Alexandra Palace is situated in North London and known around the world as the birthplace of television.
It was never owned by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, but in 1935 the Corporation leased the eastern part of the building from which the first public television transmissions were made. In 1936 it hosted trials between the EMI-Marconi and Baird television system to decide which would carry the television standard for the future.
Studio A was equipped with the Marconi-EMI Emitron system, while Baird installed his mechanical systems in Studio B. The Emitron camera proved far superior to Baird's cumbersome film technique, which never developed beyond an experimental stage.
These early transmissions were famously introduced by one of the very first presenters, Elizabeth Cowell, with the words "This is direct television from Alexandra Palace…"
From 1936 until the early 1950s, except during the Second World War, Alexandra Palace remained the major production centre for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ television, broadcasting landmark programmes such as The Grove Family and historic events including the 1953 Coronation. After 1956 it was used exclusively for news broadcasts.
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ continued to produce television programmes at Alexandra Palace for the Open University until 1981 when the University moved out to purpose-built premises north of London in Milton Keynes.
Further reading
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              Ally PallyProfessor Jamie Medhurst examines why ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Television made the 'People's Palace' at Alexandra Palace its first home and explores the oral histories of people who were there at the birth of television. Part of the 100 Voices That Made the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ project.
Buildings
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              Alexandra PalaceThe birthplace of television
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              Broadcasting HouseThe first purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK
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              Broadcasting House, BelfastÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Northern Ireland's headquarters since 1941
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              Broadcasting House, BristolFormer home of the Natural History Unit
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              Broadcasting House, CardiffThe ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s first bespoke headquarters in Wales
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              Bush HouseÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ of the World Service 1940-2012
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              Camden Palace TheatreLight entertainment and music from North London
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              Caversham ParkListening to the world, 1943 to 2018
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              Ealing StudiosThe ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Television Film Studios
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              Elstree StudiosÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ of EastEnders
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              Lime GroveA temporary measure for 42 years
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              Kingswood WarrenFormer home of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Research & Development
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              The LanghamSustaining the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ during World War 2 and after
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              Maida ValeThe best acoustic in London
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              35 Marylebone High StreetThe first headquarters of the Radio Times and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio London.
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              MediaCityUKThe ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Northern base in Salford
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              Pacific QuayHeadquarters of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Scotland
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              Paris StudiosFormer London cinema which hosted The Beatles and Dad's Army
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              Pebble MillA hub for drama, entertainment and factual programmes in Birmingham between 1971 and 2004
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              Queen's House, WC2Centre of English language learning
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              Riverside StudiosA film studio regenerated into a TV studio used by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ from 1954 to 1975
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              Savoy HillThe first home of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
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              Television CentreThe Television Factory
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              Television TheatreA mecca for the stars of the 1960s
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              Wood NortonThe emergency broadcasting centre
