Possible BBC Elstree Centre sale

[UTVLifer]

https://twitter.com/goldbart1/status/142...78853?s=21

Just wow. I have no words.

The worst bit is that I actually think the BBC of 2021 would probably go ahead and sale off BBC Elstree, especially now with Holby on its way out

[steely12]

Bye bye, EastEnders. What a waste of £87m on the new set.

[James2001]

Bye bye, EastEnders. What a waste of £87m on the new set.

I presume EastEnders would still be made there under the new owners.

[Keith]

I'm guessing by sale it might be similar to how Television Centre was sold, and the BBC / BBC Studios then leased parts of the site back from the new owners.

[IanJRedman]

Surely the most likely scenario is that the BBC would rent back the space used by EastEnders? With all that money spent on the new set, the show will be around for a while yet.

[Newshound47]

Bye bye, EastEnders. What a waste of £87m on the new set.

I presume EastEnders would still be made there under the new owners.

Through would that save the BBC much money as they would have to rent the majority of the site back with the new owners not having much to rent out or sell for redevelopment as the BBC said earlier this year they still intend to build Phase 2 of the new set (on the site of the current one).

[Cassia Tuna]

Seems to be a case of the BBC in recent years selling off anything that isn't bolted to the floor. Surely licence fee payers should have a say on this and whether it is economically justifiable for the corporation to be selling its real estate and then leasing back parts of the land that they just sold off.

[Omnipresent]

Shame to see more studio space in Greater London being lost.

As has been proven many times, decisions made by the BBC for political reasons result in bad decisions.

[Brekkie]

Whilst no doubt many BBC decisions are made for political rather than commercial reasons we've seen similar decisions in the commercial market and with Holby, the charity telethon and elections moving out it is an obvious sale.

EastEnders the elephant in the room of course and I'm sure they'll lease the space back given the money spent on it but it also gives them a potential get out on the money spent on the set in future decisions as frankly the only reason it's surviving at the moment is down to the financial commitment.

[XIII]

Bye bye, EastEnders. What a waste of £87m on the new set.

Do you ever get tired of concern trolling?

[gottago]

The Broadcast article says any buyer would likely be locked into a long-term lease for Eastenders to remain in its six studios so it won't be moving out any time soon. Though they haven't yet decided if they're going to pursue a sale or not.

Surely licence fee payers should have a say on this and whether it is economically justifiable for the corporation to be selling its real estate and then leasing back parts of the land that they just sold off.

No of course license fee payers shouldn't have a say on a property portfolio they have absolutely zero knowledge about. And obviously it is economically justifiable if they are seeking to sell it and rent it back. They're not just doing it for a laugh.

[Brekkie]

Selling and leasing back property is a very common tactic for big companies to turn a fixed asset into liquid cash they can then put back in the business.

[BettyS]

So that nice building plot with the present set on it looks very handy for a sale - there's a surprise. The Fairbanks offices are listed so presumably safe as buildings. Its the most stupid idea given the lack of studio space and the fact that production companies are setting up in and around Borehamwood.
What the hell is wrong with BBC management these days, have they not learned anything from the TVC fiasco?

[AllWillBeWell]

It’s very sad when buildings get sold off, but these days it is how things are done. Even NBH isn’t owned by the BBC and won’t be until the 2040s I think, at which point it will probably be sold off! Madness.

[Neil Jones]

Seems to be a case of the BBC in recent years selling off anything that isn't bolted to the floor. Surely licence fee payers should have a say on this and whether it is economically justifiable for the corporation to be selling its real estate and then leasing back parts of the land that they just sold off.

You are associated with the Daily Mail and I claim my £5.

We have a mechanism in this country for allowing people to have a say. And that's why we only use them on rare occasions for big important events/decisions. The idea of the BBC doing a mass mailer AGM style thing to ask licence fee payers (most of whom won't give a rat's behind) about whether they should flog Elstree on the back of 60 pages of blather is absurd and ridiculous