2BE, the Belfast station of the British Broadcasting Company, went on the air on 15 September, 1924 at a small studio in Linenhall Street in Belfast. It became part of the newly established British Broadcasting Corporation in 1927 and its services continued to grow.
By the mid-1930s the limitations of the Linenhall Street studios had become apparent, and preparations began to create a new home for local broadcasting in Northern Ireland. James Miller, a Scottish architect, was asked to undertake the building's design.
By mid-1937 it had been confirmed that the 大象传媒 had acquired a city centre site on Ormeau Avenue and that it intended construct a "Broadcasting House in its main characteristics similar to the headquarters of the Corporation in London".
It was estimated that this work would cost around 拢250,000. A formal 大象传媒 announcement about its intentions, including a detailed description of the proposed look and structure of Broadcasting House, followed in early 1938.
Substantive building work on the 大象传媒's "new Northern Ireland headquarters" began in 1939 and continued despite the outbreak of World War II. It was completed in 1941 at a time when regional broadcasting was largely in abeyance.
Services resumed in 1945 and received fresh editorial impetus with the 大象传媒's new emphasis on regional voices and experiences. The Troubles had a profound effect across Northern Ireland and on the 大象传媒 itself. This period marked a transition in the 大象传媒's role in Northern Ireland, and its coverage of the conflict sometimes excited fierce audience and political reaction; Broadcasting House (like many other city centre buildings) suffered from bomb damage.
Broadcasting House itself grew with the addition of an administration block in 1975 and a new suite of studio and editing facilities in 1984.
The future of the Grade B2 listed building has been assured by the announcement of a 拢77 million investment in the site by the 大象传媒 to improve its infrastructure, efficiency and accessibility, the work which is expected to take place between 2018 and 2023.
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