Broadcasting House (Cardiff)
Encyclopedia
Broadcasting House Cardiff is the purpose-built headquarters for BBC Cymru Wales
' radio, television and online services, situated in north Cardiff
. The centre opened in 1966 and consists of three blocks housing studios, offices and technical facilities.
The building houses the national broadcaster for Wales
, providing a range of English
and Welsh language
content for audiences across Wales on television, radio and online. Its network TV productions, including Doctor Who
and Torchwood
, attract millions of viewers worldwide.
became the home of station 5WA from which the first broadcast of BBC Wales took place and the first Welsh words heard on British radio. The building is still there today and carries only a small reminder of its historic days, in the form of a commemorative wall plaque.
BBC Wales soon expanded rapidly into larger premises in Park Place and a string of other studios. In March 1924 the BBC moved to larger premises at Park Place, later taking over other properties in the street as its Cardiff station expanded to cover more of Wales and the Westcountry, until local and regional broadcasting was interrupted by the outbreak of war in 1939.
Post war expansion including the arrival of television prompted the BBC to purchase a ten acre site at Llandaff in 1952 to house all its operations in the city.
A young Michael Aspel
was among the new faces hired by BBC Wales to present its growing number of programmes. But construction of the new headquarters was delayed due to the cost of the project, so in 1955 the Broadway Methodist Chapel in Roath
- followed in 1959 by premises in nearby Stacey Road - were taken over to accommodate the fledgling television service.
A temporary broadcasting centre was also set up on the banks of the River Taff
near Cardiff Arms Park
to cover the 1958 Commonwealth Games
that took place in the city.
.
In 1986 the BBC bought the Home Economics college across the road from Broadcasting House, renaming it Ty Oldfield as a tribute to former controller Alun Oldfield-Davies.
.
In recent years the BBC has developed a presence in Cardiff Bay, first with its political unit based in the Senedd
Assembly building.
In January 2009 the BBC National Orchestra of Wales
officially opened its new home, Hoddinott Hall at the Wales Millennium Centre
.
BBC Wales management is currently considering whether the needs of the digital age would be best served by redeveloping the forty year old premises or moving to a new location.
area of northern
Cardiff, near the River Taff
. It is close to Danescourt railway station
and served by Cardiff Bus
services 60, 62(/A) (Danescourt), 24 (Llandaff/City Centre), 25 (Whitchurch) and 33 (Radyr).
, Newyddion
, Doctor Who
, Doctor Who Confidential
, Torchwood
, The Chatterley Affair
, Pobol y Cwm
, Belonging, High Hopes
, Satellite City
and The District Nurse
.
It was announced in March 2009 that the BBC
will move the filming of shows such as Casualty
and Crimewatch
to the studios in Cardiff
.
. The head quarters for the BBC tours is situated at BBC TV Center Wood lane.
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
' radio, television and online services, situated in north Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. The centre opened in 1966 and consists of three blocks housing studios, offices and technical facilities.
The building houses the national broadcaster for Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, providing a range of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
content for audiences across Wales on television, radio and online. Its network TV productions, including Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
and Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
, attract millions of viewers worldwide.
History of studios in Cardiff
Cardiff has provided a variety of locations for BBC broadcasting in Wales for more than eighty years. In 1923, Cardiff city centreCardiff city centre
Cardiff city centre is the central business district of Cardiff, Wales. The area is tightly bounded by the River Taff to the west, the Civic centre to the north and railway lines and two railway stations - Central and Queen Street - to the south and east respectively...
became the home of station 5WA from which the first broadcast of BBC Wales took place and the first Welsh words heard on British radio. The building is still there today and carries only a small reminder of its historic days, in the form of a commemorative wall plaque.
BBC Wales soon expanded rapidly into larger premises in Park Place and a string of other studios. In March 1924 the BBC moved to larger premises at Park Place, later taking over other properties in the street as its Cardiff station expanded to cover more of Wales and the Westcountry, until local and regional broadcasting was interrupted by the outbreak of war in 1939.
Post war expansion including the arrival of television prompted the BBC to purchase a ten acre site at Llandaff in 1952 to house all its operations in the city.
A young Michael Aspel
Michael Aspel
Michael Terence Aspel, OBE is an English television presenter, known for his reserved demeanour and rich speaking voice. He has been a high-profile TV personality in the United Kingdom since the 1960s, presenting programmes such as Crackerjack, Aspel and Company, This is Your Life, Strange But...
was among the new faces hired by BBC Wales to present its growing number of programmes. But construction of the new headquarters was delayed due to the cost of the project, so in 1955 the Broadway Methodist Chapel in Roath
Roath
Roath is a district in the east/north-east of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales.It lies just east/north east of the city centre, stretching from Adamsdown in the south to Roath Park in the north. Roath contains the Plasnewydd electoral ward. The name is believed to originate from Irish ráth,...
- followed in 1959 by premises in nearby Stacey Road - were taken over to accommodate the fledgling television service.
A temporary broadcasting centre was also set up on the banks of the River Taff
River Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
near Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
to cover the 1958 Commonwealth Games
1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Cardiff, capital of Wales from 18–26 July 1958.Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including, for the first time, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya...
that took place in the city.
Construction of Broadcasting House
The construction of Broadcasting House at Llandaff began in 1963. Radio studios came into use in autumn 1966, and the building was officially opened on 1 March 1967, by HRH Princess MargaretPrincess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI....
.
In 1986 the BBC bought the Home Economics college across the road from Broadcasting House, renaming it Ty Oldfield as a tribute to former controller Alun Oldfield-Davies.
Across the city
BBC Wales has a city centre presence today in the form of the Big Screen outside St David's HallSt David's Hall
St David's Hall is a performing arts and conference venue in the heart of Cardiff city centre, the capital of Wales...
.
In recent years the BBC has developed a presence in Cardiff Bay, first with its political unit based in the Senedd
Senedd
The Senedd , also known as the National Assembly building, houses the debating chamber and three committee rooms for the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff. The Senedd building was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 1 March 2006 and the total cost was £69.6 million, which included £49.7M in...
Assembly building.
In January 2009 the BBC National Orchestra of Wales
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisation in Wales, occupying a dual role as both a broadcasting orchestra and national orchestra.The BBC NOW has its...
officially opened its new home, Hoddinott Hall at the Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert...
.
BBC Wales management is currently considering whether the needs of the digital age would be best served by redeveloping the forty year old premises or moving to a new location.
Location
Broadcasting House is located in the LlandaffLlandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
area of northern
Cardiff North
Cardiff North or North Cardiff can refer to the collections of mainly middle class suburban communities in the north of Cardiff, Wales. The population of the north of Cardiff is around 85,000 and is represented by the Conservative Party on most levels of government...
Cardiff, near the River Taff
River Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
. It is close to Danescourt railway station
Danescourt railway station
Danescourt railway station is a railway station serving Danescourt, which is a suburban area of Cardiff, Wales.The station is the first stop after Radyr on the City Line north of Cardiff Central. The City Line was originally a freight only line...
and served by Cardiff Bus
Cardiff Bus
Cardiff Bus is the dominant operator of bus services in Cardiff, Wales and the surrounding area, including Barry and Penarth. Its hub is Cardiff central bus station...
services 60, 62(/A) (Danescourt), 24 (Llandaff/City Centre), 25 (Whitchurch) and 33 (Radyr).
Programming
Television programmes produced at Broadcasting House Cardiff include BBC Wales TodayBBC Wales Today
Wales Today is the BBC's national news programme for Wales, broadcast on BBC One Wales from the headquarters of BBC Wales in Llandaff, Cardiff....
, Newyddion
Newyddion
Newyddion is a Welsh-language news programme consisting of Welsh, UK, and international news, produced daily by BBC Cymru Wales and broadcast on S4C.-Overview:...
, Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, Doctor Who Confidential
Doctor Who Confidential
Doctor Who Confidential is a documentary series created by the British Broadcasting Corporation to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the broadcast of the weekly...
, Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
, The Chatterley Affair
The Chatterley Affair
The Chatterley Affair is a BBC television drama, produced by BBC Wales and broadcast on BBC Four on 20 March, 2006. It is an account of the obscenity trial surrounding the publication of Lady Chatterley's Lover in 1960...
, Pobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm is a Welsh-language television soap opera which has been produced by the BBC since October 1974. The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, Pobol y Cwm was originally transmitted on BBC Wales television and later transferred to the Welsh-language station S4C when it...
, Belonging, High Hopes
High Hopes (TV series)
High Hopes is a sitcom made in Wales, produced and directed by Gareth Gwenlan for BBC Wales and is set in a fictional area of the South Wales Valleys called Cwm-Pen-Ôl...
, Satellite City
Satellite City (sitcom)
Satellite City was a Welsh sitcom which started out originally as a radio show on BBC Radio Wales in 1994 and then evolved into a TV version made by BBC Wales and was first broadcast in 1996....
and The District Nurse
The District Nurse
The District Nurse is a British television series, produced by BBC Wales and shown on BBC One between 1984 and 1987.The series was a period drama created by Julia Smith and Tony Holland and starred Nerys Hughes as Megan Roberts, the titular district nurse fighting to improve living conditions for...
.
It was announced in March 2009 that the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
will move the filming of shows such as Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
and Crimewatch
Crimewatch
Crimewatch is a long-running and high-profile British television programme produced by the BBC, that reconstructs major unsolved crimes with a view to gaining information from the members of the public. The programme is usually broadcast once a month on BBC One...
to the studios in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
.
Tours
Tours of the BBC Wales Broadcasting House are available and last about 1.5 hours. Visits are available into the TV and radio studios and along the set of Pobol y CwmPobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm is a Welsh-language television soap opera which has been produced by the BBC since October 1974. The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, Pobol y Cwm was originally transmitted on BBC Wales television and later transferred to the Welsh-language station S4C when it...
. The head quarters for the BBC tours is situated at BBC TV Center Wood lane.