Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> T.V. Centre SOLD http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1342434292 Message started by Administrator on Jul 16^th, 2012, 10:25am

Title: T.V. Centre SOLD
Post by Administrator on Jul 16^th, 2012, 10:25am

The BBC has exchanged contracts for the sale of Television Centre in West London to property developers Stanhope Plc for a total price in the order of £200m.

Contracts were exchanged on Saturday 14 July 2012. Full details of the sale will be available on completion.

Source:-

BBC Statement.

Title: Re: Television Centre SOLD
Post by Peter_Neill on Jul 16^th, 2012, 7:47pm

Which will pay for about 1 years-worth of "Talent"

Title: Re: Television Centre SOLD
Post by Administrator on Jul 16^th, 2012, 10:11pm

There are others around the internet with strong feelings:-

Here, for example.

"It was announced by the DG, Mark 'The Hatchet' Thompson, that the contracts have been exchanged today that will see BBC Television Centre sold to a property developer for the sum of £200 million.

That's not a great deal of money for some prime real estate in West London.
It's not great deal of money for a landmark piece of architecture.
Its not a great deal of money for much these days, but Stanhope plc have been the successful bidder in the purchase process." ....

Title: Re: Television Centre SOLD
Post by FoxyFace on Jul 17^th, 2012, 8:33am

So--what are the new developers going to do with it--turn it into a Televison Studio?

Title: Re: Television Centre SOLD
Post by JohnW on Jul 18^th, 2012, 4:54pm

That paltry sum (£200M) must surely qualify TVC as some of the cheapest real estate in the whole of London!!
I would have thought that the Car Park building alone would have been worth that much - especially now there's a new tube station almost directly across the road!!
What's the betting that the East Tower gets flattened and another office block gets erected on the site which then nets Stanhope plc an extra zero on their worth! [Once again the GBP (Great British Public) get to lose out big time!!]

But seriously ... if TVC has 'Listed' status, and the main building can't be pulled down, what options are there for it?

BTW ... given that News are about to move to the "New" BH, and Sport have already been shoved up to Salford, where are all the other "inhabitants" of TC going to be put? I know that Playout, etc have moved into the Media Centre building ... but what about all the people like 'Post Production' folk who were in Stage V and parts of Stage VI? The Weather group ... And does anyone know what is planned for the White City monstrosity? [If ever a building was badly built and wrongly occupied ... that was it! They made the offices into studios (WatchDog) instead of using proper studios ... so perhaps the plan for TVC is to make the studios ... into offices!!]

Title: Re: Television Centre SOLD
Post by Amigo on Jul 20^th, 2012, 2:14pm

Here is the BBC Press office statement with the details of the sale of "The BBC Television Centre".

It includes the future plans for this iconic building.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/statements/tvc-sale-completion.html

"The BBC public service divisions will be remaining on site until staff have been relocated and the technology infrastructure has been completed.

The BBC’s commercial arms BBC Studios and Post Production and BBC Worldwide will lease refurbished office and entertainment space in the completed scheme from 2014/15 and will be amongst the first parts to go-live at the re-purposed site.

Following temporary relocation, BBC Studios and Post Production will operate studios for television production, including the famous Studio 1.

BBC Worldwide will move from its current base in the W12 Media Village to become anchor tenants on the site, and will be located at the front of the building overlooking Wood Lane. BBC Worldwide is in the process of appointing its architects.

Wider plans for the site will include a vibrant mix of uses (leisure, office, residential) and opening up the site as envisaged in the GLA’s White City Opportunity Area masterplan. Discussions will continue with the planning authorities."

What I want to know is:-
"Where is the future Headquarters of BBC Television"?

Will it be a tradesmen's entrance round the back of Broadcasting House?

BBC Manchester's headquarters are in the process of being demolished.

BBC Birmingham's headquarters (Pebble Mill) vanished years ago.

So where will BBC Televisiion "BE"?

Will it be a "Care of" address near BH?

Title: Re: Television Centre SOLD
Post by Administrator on Jul 20^th, 2012, 2:43pm

"Ariel" has the story here.

"On the completion of the sale of Television Centre, it has been announced that BBC Worldwide will be the "anchor tenants" of the building.

In addition, BBC's other commercial arms BBC Studios and Post Production will lease refurbished office and entertainment space from 2014/15.

Discussions continue about possible plans for leisure, office or residential facilities."

Title: Re: T.V. Centre SOLD
Post by Mikej on Jul 20^th, 2012, 6:52pm

It seems to be getting very empty already. I popped in for a sarnie and a pint and there were a few in the club, albeit almost 14.00, and group playing nice music.
No active studios and only 2 looking to be used.
Spoke to someone in Weather office (almost empty) who said they would probably be the last to move to BH early next year (before switching out the lights - or the green screen).
Looking into offices while wandering the empty corridors, they all seemed very empty (sob sob)

Mike

Title: Re: T.V. Centre SOLD
Post by Administrator on Jul 20^th, 2012, 10:46pm

According to The Guardian..

"A BBC spokeswoman confirmed that the corporation had sold the leasehold to the site, not the freehold, meaning that the corporation retains control over what happens to the site and can control the legacy. Stanhope has the conditional option to buy the freehold in due course."

By Mark Sweney.

Source:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/jul/20/bbc-television

Title: Re: T.V. Centre SOLD
Post by Matt on Jul 23^rd, 2012, 12:20pm

I am sad and disgusted at the same time. TVC is priceless.