New production facility launches at former home of Granada Studios
New TV and film studios, Versa, has opened a Manchester base at the former home of Granada Studios.
Versa Studios will be based at the ABC Buildings where it will broadcast one of the BBC’s flagship topical live programmes, Morning Live, from late February.
The ABC Buildings are part of Manchester’s city centre tech, media, digital and creative cluster, Enterprise City.
Executive Director of Versa, Charlie Ingall, said Versa will be operating three fully equipped TV broadcast studios and a further 10 that will cater for a diverse range of production types including non-scripted broadcast TV, scripted film & drama, music, commercials, content creation and gaming, bu summer 2023.
“Our spaces will be ideal for a variety of uses including performance and events,” he said.
“We fully intend to create a creative media cluster in Manchester rather than simply a set of TV studios.
“We are particularly excited to work with Department and to also work alongside the Factory in providing facilities for all types of creators, producers and performers.
“We want to bring back content creation, production and performance to Manchester City centre as part of Enterprise City.
“For VERSA, this reflects our vision to create a network of studios across the UK providing best in class creative environments for productions and media businesses to thrive.”
The show will begin broadcasting on weekdays, following its relocation from London’s BBC studios where it has been broadcast since its launch in October 2020.
Michael Ingall, CEO of Allied London, and founder of Enterprise City, said: “Our vision is to make this area the UK’s boldest new media, tech and cultural neighbourhood.
“As more organisations shift focus beyond London, the commercial and cultural activity in Manchester is becoming more dynamic and exciting, and as a result, new possibilities open up.”
