Category: Â鶹Éç;
West
Midlands TV; Â鶹Éç
WM; Asian
Network
Date: 06.09.2004
Printable version
This is a
big week for Â鶹Éç Birmingham and its audiences as today (Monday 6 September)
it puts the official stamp on its move to The Mailbox, back to
the city centre, back to its roots and back closer to its audiences
with a week long line-up of public events.
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Almost 70,000 visitors have already come through the
doors of the Public Space at the new state-of-the art broadcasting
centre and, this week, it is hoped many more of Â鶹Éç Birmingham's viewers
and listeners will join in the celebrations.
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Friday night will be the highpoint when Â鶹Éç Birmingham
has its Big Night Out in association with ArtsFest 2004, with
a canal-side spectacular at the rear of The Mailbox with breath-taking
performances by local and international performers.
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Full details are posted on bbc.co.uk/birmingham but
the public are invited to drop into the Public Space to try out camera
skills, have a go at sports commentary, join master classes with Britain's
top documentary makers or quiz the boss behind EastEnders and Holby
City on how dramas including Â鶹Éç Birmingham's Doctors series are made.
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Talent and programme makers from The Archers, Doctors,
the Â鶹Éç Asian Network soap Silver Street, Midlands Today, Â鶹Éç WM and
Â鶹Éç recruitment staff and many more will be on hand to give insider
tips throughout the week.
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On Thursday (9 September) HRH The Princess Royal will
officially launch Â鶹Éç Birmingham's new home in a private ceremony as
she did at Pebble Mill 33 years ago.
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On Friday (10 September), Â鶹Éç Director-General Mark
Thompson delivers a speech about Â鶹Éç plans for the future and Alan Yentob,
Director of Creativity at the Â鶹Éç, hosts an arts debate at the IKON
Gallery.
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Andy Griffee, Controller, Â鶹Éç English Regions, said:
"I hope the events we have planned this week will draw even more
to a brand new modern Â鶹Éç in the heart of this great city of Birmingham.
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"The Mailbox represents a major investment on behalf
of the Â鶹Éç to Birmingham and is one of the most technologically advanced
centres in Europe.
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"It means we can play an even more important role
in the economic and cultural life of the Midlands."
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He continued: "It's great to be here in The Mailbox
but not because we have a creatively designed new space and brand new
studios.
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"The Â鶹Éç's move is not about bricks and mortar,
it has always been about people and our chance of making lasting connections
with our audiences in a way that was not possible at Pebble Mill.
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"Great programmes, public accessibility and partnerships
including the move of our drama department to a brand new 'drama village'
in the University of Birmingham is what we are about."
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Notes to Editors
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The Â鶹Éç will occupy more than 100,000 square feet on the first and second
floors of The Mailbox, a 25-acre mixed development site in Royal Mail
Street, near Birmingham New Street Station.
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The development also houses hotels, shops, restaurants
and bars in a canal-side location, with a public walkway running through
it.
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In the Â鶹Éç's new public space visitors can shop, enjoy a coffee, access
bbc.co.uk and search for Â鶹Éç vacancies online.
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They will also be able to find out how programmes are
made, try their hand at reading autocue, present the weather and test
out new interactive Â鶹Éç exhibits.
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Picture windows built into the brand new local radio
station studio and the Asian Network studio and a gallery view of Midlands
Today will allow the public to see and interact with presenters at work.
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Â鶹Éç Birmingham produces award-winning programmes for Â鶹Éç network television
and radio.
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It is the first choice in the region for news, information
and entertainment.
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Made famous by The Archers, it is home of the world's
longest running soap.
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Network production supplies Â鶹Éç ONE, Â鶹Éç TWO and the
Â鶹Éç digital channels as well as output for Radios 2, 4 and Five Live.
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Output for Midlands audiences includes Midlands Today,
Â鶹Éç WM and the Politics Show.
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Celebrating 40 years in the business this year is Â鶹Éç
Birmingham's Asian Programme Unit.
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