BBC Television Centre up for sale
The BBC has been making programmes at Television Centre for more than 50 years
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Television Centre, the landmark west London home of BBC television and news, has gone on the market.
The corporation said it was inviting bid proposals from people looking for a conventional, freehold property or those interested in a joint venture.
The latter could see listed parts of the building preserved in a "hub for creative businesses and a visitor destination".
The doughnut-shaped building first opened in Shepherd's Bush in 1960.
Among the shows recorded in its studios were Fawlty Towers, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Blue Peter and Strictly Come Dancing, as well as earlier series of Doctor Who.
The site is also home to the Blue Peter garden, which will be relocated to a studio roof at the Salford site.
The BBC said the main aim of the sale, first announced in 2007, was to maximise the site's value to the BBC and licence fee payers.
The 14-acre site, where 5,000 staff are based, is expected to be empty by 2015.
Chris Kane, head of BBC Workplace, said: "With high investor demand for commercial property in London and a shortage of landmark sites as distinctive as Television Centre, we anticipate strong competition for both conventional and innovative proposals."
Richard Deverell, W12 programme director, said: "Television Centre has played an extraordinary and central role in the history of the BBC, which will not be forgotten."
BBC News is set to move to central London next year while BBC Sport, children's programmes and TV's Breakfast are moving to Salford, Greater Manchester.
The BBC Television Centre in 2007
The  has been placed up for sale by the corporation. Plans to sell the centre originally came forward in 2007 but the BBC only appointed Lambert Smith Hampton, a commercial property consultant, in November of last year. The building which is based in , London was opened in 1960 and is the home of  and .

The BBC stated they were interested in preserving parts of the building while setting up a "hub for creative businesses and a visitor destination."  According to the head of BBC Workplace, , "With high investor demand for commercial property in London and a shortage of landmark sites as distinctive as Television Centre, we anticipate strong competition for both conventional and innovative proposals."

The property has been valued between £150 million to £300 million but is expected to fetch around £200 million.

5000 staff are currently based at the centre which BBC bosses hope to be empty by 2015. The BBC is creating a new development in Salford, Greater Manchester. Several departments including , , and children's shows are moving to Salford while BBC News is being relocated within central London.