that'll be Lord Grade of Yarmouth - Non-executive chairman of Pinewood, a group which stands to gain commercially from the closure of the BBC largest purpose built (electronic) production studio!
A showbusiness “impresario”, down to his trademark bright red socks, the former BBC chairman and programmes chief will elicit fond memories from the
likes of Sir David Attenborough, Ronnie Corbett and Sir Michael Parkinson during a special celebration programme, filmed at the famous Studio One.
It may just be me, but the whole programme seemed to be shown with a dreadful film effect look, together with some jittery effects on fast moving hands etc.
an attempt to fool some of the people some of the time, perhaps!
But then who's fault is it that it hasn't been upgraded over the years. A little spent over the decades would have saved a big bill now.
...and if they had not done a massive move for no good reason to Salford and another massive spend revamping and moving everyone to Broadcasting House, plus a few other savings, they might have been able to afford to have the work done.
All this looks like is massive spends for no good reason and they have had to sell TVC to claw the money back somehow.
As was said one last night's show about video tape being expensive and the mindless short-term view that wiping them was the answer back in the 70s, turned out to be massively wrong. The BBC always seems to favour short-term monitory gain over the long-term effects of that short-sighted knee-jerk action.
TC1 was re-equipped for HD relatively recently. Why did last night's programme have that strange filmic effect when it was obviously done on electronic cameras ?
But then who's fault is it that it hasn't been upgraded over the years. A little spent over the decades would have saved a big bill now.
...and if they had not done a massive move for no good reason to Salford and another massive spend revamping and moving everyone to Broadcasting House, plus a few other savings, they might have been able to afford to have the work done.
All this looks like is massive spends for no good reason and they have had to sell TVC to claw the money back somehow.
As was said one last night's show about video tape being expensive and the mindless short-term view that wiping them was the answer back in the 70s, turned out to be massively wrong. The BBC always seems to favour short-term monitory gain over the long-term effects of that short-sighted knee-jerk action.
It's not a case of simply upgrading it over the years, each changed in technology brings new needs. Even ignoring the listed building issues the fact is that just putting a PC on every desk and a network to connect them all up is a huge problem in large older buildings that were not designed for them. Down to having to upgrade the air con to cope with all the extra heat generated by all those PCs, laser printers etc.
What would he know anyway? The man's ineptitude in the 80's led to the sacking of Colin Baker, just because they didn't get on, the later cancellation of Doctor Who, because 'he didn't like it' and he was planning to axe Blackadder because 'he didn't think it was funny'
It's not a case of simply upgrading it over the years, each changed in technology brings new needs. Even ignoring the listed building issues the fact is that just putting a PC on every desk and a network to connect them all up is a huge problem in large older buildings that were not designed for them. Down to having to upgrade the air con to cope with all the extra heat generated by all those PCs, laser printers etc.
What on earth... What do you think they used until the other day? Typewriters?
It's not a case of simply upgrading it over the years, each changed in technology brings new needs. Even ignoring the listed building issues the fact is that just putting a PC on every desk and a network to connect them all up is a huge problem in large older buildings that were not designed for them. Down to having to upgrade the air con to cope with all the extra heat generated by all those PCs, laser printers etc.
Aye, not to mention the little fact that the basic electrical supply would also need looking at on a room to room basis - I suspect back in the 60's when TVC was built most of the offices only needed power for lighting and maybe a few small electrical appliances, as opposed to a computer/monitor and assorted other electrical essentials of the modern office (faxes, printers, phone chargers etc), means that each desk probably needs about 500-1000 watts, as opposed to 60 watts for a lamp.
Old buildings can look great and have a lot of historical significance, but they reach a point where it's much cheaper to build a new one that is built for modern needs (and hopefully future proofed to a degree*)..
And this completely ignores any issues with the original design and materials used, things like asbestos make it very hard (nearing impossible) to do work on some buildings without having potentially large areas out of action (work in a fire escape route could lead to the area that serves being deemed unsafe to use due to lack of emergency exits).
TVC is/was a massive landmark, and rightfully looked upon fondly as the home of so much creativity and so many of the wide ranging popular cultural stuff of the last 50 years, but unfortunately as a practical place to make TV it almost certainly was past it's best
*One of the reasons a lot of people who build their own houses put in conduit** with space for things like network cabling (useful for AV, phones, security systems etc as well as networking), and any modern office building will likely have "comms risers" (basically large trunks going between floors where additional cabling can be put in easily).
**I joke with family that if I ever win the lottery I'd build (or rebuild) a house with separate electrical circuits for every room, and a pair of network points (with spare cabling) by every power socket, largely because so many devices can use the network now (and wireless is load of rubbish for easy, reliable use).
What on earth... What do you think they used until the other day? Typewriters?
They've been upgrading it, BUT there is a point at which it's no longer practical.
Consider for example the increase in power requirements for an average PC over the last 15 years.
It used to be that you could power a workstation PC on as little as a 150 or 200 watt PSU.
Now the CPU alone (assuming a single physical CPU) in one of those machines can easily be using 90 watts at maximum usage, and the recommended wattage for a fairly average PC is now 300-500 watts.
For a machine doing something like video editing, probably hooked up with multiple HDD's in raid, and several monitors you can be looking at several times that, especially if the machine is equipped with any sort of fast GPU (IIRC some of the software packages can and do use parts of modern GPU's as co processors to speed up encoding and modelling work), or you use a high end workstation/low end server board with space for two discrete CPU's..
Moving from CRT to LCD probably helps offset some of the power increase, but not all..
And that's ignoring the fact that TV production is using more and more computers, and other devices that suck power in, at the desk level rather than being isolated in the machine rooms, or the studios were they originally intended to have high capacity supplies.
Many of which will also need more and more data connectivity...
And that's completely ignoring the likes of cooling, as ZZ9 says the additional air conditioning needed for the increasing number of computers etc is in itself a fairly major issue.
Modern buildings are designed with that in mind (ducting installed during construction, airflow thought out, and space or the conditioning units), with older buildings you can cram in some AC, but it tends to require losing space for other things, and placing the AC and machinery where there is space for them, not where it's optimal for other considerations.
Basically with regards to power requirements, it'll be part that, and part other things that need additional space/wiring..
Oh, and of course if you're working in a building that is partially listed, it can reduce your options for improving things like cooling (if you can't alter the frontage much you immediately lose one of the best options for improving cooling cheaply, as you can't hang AC units outside).
There have been a number of threads running here recently, and in the past, possibly influenced by migrants from another site, in which accusations have been made implying that any poster who
doesn't agree with their views of the BBC and the law, can only post contrary views and opinions because they have been paid to do so by the BBC, Capita or other contractors to the BBC.
Whilst I have received considerable sums of money from the BBC over the last 5 decades, not a penny has been given in respect of my publishing opinion, views and recollection here or elsewhere.
I've had the same over the years - especially when I used to take part in the boring, circular arguments about the BBC.
I was always honest about the fact that I was an employee of the Corporation - but there were always claims by one dullard that I was paid to spout my views over the Interweb.
My views have always been in my own - and I'm not paid to spout them.
They've been upgrading it, BUT there is a point at which it's no longer practical.
Consider for example the increase in power requirements for an average PC over the last 15 years.
It used to be that you could power a workstation PC on as little as a 150 or 200 watt PSU.
Now the CPU alone (assuming a single physical CPU) in one of those machines can easily be using 90 watts at maximum usage, and the recommended wattage for a fairly average PC is now 300-500 watts.
For a machine doing something like video editing, probably hooked up with multiple HDD's in raid, and several monitors you can be looking at several times that, especially if the machine is equipped with any sort of fast GPU (IIRC some of the software packages can and do use parts of modern GPU's as co processors to speed up encoding and modelling work), or you use a high end workstation/low end server board with space for two discrete CPU's..
Moving from CRT to LCD probably helps offset some of the power increase, but not all..
And that's ignoring the fact that TV production is using more and more computers, and other devices that suck power in, at the desk level rather than being isolated in the machine rooms, or the studios were they originally intended to have high capacity supplies.
Many of which will also need more and more data connectivity...
And that's completely ignoring the likes of cooling, as ZZ9 says the additional air conditioning needed for the increasing number of computers etc is in itself a fairly major issue.
Modern buildings are designed with that in mind (ducting installed during construction, airflow thought out, and space or the conditioning units), with older buildings you can cram in some AC, but it tends to require losing space for other things, and placing the AC and machinery where there is space for them, not where it's optimal for other considerations.
Basically with regards to power requirements, it'll be part that, and part other things that need additional space/wiring..
Oh, and of course if you're working in a building that is partially listed, it can reduce your options for improving things like cooling (if you can't alter the frontage much you immediately lose one of the best options for improving cooling cheaply, as you can't hang AC units outside).
Also things like the asbestos makes cable running very challenging.
What on earth... What do you think they used until the other day? Typewriters?
Probably PCs linked back to switches via RJ45 cabling, switches in various network cabinets, each cabinet linked to a fibre backbone off which many servers sit (housed in a separate room perhaps).. Some areas might be OK for limited wireless coverage, but this could be problematic in a building with so much brick, concrete, metal and electrical installations (I don't work for the BBC, either directly or indirectly so I have no direct knowledge of their IT infrastrucure)..
But, having worked within an IT Technical Support environment in an early 70's building, it becomes very difficult running large bundles of network cabling across suspended ceilings, around corridors, through walls and between floors, especially when you are trying to install a new cable run (when there might be very little free space, or where the whole physical network, modified and expanded piecemeal over many years, and covering many floors, needs a complete overhaul).
Then having worked through a refurb of that building where three floors were stripped and rebuilt, where the floors were flood-wired from the start, leaving plenty of room for additional cables, I can appreciate the advantages of designing and installing a large network from scratch, utilising best practice.
And as others have mentioned, getting new cable runs installed could be problematic due to issues with asbestos. The same could apply to getting new or additional power runs in place.Indeed upgrading power so that there are sufficient 13amp power outlets (negating the need to run extension cables, the bane of every office) could be a big issue. And of course each server rack or network cabinet (populated with switches or local servers) requires additional power and/or cooling (the heat dissipation from a bank of rack-mounted 48-port switches can be pretty high)
Comments
....yet.
Sue, have to agree with you that getting TVC off the BBC's books was the most logical and creative thing that they could have done.
It sounds to me that you were not very impressed by that program?
But then who's fault is it that it hasn't been upgraded over the years. A little spent over the decades would have saved a big bill now.
...and if they had not done a massive move for no good reason to Salford and another massive spend revamping and moving everyone to Broadcasting House, plus a few other savings, they might have been able to afford to have the work done.
All this looks like is massive spends for no good reason and they have had to sell TVC to claw the money back somehow.
As was said one last night's show about video tape being expensive and the mindless short-term view that wiping them was the answer back in the 70s, turned out to be massively wrong. The BBC always seems to favour short-term monitory gain over the long-term effects of that short-sighted knee-jerk action.
because your not looking properly http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01rgr1l/Goodbye_Television_Centre/
Well i am looking properly,through sky ondemand iplayer
The BBC only sold a lease, they still own the freehold.
It's not a case of simply upgrading it over the years, each changed in technology brings new needs. Even ignoring the listed building issues the fact is that just putting a PC on every desk and a network to connect them all up is a huge problem in large older buildings that were not designed for them. Down to having to upgrade the air con to cope with all the extra heat generated by all those PCs, laser printers etc.
What on earth... What do you think they used until the other day? Typewriters?
Aye, not to mention the little fact that the basic electrical supply would also need looking at on a room to room basis - I suspect back in the 60's when TVC was built most of the offices only needed power for lighting and maybe a few small electrical appliances, as opposed to a computer/monitor and assorted other electrical essentials of the modern office (faxes, printers, phone chargers etc), means that each desk probably needs about 500-1000 watts, as opposed to 60 watts for a lamp.
Old buildings can look great and have a lot of historical significance, but they reach a point where it's much cheaper to build a new one that is built for modern needs (and hopefully future proofed to a degree*)..
And this completely ignores any issues with the original design and materials used, things like asbestos make it very hard (nearing impossible) to do work on some buildings without having potentially large areas out of action (work in a fire escape route could lead to the area that serves being deemed unsafe to use due to lack of emergency exits).
TVC is/was a massive landmark, and rightfully looked upon fondly as the home of so much creativity and so many of the wide ranging popular cultural stuff of the last 50 years, but unfortunately as a practical place to make TV it almost certainly was past it's best
*One of the reasons a lot of people who build their own houses put in conduit** with space for things like network cabling (useful for AV, phones, security systems etc as well as networking), and any modern office building will likely have "comms risers" (basically large trunks going between floors where additional cabling can be put in easily).
**I joke with family that if I ever win the lottery I'd build (or rebuild) a house with separate electrical circuits for every room, and a pair of network points (with spare cabling) by every power socket, largely because so many devices can use the network now (and wireless is load of rubbish for easy, reliable use).
They've been upgrading it, BUT there is a point at which it's no longer practical.
Consider for example the increase in power requirements for an average PC over the last 15 years.
It used to be that you could power a workstation PC on as little as a 150 or 200 watt PSU.
Now the CPU alone (assuming a single physical CPU) in one of those machines can easily be using 90 watts at maximum usage, and the recommended wattage for a fairly average PC is now 300-500 watts.
For a machine doing something like video editing, probably hooked up with multiple HDD's in raid, and several monitors you can be looking at several times that, especially if the machine is equipped with any sort of fast GPU (IIRC some of the software packages can and do use parts of modern GPU's as co processors to speed up encoding and modelling work), or you use a high end workstation/low end server board with space for two discrete CPU's..
Moving from CRT to LCD probably helps offset some of the power increase, but not all..
And that's ignoring the fact that TV production is using more and more computers, and other devices that suck power in, at the desk level rather than being isolated in the machine rooms, or the studios were they originally intended to have high capacity supplies.
Many of which will also need more and more data connectivity...
And that's completely ignoring the likes of cooling, as ZZ9 says the additional air conditioning needed for the increasing number of computers etc is in itself a fairly major issue.
Modern buildings are designed with that in mind (ducting installed during construction, airflow thought out, and space or the conditioning units), with older buildings you can cram in some AC, but it tends to require losing space for other things, and placing the AC and machinery where there is space for them, not where it's optimal for other considerations.
Basically with regards to power requirements, it'll be part that, and part other things that need additional space/wiring..
Oh, and of course if you're working in a building that is partially listed, it can reduce your options for improving things like cooling (if you can't alter the frontage much you immediately lose one of the best options for improving cooling cheaply, as you can't hang AC units outside).
I've had the same over the years - especially when I used to take part in the boring, circular arguments about the BBC.
I was always honest about the fact that I was an employee of the Corporation - but there were always claims by one dullard that I was paid to spout my views over the Interweb.
My views have always been in my own - and I'm not paid to spout them.
However, I am open to offers...
Also things like the asbestos makes cable running very challenging.
www.sundayexpress.co.uk
Probably PCs linked back to switches via RJ45 cabling, switches in various network cabinets, each cabinet linked to a fibre backbone off which many servers sit (housed in a separate room perhaps).. Some areas might be OK for limited wireless coverage, but this could be problematic in a building with so much brick, concrete, metal and electrical installations (I don't work for the BBC, either directly or indirectly so I have no direct knowledge of their IT infrastrucure)..
But, having worked within an IT Technical Support environment in an early 70's building, it becomes very difficult running large bundles of network cabling across suspended ceilings, around corridors, through walls and between floors, especially when you are trying to install a new cable run (when there might be very little free space, or where the whole physical network, modified and expanded piecemeal over many years, and covering many floors, needs a complete overhaul).
Then having worked through a refurb of that building where three floors were stripped and rebuilt, where the floors were flood-wired from the start, leaving plenty of room for additional cables, I can appreciate the advantages of designing and installing a large network from scratch, utilising best practice.
And as others have mentioned, getting new cable runs installed could be problematic due to issues with asbestos. The same could apply to getting new or additional power runs in place.Indeed upgrading power so that there are sufficient 13amp power outlets (negating the need to run extension cables, the bane of every office) could be a big issue. And of course each server rack or network cabinet (populated with switches or local servers) requires additional power and/or cooling (the heat dissipation from a bank of rack-mounted 48-port switches can be pretty high)
And reports on progress of the redevelopment at
www.televison-centre.com
wow interesting