GLOBAL EMPIRE: BSkyB's new sustainable HQ dominates west London skyline

ON AIR: Sky Sports make first broadcast from a state-of-the-art facility formerly known as Harlequin 1

MEDIA MOGUL: Rupert Murdoch and wife Wendy attend the firm's summer party in Kensington Gardens

BSkyB's sparkliing new headquarters in Middlesex, a west London suburb, is far removed from the hoopla that has engulfed one of its stablemates, News International, in the past few weeks. With its ownership destiny seemingly out of its hands, it's corporate arm reacted to News Corporation’s announcement that it no longer intended to make an offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of BSkyB not already owned by News Corporation.

Jeremy Darroch, BSkyB’s Chief Executive, said: "We are delivering on our clear, consistent strategy and are building a larger, more profitable business for the long term. We remain very confident in the broadly based growth opportunity for BSkyB as we continue to add new customers, sell more products, develop our leading position in content and innovation, and expand the contribution from our other businesses. I would like to commend all our employees for their unrelenting focus throughout the offer period and thank them for their continuing support."

Sky Studios, Sky’s state-of-the-art production facility formerly known as Harlequin 1, began broadcasting early July, with Sky Sports News the first channel to be transmitted live from the new building. But fast-moving events in the News Corp., stable has taken the shine off what has been a significant investment in British broadcasting. A physical symbol of Sky’s growing commitment to home-grown British content  the company also announced it would be increasing investment in British programmes by more than 50% to £600 million a year over the next three years.

Sky Sports News’ ‘Good Morning Sports Fans’ became the first programme to be broadcast from the new facility. The show was anchored by Mike Wedderburn, who also happened to be the first presenter to appear on Sky Sports News when it first went to air on the 9th August 1998. Wedderburn and co-presenter Kirsty Gallacher presented the show from a new studio that has been built specifically to cater for the needs of the Sky Sports News production team and enable them to continue delivering the most comprehensive sports news service to viewers.

The new studio is the most significant element of the recent programme of investment in Sky Sports News that has included increased funding for more live trucks for outside broadcasts enabling reporters to react live on air to the latest breaking sports news wherever they are, the capability to broadcast in high definition, and further investment in on-screen talent. Billed as the most sustainable broadcasting facility in Europe, Sky Studios is home to eight naturally ventilated studios including five HD studios, 45 edit suites, 14 voice-over suites, four audio suites and on site post-production facilities.

Arranged over five levels, with each floor the size of a football pitch, Sky Studios has been designed so that original content can be filmed, edited and transmitted within a single facility. The building is divided horizontally into three zones - ‘make’, ‘shape’ and ‘share’ - housing content production, platform control and transmission services for all of Sky’s sport and news content. Building work began in 2006, and Sky has invested approximately £233 million in the facility.

Providing office space for 1,370 permanent and production staff, Sky Studios was designed and built with maximum energy-efficiency in mind. The facility will include an integrated wind turbine, to provide energy to power lighting throughout the building. Additionally, an on-site Combined Cooling & Heating Power plant supply at least 20% of the energy needed for the building’s electricity and heating systems. In recognition of its innovations in renewable energy and energy efficiency, Sky Studios won the ‘Sustainable Project of the Year’ category at the 2010 Sustainability Awards and has also received nominations for The Guardian Sustainability Awards 2011, Building Awards 2011 and 2011 Sustainable Energy Europe Awards.

Facts & figures

¹ Excluding exceptional items
*12 months to 30 June 2010