Many productions want to be located in London, but are now having to move out to Elstree, Pinewood, Maidstone etc.
Is it actually the case that productions
want
to be in a studio in Central London? I'm not so sure. And in any case, there are plenty of venues which can suit productions who have an absolute desire to be in town.
BBC Studioworks are now the best providers of London based studios. Really the only providers. They have a good portfolio of studios, and the amount of productions now made there, does show how much the need for these London studios are.
It is all very well saying the broadcasting environment has changed, and large studios are not needed anymore. We still have to house big entertainment shows like Strictly, X Factor, chat shows, game shows, quiz shows, sitcoms, panel shows, sketch comedy shows ... the list goes on, and many would prefer to be in a central London location, but are now finding London and London area studios now being demolished.
I know the argument from broadcasters like ITV about money. But we still need good studio space in the capital, and that is now gone, especially with the likes of TC3, an excellent 8,000 Sq Ft studio for sitcoms, game shows, chat shows etc now blocked for at least the next 5 years, as ITV now have a hold on it. A studio where shows like Have I Got News For You could have used.
Many productions want to be located in London, but are now having to move out to Elstree, Pinewood, Maidstone etc.
Is it actually the case that productions
want
to be in a studio in Central London? I'm not so sure. And in any case, there are plenty of venues which can suit productions who have an absolute desire to be in town.
Yes, it is, as Graham Norton's production team have pointed out. London is the capital, and it attracts the celebrities to key shows. This is why Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton's productions teams made sure they booked Television Centre's TC1. The Last Leg for Channel 4 also went there fast for their Friday night show, and will be returning there later this month.
There is something about being made in central London. It attracts audiences and guests a like. It is handy to have Dock10 in Salford with very good studios, but enticing big shows up there is hard.
:-(
A former member
But is it vital these shows are in *Central* London, where parking and access are often limited? Much better to be somewhere with a bit more space that’s easier to get to. Look at LA where the bulk of studios are a good 10 miles out of the city centre - doesn’t seem to cause the likes of Ellen, The Voice or America’s Got Talent many issues.
But is it vital these shows are in *Central* London, where parking and access are often limited? Much better to be somewhere with a bit more space that’s easier to get to. Look at LA where the bulk of studios are a good 10 miles out of the city centre - doesn’t seem to cause the likes of Ellen, The Voice or America’s Got Talent many issues.
Most if not all of the main French broadcasters are based in Boulogne-Billancourt, 5 miles to the west of Paris. A similar distance from central London to TVC.
BM
BM11
Public transport for studio audiences is better for the centre of town compared to a suburb which usually means multiplies changes and infrequent service unless you live in the line.
Public transport for studio audiences is better for the centre of town compared to a suburb which usually means multiplies changes and infrequent service unless you live in the line.
Only really an issue in London for Sky where even their own staff who use public transport have work buses to Osterley from nearby railway stations.
This decision today just probably takes out TC2 and TC3 for a bit longer. It doesn't reduce the studio pool from what there is today. Riverside reopens next year which will add a much needed studio.
Stratford is mentioned up there, and there was a piece in Broadcast the other week which said that BT have recently revamped their studios to make them much more conventional studios and they're hoping to pick up a lot more business from other channels, they can now accommodate large studio audiences and proper sets. Of course, ITV Sport are already based there now.
Stratford will appeal to a lot of audience based shows due to its transport links.
<train spotter mode>
Crossrail isn't going to Stratford. Closest station will be Canary Wharf<end>
Like with most things, weekday daytimes 2 out of those 3 are easy to get to on public transport
Sky. Syon Lane via SWR from Waterloo, or Piccadilly line to Osterley and H91 up the South West Road to Gillette Corner.
Elstree. Thameslink train from Central London every 10/15 mins and a 10 min walk up Borehamwood High Street or Tube to Northern Line tube to Edgware/High Barnet and 108 bus around.
Pinewood used to have upto 4 buses per hour from both Uxbridge or Slough. Now it has one per week. There is a bus from Uxbridge, but that dumps you at the Crooked Billet roundabout, and a good 20 min walk on grassy verges to the studio entrance.
For studio audiences getting to Pinewood using public transport is totally useless. But there is a large car park - so that's all right then..
)
