ton Studio B. This is their single camera used for the combined Breakfast bulletins. The Oxford opt is done as a full-frame CSO I think - with an Oxford 'window camera' superimposed behind the presenter.

I haven't seen it - but would imagine that it looks fine - but a bit dull with only one camera shot easily available (though it would technically be possible to alter the shot size and backing whilst out of vision)

I doubt other regions will go down the route taken by Cambs - as siting both studio gallery operations (if not both studios - the studio for Hull could be in Hull with the gallery in Leeds!) on the same site means it is much easier to share editing, graphics, technical and support staff. It also makes coding and distribution of the resultant signals needed for digital TV easier.

Pity though - cos BBC Cambs opt is really nice (but I am biased - I helped set it up!) - and the new studio makes it look almost like a full region!

BBC Cambridge studio is a nice one!

Its better than a lot of regional programmes itself and its only seen for 15 minutes a day!!!


Oxford's studio is OK. It does get a bit boring with only one camera shot but interviews are pre-recorded in the main Southampton Studio so you do sometimes get a variation.

Serves its purpose, I suppose!

So, what is the presenter line up for London Live and South East Today? Where will Mike Embley be presenting?

South East Today is to be presented by Laurie Mayor, ex Sky News presenter and Al Fayed PR manager!

I would guess there will be very little change of presenters for London Live, just the same ones as usual.
But who will do the weather?

I think it might be the national weather presenter.

I'd rather have Dianne Oxberry (or Lisa Gallagher from Look North!)

I know someone who knows Dianne and apparently she is much more wrinkled in real life than on TV


(Edited by cheshirec at 3:23 pm on July 1, 2001)

Don't forget that Laurie Mayor used to present Nationwide which in turn meant he presented South East at Six!

He's gone full circle and decided to come back to his roots.