The Maidstone Studios, Kent

The studios to serve the eastern section of TVS’s transmission area were at Vinters Park near Maidstone in Kent. The site was originally acquired by Southern Television, which had commissioned a conceptual design for new studio facilities on the site. Following the award of the franchise to TVS, Southern Television sold the site to the new company at a premium. Construction commenced in early 1982 and the first studios at the centre became operational in mid-1983.

When TVS lost its ITV franchise the Southampton studios were sold to Meridian with a view to TVS becoming an independent production company. TVS, including the Maidstone Studios, was quickly bought by International Family Entertainment Inc. and the studios were used as an independent production facility. IFE subsequently launched a UK version of The Family Channel based in The Maidstone Studios, using some elements of the TVS programme archive. In 1996, the studio complex was sold by International 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 plc, 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 £4.25m, headed by ex-BBC producer Geoff Miles. In 2005 a £2 million refurbishment programme took place, as part of “Dovedale Associates” business 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 their flagship HD studio. During its time the complex had five studios, including a American Diner, but now only opearte its two largest studios, mothballing the others.