Comments on: Arguing The Case

By: Jonathan Rackowe

Jonathan Rackowe — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:07:00 +0000

Excellent article

By: Paul Wilkinson

Paul Wilkinson — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:22:17 +0000

There is no one better qualified for “Arguing the Case” than Roger Bunce and I totally agree with everything above. You only have to see Roger’s fondness and passion for Television Centre, by watching the “Tales of Television Centre” documentary, which was shown in May 2012. The set of plans drawn up by Stanhope PLC will turn the Television Centre site into a public open plan disaster, with the security of the 3 remaining studios a huge problem. The BBC are already struggling to find temporary studio space for their London based shows and will still struggle when only Studios 1, 2 and 3 re-open in 2015. Demolishing 5 up-to-date studios, which are better equipt than the temporary studios that the BBC are now using is absolutely crazy and extremely wasteful.
As a compromise, both Studio 4 and Studio 8 could easily be spared demolition in revised plans surely, because the BBC will definitely need at least 5 studios at Television Centre in 2015.

By: Andy Smith

Andy Smith — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:39:17 +0000

Hi Roger – Haven’t seen you in a while but good to see you arguing the case.

As you say – the proposal to close TVC is so barmy that one didn’t actually believe it…until they did.

If there is any practical help that I can offer, then let me know

By: Amanda Cox

Amanda Cox — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:57:52 +0000

As a camera operator who did some freelance training at the BBC, and who specialised in multi-camera studio work, I am sad to see TVC brutalised like this. Typical bean-counters who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. The denigration of technical standards and the dismissal of technical staff is the reason I left the industry. It can only get worse…

By: John Wood MBKS

John Wood MBKS — Sun, 05 May 2013 13:06:40 +0000

Thank you Roger for so perfectly ‘Arguing the Case’. You’ve summed up my feelings exactly!

I was stunned to read (on Martin Kempton’s website) that studios 4-7 and possibly 8 are to be ‘demolished’. It was my understanding that all of Main Block would be preserved under the English Heritage Grade 2 listing and merely converted for other use.

Are they seriously proposing to demolish some 120 degrees of the structure (ie. the entire aspect overlooking Hammersmith Park), from the Central Wedge to Stage 5??

Indeed, just how do they propose to operate 3 studios for 4-5 yeas next door to a building site. I just cannot see that it’s possible. Words fail me!

I too feel very sad and angry!

John Wood MBKS