ITV stuff for sale

[red16v]

Not too sure where to post this (?) Mods please move/delete as you think fit.

The first sale of all the equipment from ITV's studio headquarters on the SouthBank:

http://www.go-dove.com/en/events?cmd...eid=eb8d87a692

[German Dalek]

Good evening!
Anybody hear who can explain why all this modern ITV stuff is now for sale?
Close-down forever?

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...27#post1058327

Thanks,
German Dalek

[raditechman]

The ITV London Studios (London Televsion Centre) on the Southbank of the River Thames in London are being redeveloped.
Smaller studios will be provided in the new building.
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/9526

John

[paulsherwin]

Yes, the studio complex is closing. TV production doesn't need these big multi camera dedicated studios nowadays, and they have been closing over the last 20 years. BBC Television Centre in London is the best known casualy closing in 2013, but the ITV companies used to have complexes in all the big British cities, and I think they're all gone now. South Bank Studios (ex LWT) may have been the last survivor.

[AidanLunn]

Yorkshire Television in Leeds is still present, and ITV still have presences in Anglia House in Norwich (thanks to a 99-year lease Anglia TV bought from Norwich City Council in 1959) and HTV West's Bristol studios. ITV only recently closed Ulster TV's Havelock house complex in Belfast, which has been open since 1959. And the Teddington Studios (formerly of Thames TV) and Fountain Studios in Wembley (LWT's first studio before Kent House opened) were closed and demolished within the past few years. However, I couldn't disagree more about the lack of studio space in London. Yes, it is true that more programmes are made using lightweight/OB equipment now, but production companies are crying out for studio space in London and this only makes a bad situation worse. That was partly why there was such an outcry when the BBC closed and flogged off TV Centre, which was still a perfectly useable and serviceable complex, even if the offices were not of much use anymore.

Now, there are just the three open studios at TV Centre (one of which is fully booked for ITV's Daytime programmes for the next few years), BBC Elstree (the former ATV studios) and Pinewood and Shepperton studios, amongst other smaller complexes dotted around London. Riverside Studios are officially open but are in the middle of being completely redeveloped. The total amount of studio floor space in London is less than half of what it was 2 or 3 years ago.

[raditechman]

I guess the fact that Teddington Studios and Southbank Studios were by the River Thames made ideal sites for luxury apartments.
A few years ago there was a plan to put housing on Twickenham studios but they were saved and are still open.
Sky TV at Isleworth have a large site some of it fairly new.

John

[red16v]

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

Yes, the studio complex is closing. TV production doesn't need these big multi camera dedicated studios nowadays, and they have been closing over the last 20 years. BBC Television Centre in London is the best known casualy closing in 2013, but the ITV companies used to have complexes in all the big British cities, and I think they're all gone now. South Bank Studios (ex LWT) may have been the last survivor.

The entire site is being flattened. The existing tower block will be replaced by another tower block with the same footprint but about 50% higher which will be luxury apartments including a small social housing element. (This mainly due to the restrictions on not obstructing the view of St Pauls from various sight lines so easier to put the new tower block where the existing one is).

Towards the River Thames there will be a new block that will house the office staff and 3 small studios - all due to open in the early 2020's.

Whilst lot of the kit on offer is newish, it is not 4k capable which is the direction the future production market is going. I would argue that large multi camera studios still are still needed, the London Studios was packed to the gunnels with productions year in year out and the complete closure came as a bit of a shock to the staff.

[cheerfulcharlie]

Up in the gods of Studio One there is an old Eidephor video projector that got stuck there, which might be of interest to someone.
Studio One was like a factory churning out TV programmes- Blind Date one day- a sitcom the next-quiz shows the day after.
Popular drama shows were expected to make 26 episodes a year- compared to the 5 or 6 we get now.
Oh well expect more "24 hours in the life of a toilet attendant" type of show on the box in the future

[bobsterkent]

I'm wondering if any of it would be useful to the BHTV gang up at Alexander Palace or would it be too new?

[Martin Allen]

Thanks, Bob, but the kit is too modern.