The Guardian reports:-

BBC begins Television Centre sell-off

The BBC has begun the sale of Television Centre in west London in a move that is likely to raise hundreds of millions of pounds for the broadcaster.

The sell-off, plans for which first emerged in January 2007, could herald the end of nearly 50 years of broadcasting at the site.

However, the BBC is also prepared to consider other options, which would involve it retaining some presence at Television Centre. "The key objective for any sale or partnership is to maximise the value of the site to the BBC and licence fee payers," said the corporation in a statement.

A straightforward sale is likely to be quicker and easier but may not raise as much money in the long run as a joint venture, particuarly at a time when property values are depressed.

Last week MediaGuardian.co.uk revealed that the BBC was looking to market-test two options – selling the site to developers outright, or entering into a joint venture to establish a "creative quarter" or "BBC land"-style visitor attraction.

The corporation is vacating Television Centre by 2015, with its several thousand staff due to move to the refurbished Broadcasting House in central London or its new BBC North HQ in Salford.

Last spring the BBC unveiled proposals for a multimillion-pound redevelopment of the site to revitalise west London with a 23-acre "creative quarter".

Under the plan the BBC would sell Television Centre to developers but rent back some of the studios to continue making programmes at the site, and perhaps lease some space to house an orchestra.

The rest of the centre – parts of which are crumbling and likely to be demolished to make way for new buildings – could become home to independent production companies, other media organisations or performing arts companies.

By:- Mark Sweney.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jun/13/bbc-television-centre-sell-off

More at
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a324566/bbc-puts-television-centre...

Mike

Wow this is so sad...

All those personal memories of how proud I was to walk through those gates, seeing the famous at work and knowing I was part of it.

The friends I had, the comradeship...to be honest most times it wasn't like being at work at all...Now at least in retirement I can look back on a great working life.
Knowing that at the press of a button the picture on TV's up and down the land will change because I pressed it. Working odd hours and longdays it was all part of working in TV. As was being in that building.

BBC TVC was a community.... I am as proud today to have been part of it as I was that first day becoming part of it.

Sad to think that it would be more difficult to be proud of the Corporation today if I were still there.

I suppose in reality you only have to look at how techinically everything has got so small and how the accountants have won the day by having programme making "outsourced", the need for such a building is maybe outdated.

The place however gave "purpose" to the training that was once a proud asset of the BBC...you could see where your job fit into the process of production and how the standards were kept high by all the crafts people in the studios. It shows too....just watch DAVE or GOLD to see how well crafted the programmes were...even down to the sound mixes!.

If you want to see how "improved" things are these days just look to any channel ....it's there for all to see!

I think we pensioners can only remember a Corporation that doesn't seem to be around anymore, and sadly the same is happening physically to the very fabric of the BBC ......the buildings.

I know TVC is "just" a building....but it's what it stood for that is going to be lost with this sale.

Ok we have Salford soon.....but that seems more a "PC" thing for the BBC  to have done....I don't think somehow Salford Quays in 50 years time will have the kudos of TVC...hopefully I'm wrong maybe there will be some groundbreaking TV made there....maybe.

Some are saying already "but there is a new BH".....I agree yes there is, but that is and has always been radio..however it seems the evidence that the BBC (not outside companies) used to make TV programmes is to become a real memory.