In mid February an enthusiastic group of 27 braved the cold to visit the new BBC base at Media City UK, Salford Quays, Manchester. Organised by the North West Midlands Network the event attracted a range of members, from students to the retired.  Some travelled from as far away as Birmingham and Shrewsbury; one lucky member was able to stroll down from her apartment at The Quays. 

 

Paul Newman, Communications Director for Peel Media Ltd who have developed the Salford Docks site and own Media City welcomed the group and explained how the site has been designed to be a world class centre for television and other media program production and distribution. The production equipment is owned by Peel so sharing between the tenants improves efficiency. As well as the BBC, who employ more than 2,500 people and ITV, who are moving from their old Quay Street Studios and building a dedicated production studio for Coronation Street, there are over 80 small and medium sized creative businesses. They have have made their home in the Media Village located in The Greenhouse and The Pie Factory. Salford University occupy a nearby building with more than 1500 students being taught in a new digital learning centre and carrying out research. The inclusion of excellent transport links, a hotel, apartments, shops and restaurants provide a complete living and working environment.

 

A conducted tour by the Chief Technology Officer of the BBC studios explained and illustrated how technically advanced the facility is. High definition 3G is employed throughout with interconnection by fibre optic hub and spoke configuration. The large studio can accommodate major events such as the Sports Personality of the Year in 2011 and Strictly Come Dancing. The sets in the smaller more flexible studios can be adopted quickly and economically for various productions. In the Jeremy Kyle studio one of the group, a PhD student could not resist sitting in the guest chair but thankfully did not start to tell us his problems. The Blue Peter studio brought memories back to all but no one admitted to having won a Blue Peter badge. The studios are also the home of the BBC Symphony Orchestra with a dedicated concert hall/studio.

 

Moving on to the journalistic facilities housed in a separate building, the more ‘hot house’ environment could be felt with news and sports programs being prepared and broadcast. It is the home to Radio 5 Live, Breakfast Television, Radio Manchester and many Radio 4 programs as well as being an important part of television and radio news. The modern, if unconventional working environment designed to enhance creativity and fresh thinking is truly impressive with the rows of open circular meeting pods in bright colours attracting the attention of the group.

 

Thanks must go to the staff of Media City and the BBC for making the afternoon enjoyable and very informative.



Photograph reproduced with kind permission of Media City, Salford Quays