ITV to close Kirkstall Road studio as part of cost cutting

tykette · Post by **tykette** » Fri 13 Mar, 2009 10:08 am

I saw the John Barry Seven play there - I think it might've been the first week the Silver Blades opened. But that's not the building that's closing - it's the main studio building next to it that's doomed. More student flats ??

ARGIE · Post by **ARGIE** » Fri 13 Mar, 2009 11:38 am

Essentially, there are two main parts of the site. One is the "main" YTV studio, the other is the Calendar News and Emmerdale sets - two big sound studios used for internal Emmerdale shots and the Calendar News bulletens plus "occaisionals" like the Red Riding interiors or Touch of Frost etc etc etc.As you look from Kirkstall Road, the "main" part - the one that's closing - is the one with the ITV Yorkshire branding on it, to the left. T'other one is to the right hand side as you look. It has Calendar branding on and usually has satellite trucks parked up the side of it. The Emmerdale Production Centre is round the back, accessed from Burley Road. You can often see the actors coming out after a days filming. Usually about 6 - 7pm.As an aside, you'll notice that Calendar have different backdrops to their bulletins: York, Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield. Those are just projected onto a "green screen" behind the presenters. The news is always filmed in Leeds.Also, if you're in the area - or from the area - you'll know that there are car parks to the front of the Calendar studio entrance and a company called Prism. They ALWAYS use Prism as "urban" police stations (virtually all YTV produced dramas) and the car park opposite as "grimy" or "seedy" urban locations for criminality. It always amuses me that every ITV commissioned criminal does his dirty work with the same city scape every time. Thinking about it, that car park must be the most dangerous place in Britain

simong · Post by **simong** » Fri 13 Mar, 2009 1:20 pm

Just seen this on the YP's website: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Thr ... 38.jpLooks like Calendar might be moving to St Peter's Square, and Heartbeat is being axed.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Thu 03 Dec, 2009 8:59 pm

YTV studios are saved! (Sort of)http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 1324.jpThe ITV studios in Leeds have been saved following the announcement of a £5m cash injection.The production centre of the much-loved soap Emmerdale will move from its current home on Burley Road to ITV's mothballed Kirkstall Road studios. The studios will be completely revamped to allow Emmerdale to be filmed in High Definition (HD). Delighted ITV staff were told the news at 1pm today. Work will start in the New Year and is expected to take 12 months to complete. ITV sparked outrage in Leeds in March when it announced plans to shut the studio. Hit show Countdown was moved to Manchester and the studios were mothballed, with the loss of around 150 jobs. But in major change of heart, ITV now hope that Kirkstall Road can become the centre of a "media hub". External filming for Emmerdale will continue to take place at the purpose built village at the Harewood house estate in Harewood but all other filming will take place in five "shooting spaces" within the studios. Sets, lighting, camera equipment and edit suites will all be overhauled to allow HD filming. Lee Bartlett, managing director of ITV Studios, said: "This investment is about safeguarding the future of Emmerdale. "Few cities outside London can boast production of three hours of prime time top-rated drama every week, and this team deserves the best possible environment in which to work and operate. I'm thrilled that we have secured the funding to make this happen." Production companies and other "creative industry" firms will be encouraged to rent spare office space in the studio building. Meanwhile, Calendar will continue to be based at the nearby building 104 and at least one other building next to the studios will also be used. The Burley Road complex, which is a popular student area, will be sold. Claire Poyser, director of production at ITV Studios said: "Our plan is to consolidate our production centre here in Leeds to fit our needs and purpose for the future. "The main building re-fit means first class High Definition facilities, and there will be enough spare office space to open our doors to a broader creative community. "We are actively seeking to develop potential creative partnerships with interested parties in the region. This will give Leeds something to be really proud of." The Burley Road Emmerdale production centre was opened by then Prime Minister John Major 1997 and was adapted from an original car showroom. But revolution in digital and HD technology meant the complex needed updating and ITV bosses have decided to make the investment in the purpose-built Kirkstall Road studios instead. The YEP exclusively reported last week that talks were underway between redevelopment agency Yorkshire Forward and ITV about the future of the studios.

stutterdog · Post by **stutterdog** » Fri 04 Dec, 2009 9:19 pm

ARGIE wrote: "Emmerdale is staying here, and it has a production centre in Farsley as well as the set at Harewood"Nope - the Emmerdale production centre is on Burley Road in Leeds, right next door to the main YTV building. It's where they film the interior shots. They moved outta Farsely a long while ago. I should know, I work there

--- And yes, it is staying at that site. As is Calendar. It's the big old studio next door that's for the axe. I worked at this building before it became a TV studio.In the 60's and 70's it was a factory run by Marston Radiators Ltd who also had a factory on Armley Rd nr The Jail.They recorded a lot of Frost series at the studios on Burley Rd. and when I saw the staircase and the canteen in some of the episodes it took me back to my time there.