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Barcud Derwen agrees to take over ITV Wales studio

Barcud Derwen, the largest television facility house outside London, has agreed terms for a seven year lease with ITV Wales to take over one of their Cardiff studios as part of ITV Wales’ development strategy to cluster key media companies at Culverhouse Cross. When the studio was opened in 1984 by HTV Wales it was the largest independently owned studio in Europe and, at 7,500 sq ft., is still one of the largest in the United Kingdom. The cyclorama height is 24ft.

The studio will be run through the company’s Omni TV who will provide a drive-in Outside Broadcast option enabling standard and Hi-Def options for productions. The studio can be utilised as a four waller for single camera use. Previously known as Studio 1, it will now be renamed Omni Studio. Omni TV is headed by Tony Cahalane, who has previous experience at Black & White and 021. He will be assisted by Sharon Scott as Director of Resources. Tony said “This is a superb sized studio with huge potential. I’m looking forward to attracting quality programming from within and outside Wales to Culverhouse Cross”. Omni TV also provides an Outside Broadcast service on location.

Bryn Roberts, Barcud Derwen Group Managing Director said “I am confident that Tony and Sharon can make the studio buzz . There is a need for a large studio in the area and this is an opportunity to produce programmes for network and local consumption. Programmes such as the The X Factor, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Takeaway , Strictly Come Dancing and All Star Family Fortunes prove that there is a renaissance in studio based production”

ITV Wales Managing Director and Controller of Programmes, Elis Owen said “I’m delighted to welcome Barcud Derwen to Culverhouse Cross . Omni TV will be one of ten media companies located at the media centre realising our ambition to cluster key movers in the Welsh production sector to provide an ideal environment for creativity. I believe there are exciting times ahead as our development strategy evolves”. B-Dag which is responsible for Barcud-Derwen’s CD-Rom production will be relocating to Culverhouse Cross along with Group Directors Bryn Roberts, Stephen Cowin and Huw Edwards.

Barcud Derwen, which was formed in 1982 also has a large studio in Caernarfon as part on a one stop shop which includes Outside Broadcast units and post production facilities with bases in Cardiff, Glasgow,Edinburgh, Bristol, London, Dublin and Galway. The company is the Host Broadcaster at the National Assembly for Wales and is joint owner with Parthenon Entertainment of Cymru International – the company that runs the S4C international distribution and co-production franchise.

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