Category: West
Midlands TV
Date: 21.10.2004
Printable version
BBC Midlands
Today will broadcast from BBC Birmingham's new studios at The Mailbox
for the first time on Monday (25 October 2004).
The news team moves to BBC Birmingham's new state of the art production
centre this weekend ready for the first broadcast at 1.30pm on Monday,
followed by the main programme at 6.30pm on BBC ONE (West Midlands).
BBC Midlands Today completes BBC Birmingham's move to the centre of
Birmingham, following BBC WM, The Archers plus the Documentaries &
Contemporary Factual department who moved earlier this year.
The new centre boasts the best in technology and innovation, as well
as being more open and accessible to the public than ever before.
The BBC Midlands Today team has been through a rigorous four month intensive
training programme to familiarise themselves with the sophisticated
new television kit.
David Holdsworth, Head of Regional & Local Programmes, BBC West
Midlands, says: "Moving to the city centre allows us to become
even more locally focused and brings us closer to our audiences."
BBC Birmingham's new production centre is more accessible to the public
than ever before.
The Public Space packed with exhibitions, a shop and
a café has already hosted over 80,000 visitors since it opened
last year but now promises more opportunities for people to get closer
to and see the BBC at work.
This is central to the BBC's ambition to put audiences,
the licence fee payer at the heart of the organisation.
By visiting BBC Birmingham you can have a unique insight
into broadcast production.
For the first time you can see what goes on in the specially
designed radio drama studio, watch radio presenters live on air, take
a peek into the television production gallery, and surf for the latest
in news, sport and entertainment in the bbc.co.uk internet area.
There are also interactive displays and exhibits and
your chance to read a script or the weather; a CBBC/CBeebies area; and
a place to record views.
Nick Owen presents the last bulletin from Pebble Mill at 10.30pm
on Friday 22 October and Kay Alexander presents the first news
report from The Mailbox at 1.30pm on Monday 25 October.
BBC Midlands Today new studio - facts
There are five cameras in the new studio
There is 50kw of lighting (in total)
There are 50 hours of server storage
Midlands Today has seven edit suites
BBC Midlands Today now has the ability
to take live feeds from SNG, Chamberlain Square, New Street station,
Worcester, Wolverhampton, Stoke and, next year, from Coventry.
BBC Birmingham at The Mailbox
- facts
Over 80,000 visitors have already passed
through the doors of the Public Space at BBC Birmingham in The Mailbox
since it opened a year ago. Art groups and school children have exhibited
work there.
Visitors can browse through the BBC shop,
enjoy a coffee, access bbc.co.uk to seek out latest job vacancies. They
can also find out how programmes are made, try their hand at reading
auto-cue, present the weather and test out new interactive BBC exhibits.
The technology is cutting edge. The BBC
at The Mailbox has the first all non-linear post production system in
the BBC. All studios are kitted out with the most up-to-date digital
technology.
Picture windows built into the brand new
local radio station studio and the Asian Network studio will allow the
public to see and interact with presenters at work. The TV studios have
similar accessibility via a gallery.
The new radio drama studio is one of the
most modern in the world. Alongside the most cutting edge technology
sit old-fashioned props that belong to the world's longest running radio
drama The Archers.
Camera points permeate the BBC space at
The Mailbox meaning that broadcasts can come from any place at any time
with greater ease.
The office environment is open plan with
flexibility built in. Old walls and corridor barriers don't exist.
BBC staff helped design creative new meeting
areas and a purpose-built business lounge is also available to visiting
guests.
The space contains a terrace café,
with a view of the canal and busy media news room. It also has a prayer
room, shower and locker facilities.
BBC Birmingham has a diverse range of local
and network programmes and is home to BBC WM, BBC Asian Network, Midlands
Today, radio drama, including The Archers, and a busy Documentary and
Contemporary Factual department including the Asian Programme Unit.
