Havelock House, Belfast
Encyclopedia
Havelock House, located on the Ormeau Road
in Belfast
, is the current headquarters of UTV Media plc (formerly UTV plc). The building is home to the company's television and local radio services UTV
and U105
, and Internet service provider
, UTV Internet
. It has been home to Ulster Television since the station went on air in 1959.
, the building was the billet for troops to provide cover for Belfast's bridges. Ulster Television acquired the premises at the cost of £17,000.
Initially, the building contained one studio. A second studio was opened in the building in 1964. Construction of an extension to Havelock House began in 1992 in preparation for the station's new franchise period and its upcoming rebranding. The extension was opened on 4 June 1993, the day the station rebranded itself from Ulster Television to UTV, and the official opening of the extension was performed by former UTV newsreader, Gloria Hunniford
.
For many years, Ulster Television's studio base at Havelock House was also used by television film crews around the world to process and edit film footage of the Troubles. ITN reporters were also regularly seen reporting on the rooftop of Havelock House, including former UTV reporter John Irvine.
and the weekly magazine programme The Seven Thirty Show is broadcast from the building's Studio 1. At present, it is believed Studio 2 is not in use for any productions. Studio 2 was used for many years as the home of the Kelly Show, the top rated Friday night chatshow on UTV hosted by Gerry Kelly from 1989-2005. The studio was also used for light entertainment programmes such as McKeever and May McFettridge specials. However in recent years due to cost cutting, UTV has stopped making these types of shows and thus Studio 2 has remained mostly unused.
Havelock House also houses a smaller studio with a chroma key
background, where short UTV News bulletins and continuity announcements are transmitted from. This studio, which forms part of UTV's Central Technical Area, has been in use since 2002 when it replaced "Studio 3", another smaller presentation studio where in-vision continuity and shorter news bulletins were broadcast from. The location of the old Central Technical Area and "Studio 3" in Havelock House were completely renovated in January 2003 and converted into office space for UTV Internet who moved from a leased office site in Bruce Street in March 2003.
Among other series recorded in the studios at Havelock House include Kelly, School Around the Corner, McKeever and All Mixed Up.
Ormeau Road
The Ormeau Road is a road in south Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ormeau Park is adjacent to it. It forms part of the A24.-History:Having previously been the home of George Chichester, 2nd Marquess of Donegall, a road was first built in 1815, when it was known more commonly as the New Ballynafeigh Road...
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, is the current headquarters of UTV Media plc (formerly UTV plc). The building is home to the company's television and local radio services UTV
UTV
UTV is a television channel based in the UK region of Northern Ireland. The channel is the Channel 3 or Independent Television licensee for Northern Ireland and is operated by UTV Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media.- Terrestrial :* Analogue: Normally tuned to 3 * Freeview : 3...
and U105
U105
U105 is a Belfast based radio station, providing a mix of music and speech as well as hourly news bulletins. It is owned by UTV Radio and was launched at 6am on Monday 14 November 2005....
, and Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
, UTV Internet
UTV Internet
UTV Internet is part of UTV Media plc, the owners of the ITV franchise in Northern Ireland. Internet services are available in both Northern and the Republic of Ireland...
. It has been home to Ulster Television since the station went on air in 1959.
History
Before the building was converted into a television studio complex, Havelock House was the former site of a hemstitching warehouse. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the building was the billet for troops to provide cover for Belfast's bridges. Ulster Television acquired the premises at the cost of £17,000.
Initially, the building contained one studio. A second studio was opened in the building in 1964. Construction of an extension to Havelock House began in 1992 in preparation for the station's new franchise period and its upcoming rebranding. The extension was opened on 4 June 1993, the day the station rebranded itself from Ulster Television to UTV, and the official opening of the extension was performed by former UTV newsreader, Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford is a Northern Irish TV and radio presenter, and formerly a singer.-Biography:...
.
For many years, Ulster Television's studio base at Havelock House was also used by television film crews around the world to process and edit film footage of the Troubles. ITN reporters were also regularly seen reporting on the rooftop of Havelock House, including former UTV reporter John Irvine.
Notable productions
The local news programme UTV LiveUTV Live
UTV Live is the name of the regional news service broadcast on UTV, the ITV region in Northern Ireland. The first edition of the programme was transmitted on Monday 4 January 1993.-Weekday bulletins:*13:55...
and the weekly magazine programme The Seven Thirty Show is broadcast from the building's Studio 1. At present, it is believed Studio 2 is not in use for any productions. Studio 2 was used for many years as the home of the Kelly Show, the top rated Friday night chatshow on UTV hosted by Gerry Kelly from 1989-2005. The studio was also used for light entertainment programmes such as McKeever and May McFettridge specials. However in recent years due to cost cutting, UTV has stopped making these types of shows and thus Studio 2 has remained mostly unused.
Havelock House also houses a smaller studio with a chroma key
Chroma key
Chroma key compositing is a technique for compositing two images together. A color range in the top layer is made transparent, revealing another image behind. The chroma keying technique is commonly used in video production and post-production...
background, where short UTV News bulletins and continuity announcements are transmitted from. This studio, which forms part of UTV's Central Technical Area, has been in use since 2002 when it replaced "Studio 3", another smaller presentation studio where in-vision continuity and shorter news bulletins were broadcast from. The location of the old Central Technical Area and "Studio 3" in Havelock House were completely renovated in January 2003 and converted into office space for UTV Internet who moved from a leased office site in Bruce Street in March 2003.
Among other series recorded in the studios at Havelock House include Kelly, School Around the Corner, McKeever and All Mixed Up.
External links
- Images of Havelock House - UTV Today