ITV abandons the South Bank

Basically a good building and studios being destroyed because of greed, now where has that happened before somewhere else.

Nice stationary cupboard on floor 2 though

For those describing this proposal as looking horrible – the current building is hardly a thing of beauty.

If ITV did take over full control of Grays Inn Road, could they add one or two more studios to the complex? There are only the two basement studios and the Channel 4 News studio based there at the moment. If ITV have some thought, possibly two more television studios could be created to give them a new London headquarters, much smaller than The London Studios, with still a headquarters as such. Just a thought.

Realistically, I think it’d be much easier for ITV to go for a new build than trying to retrofit Gray’s Inn Road and given ITV Daytime has settled nicely at Television Centre, I cannot envision them having a headquarter with studios attached to them anymore.

Even just one more studio in that complex would be good.

And it would make sense to have ITV and ITN headquartered in the same place.

Why? They don't need one.

Why? They're two separate companies.

It does seem in my opinion that ITV are very content using studios not owned by them for their big programmes, such as SNT based at Television Centre. So I do get a sense they will continue on their current path. If it aint broke don't fix it approach.

TV is one of those areas where I think do need to be in the room with other people when pitching ideas and I imagine for many people while some will embrace WFH full time but most will either opt for a half and half approach or go back to the office.



ITV owns Bovingdon so it's not entirely true that they would rather rent studios from other places and TBH it doesn't really matter, programmes will still get made.

Bovingdon is a massive great studio, not in the heart of London, but still a great studio, used by The Wheel for the BBC as well as of course Dancing on Ice now.

Not just in television now but many big companies are happier to not have their cash tied up in expensive property assets and instead lease space, often selling their own HQs then leasing them back on a long term deal.

Many companies will still have HQs as you'll still need people to be physically present and interacting with each other for some aspect of work. Even tech companies like Facebook are building new HQs in various cities.

Yes but you don't have to own the HQ, you can have a long term lease for the space. That's exactly what the BBC did with TVC - sold it then leased back three studios, who in turn they rent out to ITV and others.

It's pretty much what ITV have done across the country too in closing their regional studios down and leasing space elsewhere rather than purchasing or building a smaller property - as seen with the former HTV and UTV sites. Indeed do they own outright much more than the Leeds Studios any more?