The Maidstone Studios

The Maidstone Studios

The Maidstone Studios, formerly called TVS Television Centre is a television studio complex with radio studio facilities based at Vinters Park in Maidstone, Kent UK. It is home to a varied selection of independent British television programming including quiz shows such as Catchphrase and popular children's shows such as CITV's Art Attack.

Contents

History

ITV

The site was first chosen by the then incumbent South of England ITV company Southern Television in 1979, and purchased the following year, for a proposed new studio facility should they win the Independent Broadcasting Authority contract for the South and South-east of England in 1981. However, following the loss of their franchise, they sold the site to the successful applicant Television South (TVS) at a premium. In fact it was part of the agreement between TVS and the IBA that TVS must provide a studio facility for the South East region if TVS were to win the contract (although Maidstone was not specified by the IBA). The complex first opened in late 1982 and provided significant output for the company alongside long-standing facilities in Southampton (which they also purchased from Southern).

The site was used frequently for production, as a regional office and as a newsgathering hub, with the South East edition of Coast to Coast being based here from the completion of the studio complex, having previously been located in Dover.

Independent Ownership

When TVS lost their ITV franchise to present licensee Meridian, the Southampton studios were sold to the new company but the Maidstone facility was retained, with a view to TVS becoming an independent production company. However TVS, including the Maidstone Studios, were quickly bought by International Family Entertainment Inc. and the studios were used as an independent production facility. Meridian continued to use a space in the building as a news gathering centre and initially to produce the south east Meridian Tonight, until this was moved to their new base at Whiteley in 2004. The studios were bought in 2001 by a local consortium of businesspeople who refurbished and relaunched the centre as 'The Maidstone Studios'. Until recently (2007) Radio Caroline broadcast from the complex.

Studio Facilities

  • Studio 1 - 2,000 square feet - small/medium size sets
  • Studio 2 - 6,000 square feet - medium/large size sets
  • Studio 3 - 500 square feet - small sets/presenting
  • Studio 4 - 250 square feet - interviewing/blue screen/continuity
  • Studio 5 - 12,000 square feet - large/huge sets

Studios 2 and 5 have room for seating, 200 and 2,400 respectively as well as room for sets. Studios 2 and 3 have large production galleries. Studios 1 and 2 can switch output from 16:9 to 4:3.

Studio 5 is a fully HD, with laser smoothed studio floor, large HD production gallery and equipment. Studio 5 also includes large scene dock doors to allow easy access for people, scenery and vehicles.

Maidstone also had 10 edit suites, 4 dubbing suites, dressing and green rooms, production and wardrobe departments, scenery departments and transmission and playback facilities

Productions

Other Uses

  • Until recently (2007) Radio Caroline broadcast from the complex.
  • In 2010 Maidstone Studios will be used for an anti-speeding TV advert, it will air on ITV between January 15 and mid-February [1].

External links

Coordinates: 51°16′46″N 0°32′55″E / 51.279384°N 0.548668°E / 51.279384; 0.548668