BBC Television Centre

BBC Television Centre (sometimes abbreviated TVC or TC) in London is home to the vast majority of BBC television output and, since 1998, almost all of the corporation's national TV and radio news output by BBC News.

The building

The building features a distinctive circular central block (often affectionately referred to as the concrete doughnut) around which are studios, offices, engineering areas and the new News Centre. In the centre of the main block is a statue of the Greek god of the sun, Helios, which is meant to symbolise the radiation of television light around the world. At the foot of this statue are two reclining figures, symbolising sound and vision, the components of television. Over time various extensions have been added to the building to maximise the site's potential. Increasingly the corporation has had to seek further accomdation elsewhere, such as the nearby BBC White City. This new complex comprises White City One, a 25,000 square metre office building, as well as the BBC's new Broadcast and Media Centres.

Related Topics:
Helios - Sound - Vision - BBC White City

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The centre's studios range in size from 110 square metres (1074 ft²) to the vast Studio TC1 at 995 square metres (10,250 ft²). These have been home to some of the world's most famous TV programmes including Fawlty Towers, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Blue Peter, Absolutely Fabulous and Doctor Who. Since the early 1990s however the studios have been home to few dramas, as drama production moved almost entirely onto film or single-camera video, and Television Centre is a video-based, multi-camera production environment.

Related Topics:
Fawlty Towers - Monty Python's Flying Circus - Blue Peter - Absolutely Fabulous - Doctor Who

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In 2008 all BBC News, national radio and BBC World Service broadcasts will be moved to Broadcasting House in central London. The building is planned to have the largest live newsroom in the world. The BBC News Centre at Television Centre was only opened in 1998, in a new complex at the front of the building. The decision to move radio news to this building was attributed to Director General John Birt, a move that was resisted by the managing director of BBC Radio, Liz Forgan, who resigned after failing to dissuade the governors. The decision has caused problems for BBC Radio in particular, for example politicians accustomed to travelling to interviews at Broadcasting House have been reluctant to make the journey to White City.

Related Topics:
2008 - BBC World Service - Broadcasting House - 1998 - John Birt - BBC Radio - Liz Forgan

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