[Mikeandhersonq]

I mean the Manchester/broadcasting house thing. I understand that the BBC studios in Manchester would be more state of the art, bigger and would concentrate talent. But what are the specs at BBC Broadcasting House? Are there even any studios there?

I was also wondering how the BBC may be holding off doing anything big until their move to Salford and selling of TV Centre. Is anything in the works?

[chunkc]

Think you mean Salford.....

Not Manchester.

I'm not sure how it's output might improve or decline by the move.

I just think it's a waste of licence fee payers money.

[ftv]

Originally Posted by chunkc

Think you mean Salford.....

Not Manchester.

I'm not sure how it's output might improve or decline by the move.

I just think it's a waste of licence fee payers money.

Are you asking about studios at the existing BH in Manchester in Oxford Road or are you asking about the new studios in Salford. The biggest there will be 12,500 sq ft which will be bigger than TC1.

[Mikeandhersonq]

Originally Posted by ftv

Are you asking about studios at the existing BH in Manchester in Oxford Road or are you asking about the new studios in Salford. The biggest there will be 12,500 sq ft which will be bigger than TC1.

Salford, sorry - I got the impression that Salford was in Manchester.

[klystron]

Originally Posted by Mikeandhersonq

Salford, sorry - I got the impression that Salford was in Manchester.

Good grief

[zz9]

My one, big, complaint about the move is that the BBC are simply renting the new building whereas they owned TV Centre freehold.
It may make the figures look good now but long term they will be paying a fortune in rent and if and when they decide to move on they will just walk away where if they owned it they could sell it and get their money back, and with the (hopefully) profitable sale (sometime) of TV Centre.

This is the same thing that bugs me about all the PPI in the NHS for example. They don't own the building and have to pay the owner anytime they want to make the slightest alteration.

"The figures look great today! Who cares about twenty years time? I won't be here then!"

[CABLEDUDE]

I'd have thought it would be vastly more sensible to have one big central studio complex, with smaller regional ones. Couldn't the BBC have demolished both the BBC TV Centre and the BBC Worldwide buildings next door, and replace them with a new TV Centre in a much larger building using the space more proficiently. Then, they could move radio into that building and use the old Broadcasting House for the BBC Trust and BBC Worldwide, such as Magazines, etc.

Then, the centre would be in a central position in the capital, without confusion, there would be better transport links and it would be easier for actors or directors from around the globe to get there than some Northern Town, that people think is in Manchester.

[Object Z]

Originally Posted by CABLEDUDE

I'd have thought it would be vastly more sensible to have one big central studio complex, with smaller regional ones. Couldn't the BBC have demolished both the BBC TV Centre and the BBC Worldwide buildings next door, and replace them with a new TV Centre in a much larger building using the space more proficiently. Then, they could move radio into that building and use the old Broadcasting House for the BBC Trust and BBC Worldwide, such as Magazines, etc.

Then, the centre would be in a central position in the capital, without confusion, there would be better transport links and it would be easier for actors or directors from around the globe to get there than some Northern Town, that people think is in Manchester.

The BBC is persuing a, mostly, publisher broadcaster way of doing things. (Not News, and less so radio).

Kind of a larger version of C4 without the ads.

It has been the aim since the initial sale of TCPD and later on, other engineering, production and creative departments, since the late 80's.

The idea being that the BBC only buys in what is required as opposed to having its own departments.
This way more of the TVL is spent on programmes.

Succesive management have continued this plan.

It's all politics and accountancy.

For the latter, I refer you to Monty Pythons Meaning of Life, birth sketch and the machine that goes `ping!`.

BTW: I doubt that the actual move will make any difference to BBC output or quality.

[OB racks]

Originally Posted by Object Z

The BBC is persuing a, mostly, publisher broadcaster way of doing things. (Not News, and less so radio).

Kind of a larger version of C4 without the ads.

It has been the aim since the initial sale of TCPD and later on, other engineering, production and creative departments, since the late 80's.

The idea being that the BBC only buys in what is required as opposed to having its own departments.
This way more of the TVL is spent on programmes.

Succesive management have continued this plan.

It's all politics and accountancy.

For the latter, I refer you to Monty Pythons Meaning of Life, birth sketch and the machine that goes `ping!`.

BTW: I doubt that the actual move will make any difference to BBC output or quality.

Agree fully, especially the "It's all politics and accountancy" statement. What it really means is "more TVL will end up in private pockets". Thatcher wanted it, Thompson has (finally) implemented it. Trebles all round! (Except for the poor viewer)

[mad_dude]

it wont immediately improve imo

[paddysu]

But aren't alot of the live shows filmed at tv centre. If they're selling that off then where will they go.

At the moment people from all over the country can easily get a train to london to go and see a show with late night trains back to most places as well. If they were to move the filming of shows up the Manchester then alof of the southerners and possible even west country I'm not sure how the trains run would have to get several trains to get there and take a very long time.

There again though I suppose the tickets are free and they'd easily fill the seats with people from the north so do the bbc really care. for things like question time and any audience participation stuff i think that needs to either remian in London or travel around the country like QT does now.

I've not been following the story so I don't know what they're actually intending on doing. Any links around.

[Orthicon]

The programmes won't necessarily change but it should be cheaper to make them and that's what the whole caboodle is about - saving cash.

However, the original plans to sell off TV Centre have been complicated by the National Heritage Trust. They petitioned the local council to list the building as a site of architectural interest so now the facade of TC1, the office block, the canteen and parts of the grounds are Grade 2 listed. Since some of the studios are intrinsically linked to those areas, they have also been given Grade 2 listed status.

So, only certain parts of the building can be demolished (mainly the spur) and any new owners will find it very difficult to change the remaining parts' uses. In essence, any new owner would really have to be a broadcaster or media production company looking to own its own TV facilities.

This will drastically reduce the potential market for new buyers si it could be that when the building is put up for sale in 2015, there will be no bidders. When the sale of TV Centre was first proposed, there were only two serious bids - one from ITV and the other from Pinewood.

Even if TV Centre is sold off and used for purposes outwith television, the BBC would still be able to hire studios in London such as TLS, Fountain and Pinewood if it was necessary.

[ftv]

Originally Posted by Mikeandhersonq

Salford, sorry - I got the impression that Salford was in Manchester.

There will be three small studios which will be the home of CBBC. Then three medium-sized studios of 4,550 sq ft, 6,300 sq ft and 7,650 sq, one of which will be the home of BBC Sport. Then a studio of 12,500 sq ft which will be capable of hosting major LE productions - this was put into the plans when it was thought TV Centre was being sold off and would have replaced TC1. There will be two audio studios, one of which will be the home of the BBC Northern Philharmonic Orchestra.The studios are to be brought into service in 2011/12.The original plan was that Granada would share some of these facilities but that no longer seems to be the case.The complex is officially known as ''Media City''

[xanderly]

Originally Posted by klystron

Good grief

Good grief yourself! Manchester to Salford is 4.3 miles. If you want to get picky, aren't the new BBC buildings at Salford Quays, which are 1.9 miles outside Salford (and 4.1 miles from Manchester)? I'm sure there are plenty of people who would consider anything inside the M60 to be Manchester , or Manchester area, much like anything inside the M25 can be considered London, or inside the A720 is Edinburgh. Yes, locally Salford, Watford, Leith, etc, have their own fierce independent identity, but not everyone will know that.

[ftv]

There's a heck of a lot of studio capacity by comparison with Oxford Road which had only one big studio (until it was closed by asbestos fears).To justify that sort of investment they will have to produce a huge amount of output.

[hendero]

Originally Posted by xanderly

Good grief yourself! Manchester to Salford is 4.3 miles. If you want to get picky, aren't the new BBC buildings at Salford Quays, which are 1.9 miles outside Salford (and 4.1 miles from Manchester)? I'm sure there are plenty of people who would consider anything inside the M60 to be Manchester , or Manchester area, much like anything inside the M25 can be considered London, or inside the A720 is Edinburgh. Yes, locally Salford, Watford, Leith, etc, have their own fierce independent identity, but not everyone will know that.

And Salford is part of Greater Manchester. Good thing the mistake wasn't about a city in Scotland, the EBC thread would have exploded .

[klystron]

Originally Posted by xanderly

Good grief yourself! Manchester to Salford is 4.3 miles. If you want to get picky, aren't the new BBC buildings at Salford Quays, which are 1.9 miles outside Salford (and 4.1 miles from Manchester)? I'm sure there are plenty of people who would consider anything inside the M60 to be Manchester , or Manchester area, much like anything inside the M25 can be considered London, or inside the A720 is Edinburgh. Yes, locally Salford, Watford, Leith, etc, have their own fierce independent identity, but not everyone will know that.

I just can't understand why people don't spend a couple of minutes on Google checking out the facts before they post on here.

[Mikeandhersonq]

Originally Posted by klystron

I just can't understand why people don't spend a couple of minutes on Google checking out the facts before they post on here.

It came under Manchester the BBC site ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/6708383.stm )
I did quote both Manchester and Salford in my question.

[callum9999]

Originally Posted by klystron

I just can't understand why people don't spend a couple of minutes on Google checking out the facts before they post on here.

Because its ultimately irrelevant?

[klystron]

Originally Posted by callum9999

Because its ultimately irrelevant?

No it's very relevant. If you have a look you will notice the first two replies to the question were asking for clarification.

The original post says:

"I mean the Manchester/broadcasting house thing. I understand that the BBC studios in Manchester would be more state of the art, bigger and would concentrate talent. But what are the specs at BBC Broadcasting House? Are there even any studios there?"

BBC New Broadcasting House is in Manchester, with 2 TV studios (one unused due to the deal with 360 media) and a number of radio studios.

Media City, where the BBC departments that are currently in New Broadcasting House and others from London will be moving to in 2012, is in Salford.

Full details are here: http://www.mediacityuk.co.uk/creatin...ios-/index.htm

[emails]

Originally Posted by klystron

Good grief

i thought salford was part of manchester? got me confused?

[hardylane]

Originally Posted by klystron

Good grief

Oh PULEASE.

Salford may once have been an entirely separate place in the 17th century or something, but it is, effectively, Manchester. The rest is semantics and local puffed-up nonsense. They are separated by a river, and getting from one to the other is a matter of crossing the road. This is small potatoes to the wider world.

Compare the City of London, and the City of Westminster. You still call them London, as an umbrella title.

Salfordians are very good at exhibiting inverted snobbery on this matter.

[hardylane]

Originally Posted by CABLEDUDE

I'd have thought it would be vastly more sensible to have one big central studio complex, with smaller regional ones. Couldn't the BBC have demolished both the BBC TV Centre and the BBC Worldwide buildings next door, and replace them with a new TV Centre in a much larger building using the space more proficiently. Then, they could move radio into that building and use the old Broadcasting House for the BBC Trust and BBC Worldwide, such as Magazines, etc.

Then, the centre would be in a central position in the capital, without confusion, there would be better transport links and it would be easier for actors or directors from around the globe to get there than some Northern Town, that people think is in Manchester.

This is offensive on so many levels.

1. Broadcasting House and TV Centre should never be demolished. They are icons. I'm sure our Government would be more efficiant if they demolished the Palace of Westminster, but that ain't gonna happen. Oh, and TVC has loads of state of the art gear.

2. Manchester is 2.5 hours by train and less by air. Our communications are bang up to date.

3. Some northern town? Jeez.

[ftv]

The US TV industry is based in two centres - LA and New York which are six flying hours apart. Actors go where the work is (and the climate on the west coast is certainly preferable to NYC).I guess a few people do complain but by and large they follow the money.I'm not - incidentally - trying to compare LA and Salford Docks

[emails]

so salford is in machester,& i don't see any BBC buildings in london ever getting pulled down ,just get used by other production companys like other studios have