| The Maidstone Studios | |
|---|---|
 The current Maidstone Studios | |
 Interactive map of The Maidstone Studios | |
| Former names | TVS Television Centre |
| General information | |
| Status | Open |
| Type | Television studios |
| Location | Vinters Business Park, New Cut Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5NZ, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°16′48″N0°33′00″E / 51.280°N 0.5499°E /51.280; 0.5499 |
| Opening | Autumn 1982[1] |
| Owner | Maidstone Studios Limited (2002—present) |
| Other information | |
| Parking | 350 |
| Website | |
| The Maidstone Studios | |
The Maidstone Studios, formerly TVS Television Centre, is the largest independent television studio complex in the United Kingdom, and is based at Vinters Business Park inMaidstone,Kent, England. It has been home to a varied selection of independent British television programming includingLater... with Jools Holland,Deal or No Deal,Take Me Out,Catchphrase, as well as popular children's shows such asArt Attack andLet's Play forCBeebies.
The studios has also hosted film productions includingNetflix short filmThe Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.
Other recent credits also include:Blankety Blank,Family Fortunes andSupermarket Sweep.
The site was originally chosen by the now defunct ITV companySouthern Television in 1979 for a proposed new studio facility should it win the contract from theIndependent Broadcasting Authority (the UK television regulator at the time), for the new dual South and South-east of England region in 1981. As Southern Television lost its franchise, it sold the site to the successful applicantTelevision South (TVS) at a premium. It was part of the agreement with theIBA that TVS needed to provide a separate studio facility for the South East region.
The complex first opened in August 1982, providing broadcasting and production output for TVS. The site was also used as a regional office and a newsgathering hub, broadcasting the South East daily edition ofCoast to Coast. TVS continued to use Maidstone until the end of their franchise, which it lost in 1991.
When TVS lost its ITV franchise, it retained the Maidstone facility with a view to becoming an independent production company. The new south and south east ITV contractor, Meridian, initially continued to rent space in the building as a production centre for the south east edition ofMeridian Tonight, before moving to its own centre at nearbyNew Hythe between 1994 and 2004. The Meridian newsgathering operation returned to Maidstone Studios in 2004, though the studio for the programme moved to Meridian's new base atWhiteley in Hampshire.
TVS, including the Maidstone Studios, was quickly bought byInternational Family Entertainment Inc. and the studios were used as an independent production facility. IFE subsequently launched a UK version of TheFamily Channel based at Maidstone, using some elements of the TVS programme archive.Flextech was a partner in the venture, taking a 39% stake in the business.[2] In 1996, the studio complex was sold byInternational Family Entertainment Inc. to Flextech when it acquired the remaining 61% of the UK Family Channel business.
During 2002 the new owner of Flextech, Telewest Communications, overhauled the structure of the operations which resulted in the disposal of the studios.
The studios were bought in 2002 by a local consortium of businessmen under the name Dovedale Associates for £4.25 million, headed by ex-BBC producer Geoff Miles.[3] In 2005 a £2 million refurbishment programme took place, as part of the new owner's plans for the complex. A new Studio 5 (now known as Studio 1) was opened, which covers 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2) able to accommodate a 2,000-strong audience; it is now the complex's flagship HD studio.[4] Between April 2013 and December 2018 was the home ofBBC2'sLater... with Jools Holland.[5]
From 2006 to 2012 a company called TVS Television Productions Ltd was based in offices at The Maidstone Studios. The name Television South Ltd, TVS and the colour logo device had been re-registered to lighting cameraman Keith Jacobsen, who traded as an independent production company with no links to the original. The new TVS ceased trading on 9 March 2012, but as of May 2017 the logo and name are used by another independent production company.[6]
The area including car parks and outbuildings to the east of the studio premises were bought by Hillreed Homes. Planning permission was granted in 2014 for 77 dwellings[7] and work to redevelop the site started in 2017. Vehicular access to the studios now passes through the housing estate.
As of June 2023, The Maidstone Studios operates three studios and a backlot used for outdoor productions and audience holding space.
Studio 1 can handle 2,400 standing, 960 seated; Studio 2 can handle 360 seated. Whilst Studio 3 cannot accommodate a seated audience, there is room for a small standing audience. The studios have large production galleries and can operate in 4K orHD. Studio 1 also includes two large scene dock doors to allow easy access for people, scenery and vehicles. Access to Studio 2 is via the studio's scene dock area. Studio 3 is used for small productions and green screen projects.
The studios offer multiple camera solutions includingSony andGrass Valley, multi-functional productions spaces including edit suites, sound & Foley suite, 35 production spaces and an American Diner which is available as a filming location or crew catering space.
On the Maidstone Studios premises is adata centre and office space available for hire.
