Granada Studios

Granada Studios
Pit-yacker · CC BY 2.5 · source
Name	Granada Studios
Caption	Former Granada Studios complex on Quay Street, Manchester
Location	Manchester, United Kingdom
Opened	1954
Closed	2013
Owner	ITV plc

Granada Studios was a television studio complex and production centre in Manchester, England, established by Granada Television in the mid-20th century. It served as a major hub for commercial broadcasting, regional programming, national entertainment, and independent production for decades, hosting a range of programmes linked to ITV (TV network), Channel 4, and other broadcasters. The site became notable for its association with long-running series, prominent presenters, and the transformation of northern British media production until its closure and subsequent redevelopment.

History

Granada Studios was founded by Granada Television after the award of the ITV franchise for North West England, following early television experiments by organisations including Associated-Rediffusion and contemporaries such as BBC Television Service. The complex opened in the 1950s and expanded through the 1960s and 1970s as Granada produced regional news for ITV News alongside national series that contributed to the rise of commercial television competing with the British Broadcasting Corporation. Over the decades the site weathered industrial actions involving unions like the National Union of Journalists and underwent corporate changes tied to mergers involving Thames Television, Yorkshire Television, Scottish Television, and later consolidation under ITV plc. The studios were associated with award-winning work recognised by institutions including the BAFTA and the Royal Television Society, and with programmes that connected to cultural movements such as the British New Wave in drama and the development of Britpop era music television.

Facilities and Architecture

The complex on Quay Street combined production studios, newsrooms, post-production suites, scenery workshops, and audience facilities, reflecting an evolution in broadcast technology from early analogue kinescope workflows to digital component production linked to networks like Sky UK and multichannel broadcasters such as Channel 5 (UK). Architecturally, the building incorporated functional post-war industrial design with later retrofits to accommodate electronic news gathering systems used by crews who trained alongside organisations like Reuters and Associated Press. Studio stages were configured for live-audience productions similar to setups used at Elstree Studios and Shepperton Studios, while technical facilities supported multi-camera OB vans analogous to those operated by BBC Sport and independent providers such as NEP Group. The complex hosted rehearsals and recording sessions involving orchestras tied to venues like Royal Albert Hall and audio engineers familiar with standards from bodies such as the Audio Engineering Society.

Productions and Programming

Granada produced a broad slate including flagship regional news programmes, factual series, drama serials, and entertainment shows. It was the original home of the soap opera Coronation Street, whose production made the studios synonymous with working-class serial drama alongside other serials influenced by writers connected to the Royal Court Theatre and the National Theatre. Granada also produced documentaries in the lineage of World in Action and magazine formats similar to This Week (TV series), and entertainment series hosted by presenters associated with Michael Parkinson, Sir David Attenborough, and contemporaries from commercial television. Music programmes linked to artists from labels such as Factory Records and festivals like Glastonbury Festival were made on-site, while comedy output included collaborations with performers who later worked with institutions like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and companies such as Fremantle (company). The studios facilitated productions that toured international festivals including Cannes Film Festival and aired on international networks like PBS and Network Ten (Australia).

Notable Personnel

Granada's workforce included producers, directors, presenters, and writers who became prominent in British media. Notable on-screen figures who worked on productions at the site included presenters and actors associated with Coronation Street and presenters who moved between Granada and outlets such as BBC Radio 4, Channel 4, and Sky News. Behind the scenes, producers with links to companies like Hat Trick Productions, directors who later worked with Working Title Films, and writers who contributed to series recognized by Olivier Awards and BAFTA Television Awards developed their craft at the studios. Technical staff included vision mixers and engineers trained to standards promoted by bodies like the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and broadcast unions such as BECTU.

Closure and Redevelopment

In the early 21st century, consolidation across the British broadcasting sector involving ITV plc and shifts toward centralised production in London and other hubs led to reduced use of regional studios. The Quay Street complex ceased studio production in the 2010s as facilities were decommissioned and equipment relocated to newer sites comparable to Dock10 at MediaCityUK and stage complexes used by Pinewood Studios. The site entered redevelopment plans influenced by urban regeneration projects like the transformation of Salford Quays and proposals involving developers akin to Manchester City Council partnerships, with adaptive reuse proposals referencing schemes at Kings Cross, London and the conversion of industrial heritage elsewhere such as Tate Modern. The legacy of the studios persists in archives held by organisations including the British Film Institute and in the careers of many television professionals now working across companies such as ITV Studios, BBC Studios, Endemol Shine Group, and independent production houses.

Category:Broadcasting in Greater ManchesterCategory:Television studios in the United Kingdom