TV Home Forum

ITV abandons the South Bank

(February 2017)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
IS
Inspector Sands
TVFan2017 posted:
I can't really see how they would update their current set to without ruining the 'Studio 8 illusion'. Though I'm probably wrong!

Fairly easy, they just gradually phase out the current background by covering it up and not having it as prominently in shot. Then just not have it on the new set.... or have a different view
Stuart and TVFan2017 gave kudos
ST
Stuart
Inspector Sands posted:
Fairly easy, they just gradually phase out the current background by covering it up and not having it as prominently in shot. Then just not have it on the new set.... or have a different view

ITV have been quite robust in ensuring that the viewers know the "river view" is fake. It really doesn't matter where they produce the programme from any more, or what background they use as the set. It's a part of their image, not necessarily their location.
NG
noggin Founding member
Inspector Sands posted:
The idea behind the original South Bank plan was to have everyone under one roof and for a company as big as ITV not to have it's own HQ is apparently fairly unusual. What it has now - rented accommodation in Grays Inn Road, Holborn and White City, along with the hired facilities at TVC and BT Sport - probably isn't that conducive to being a long term arrangement, it was only intended to be temporary after all.

I would have thought that ITV will have to find a new HQ at some point, though it wouldn't necessarily have studios in it of course. My prediction is that they'll end up relocating everything under one roof at either Chiswick or Stratford (the latter would provide a river location too should it really be that important)


I'm not so sure now.

ITV, like the BBC, really doesn't really function like a single company any more.

The commissioning and channel arm are quite distant from the ITV Studios production arms, and the ITV Daytime operations.

Just like the BBC in London has multiple sites - BBC News, Radio and TV Channel teams at NBH, BBC Studios (i.e. production) at Broadcast Centre, TV Centre, Elstree (and a tiny bit at NBH), BBC Studioworks at TV Centre, BBC Elstree and Elstree Film studios etc., there is no real reason for ITV to be co-sited in one place now. I think ITV has realised this isn't a huge issue by actually experiencing it.
NG
noggin Founding member
Stuart posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
Fairly easy, they just gradually phase out the current background by covering it up and not having it as prominently in shot. Then just not have it on the new set.... or have a different view

ITV have been quite robust in ensuring that the viewers know the "river view" is fake. It really doesn't matter where they produce the programme from any more, or what background they use as the set. It's a part of their image, not necessarily their location.


Yes - it's just a visual brand for one of their small daytime shows. Pursuing a property strategy based around an on-screen view that's seen by <1m between 1030 and 1230 Mon-Fri probably isn't a sensible route to go down Smile The screen solution is fine, and the 'window' is part of the This Morning DNA.
IS
Inspector Sands
noggin posted:

Just like the BBC in London has multiple sites - BBC News, Radio and TV Channel teams at NBH, BBC Studios (i.e. production) at Broadcast Centre, TV Centre, Elstree (and a tiny bit at NBH), BBC Studioworks at TV Centre, BBC Elstree and Elstree Film studios etc., there is no real reason for ITV to be co-sited in one place now. I think ITV has realised this isn't a huge issue by actually experiencing it.

The big difference is that the BBC does have a proper HQ that it owns, rather than subletting random office space.


As BECTU points out here: https://www.bectu.org.uk/news/2894 it isn't normal for a Public Limited Company to be in this sort of position. As for the sell-off point I'm not sure whether a large company like that with minimal physical assets in London is more or less attractive to potential puchasers
chris and Lou Scannon gave kudos
CH
chris
I agree with Inspector Sands. I can’t imagine the current situation is good business sense in the long term, but neither is returning to a high-value central London sight. A new HQ further on the outskirts, like Sky, seems more sensible.
IS
Inspector Sands
Yeah there's no need for a central London site. The South Bank is a great location but things were very different when LWT set up there,it was a run down part of town being regenerated. They'd never build it there now
:-(
A former member
Is ITV waiting until the new infrastructure is been built? Cross rail is due to open plus other capital projects, before it decides where to build a centralise new HQ.. you never it could be maidstone Wink
IS
Inspector Sands
623058 posted:
Is ITV waiting until the new infrastructure is been built? Cross rail is due to open plus other capital projects, before it decides where to build a centralise new HQ..

I don't think there's any strategy like that. They’ve only recently abandoned the last one!


Major projects like Crossrail are planned for decades before they open so I don't think they would be a factor
Last edited by Inspector Sands on 10 November 2018 9:09pm
JO
Jonwo
Inspector Sands posted:
The idea behind the original South Bank plan was to have everyone under one roof and for a company as big as ITV not to have it's own HQ is apparently fairly unusual. What it has now - rented accommodation in Grays Inn Road, Holborn and White City, along with the hired facilities at TVC and BT Sport - probably isn't that conducive to being a long term arrangement, it was only intended to be temporary after all.

I would have thought that ITV will have to find a new HQ at some point, though it wouldn't necessarily have studios in it of course. My prediction is that they'll end up relocating everything under one roof at either Chiswick or Stratford (the latter would provide a river location too should it really be that important)


Stratford would be a strong bet given how many companies has relocated there although I imagine they’d keep the daytime shows at TVC.
JK
JKDerry
Jonwo posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
The idea behind the original South Bank plan was to have everyone under one roof and for a company as big as ITV not to have it's own HQ is apparently fairly unusual. What it has now - rented accommodation in Grays Inn Road, Holborn and White City, along with the hired facilities at TVC and BT Sport - probably isn't that conducive to being a long term arrangement, it was only intended to be temporary after all.

I would have thought that ITV will have to find a new HQ at some point, though it wouldn't necessarily have studios in it of course. My prediction is that they'll end up relocating everything under one roof at either Chiswick or Stratford (the latter would provide a river location too should it really be that important)


Stratford would be a strong bet given how many companies has relocated there although I imagine they’d keep the daytime shows at TVC.

The main reason for not returning to the southbank is due to the fact they are very happy and content at Television Centre. They were worried about the move at first, and would the four daytime shows settle in, in their new studios - and this far they have been very successful.


The facilities offered at Television Centre are fantastic, especially with TC3 housing GMB and This Morning. TC3 was always a brilliant studio, and it is helping now.

Their office space at White City is perfect for them, along with the on site production offices near the studios, so all in all, management thought, why move? Five years rent to move back all of this to the southbank, no, let us stay here.

Their current five year deal with BBC Studioworks and Stanhope will no doubt be extended, in the same way the BBC and Elstree Studios deal was extended in 2017, and will no doubt be extended in 2020 when that deal is up for renewal.

Overall, a good move for ITV. Just, not having a proper headquarters is a bit weird. BBC have got Broadcasting House, Channel 4 have retained Horseferry Road, ITV should have some administrative HQ, and Grays Inn Road would suit it well, as ITN is based there, it would be a perfect home.
NG
noggin Founding member
Jonwo posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
The idea behind the original South Bank plan was to have everyone under one roof and for a company as big as ITV not to have it's own HQ is apparently fairly unusual. What it has now - rented accommodation in Grays Inn Road, Holborn and White City, along with the hired facilities at TVC and BT Sport - probably isn't that conducive to being a long term arrangement, it was only intended to be temporary after all.

I would have thought that ITV will have to find a new HQ at some point, though it wouldn't necessarily have studios in it of course. My prediction is that they'll end up relocating everything under one roof at either Chiswick or Stratford (the latter would provide a river location too should it really be that important)


Stratford would be a strong bet given how many companies has relocated there although I imagine they’d keep the daytime shows at TVC.


AIUI ITV considered Stratford as a combined HQ and studio location but decided against it.

Newer posts