Alexandra Palace is situated in North London and known around the world as the birthplace of television.
It was never owned by the 大象传媒, 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 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 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
大象传媒 Northern Ireland's headquarters since 1941 -
Broadcasting House, Bristol
Former home of the Natural History Unit -
Broadcasting House, Cardiff
The 大象传媒's first bespoke headquarters in Wales -
Bush House
Home 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 大象传媒 Television Film Studios -
Elstree Studios
Home of EastEnders -
Lime Grove
A temporary measure for 42 years -
Kingswood Warren
Former home of 大象传媒 Research & Development -
The Langham
Sustaining the 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 Radio London. -
MediaCityUK
The 大象传媒's Northern base in Salford -
Pacific Quay
Headquarters of 大象传媒 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 大象传媒 from 1954 to 1975 -
Savoy Hill
The first home of the 大象传媒 -
Television Centre
The Television Factory -
Television Theatre
A mecca for the stars of the 1960s -
Wood Norton
The emergency broadcasting centre