Alexandra Palace is situated in North London and known around the world as the birthplace of television.
It was never owned by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, but in 1935 the Corporation leased the eastern part of the building from which the first public television transmissions were made. In 1936 it hosted trials between the EMI-Marconi and Baird television system to decide which would carry the television standard for the future.
Studio A was equipped with the Marconi-EMI Emitron system, while Baird installed his mechanical systems in Studio B. The Emitron camera proved far superior to Baird's cumbersome film technique, which never developed beyond an experimental stage.
These early transmissions were famously introduced by one of the very first presenters, Elizabeth Cowell, with the words "This is direct television from Alexandra Palace…"
From 1936 until the early 1950s, except during the Second World War, Alexandra Palace remained the major production centre for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ television, broadcasting landmark programmes such as The Grove Family and historic events including the 1953 Coronation. After 1956 it was used exclusively for news broadcasts.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ continued to produce television programmes at Alexandra Palace for the Open University until 1981 when the University moved out to purpose-built premises north of London in Milton Keynes.
Further reading
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Ally Pally
Professor Jamie Medhurst examines why Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Television made the 'People's Palace' at Alexandra Palace its first home and explores the oral histories of people who were there at the birth of television. Part of the 100 Voices That Made the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ project.
Buildings
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Alexandra Palace
The birthplace of television -
Broadcasting House
The first purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK -
Broadcasting House, Belfast
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Northern Ireland's headquarters since 1941 -
Broadcasting House, Bristol
Former home of the Natural History Unit -
Broadcasting House, Cardiff
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's first bespoke headquarters in Wales -
Bush House
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ of the World Service 1940-2012 -
Camden Palace Theatre
Light entertainment and music from North London -
Caversham Park
Listening to the world, 1943 to 2018 -
Ealing Studios
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Television Film Studios -
Elstree Studios
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ of EastEnders -
Lime Grove
A temporary measure for 42 years -
Kingswood Warren
Former home of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Research & Development -
The Langham
Sustaining the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ during World War 2 and after -
Maida Vale
The best acoustic in London -
35 Marylebone High Street
The first headquarters of the Radio Times and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio London. -
MediaCityUK
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Northern base in Salford -
Pacific Quay
Headquarters of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland -
Paris Studios
Former London cinema which hosted The Beatles and Dad's Army -
Pebble Mill
A hub for drama, entertainment and factual programmes in Birmingham between 1971 and 2004 -
Queen's House, WC2
Centre of English language learning -
Riverside Studios
A film studio regenerated into a TV studio used by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ from 1954 to 1975 -
Savoy Hill
The first home of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ -
Television Centre
The Television Factory -
Television Theatre
A mecca for the stars of the 1960s -
Wood Norton
The emergency broadcasting centre