The British Broadcasting Corporation, better known by its acronym BBC (BBC), in early July 2012 changed the address of its permanent residence in recent decades and moved from the famous Bush House building. An entire era was associated with him in the activities of this worldwide service, which has been broadcasting from the walls of Bush House since 1941.
The building that the journalists and technical services have moved to is nothing new to the BBC. This is the equally famous Broadcasting House located next to Regent Street. It has housed world service since its inception in December 1932. Then the corporation was called the Imperial Service. The move in 1941 was a forced measure - a German bomb hit Broadcasting House, the building was badly damaged, and it became impossible to work in it.
In May 1965, the Reich Service was renamed the BBC World Service. She became synonymous with the voice of Great Britain, which was clearly heard in the international information arena.
The history of Bush House is closely connected not only with the history of the BBC, but also with those corporation journalists who worked within its walls. Journalist and writer J. Orwell, author of the dystopian novel "1984" describes in it the famous offices and corridors of Bush House, which became the prototype of the premises of the Ministry of Truth in the novel. In the final broadcast, which lasted 5 minutes, BBC CEO Mark Thompson said a farewell address to the Bush House corridors. He compared it to the Tower of Babel, which has become the stage for many famous historical broadcast moments.
The change of location of the broadcasting editorial office is connected with a rather banal reason. The BBC has moved to its original address, because at the end of 2012 the lease of Bush House ends, and its owner, who lives in Japan, is not going to renew the contract. However, every cloud has a silver lining. All divisions of the corporation will operate under the roof of Broadcasting House: its World Service, News and World News services, as well as the local broadcasting department of BBC London. Now they are combined into a single newsroom.
The equipment of the old studios located in Bush House will be auctioned online. Starting from July 13, it will be possible to buy any item on it - from microphones and headphones to an old Steinway grand piano and numerous photographs of celebrities.
