Arena is the BBC's multi award-winning arts strand. Founded in 1975, Arena continues to produce gold standard documentaries for the BBC and world audiences

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Chelsea Hotel

Chelsea Hotel in New York, a haven for some of the 20th Century's greatest talent. (1981)

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Sonny Rollins: Beyond the Notes

Documentary about the saxophonist Sonny Rollins, built around his 80th birthday concert.

Next Friday 21:00 BBC Four

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  • About Arena

    Arena is BBC's multi award winning arts strand with an archive of more than 500 original films. Throughout its 35 year history Arena has produced profiles and in-depth documentaries on such diverse subjects as Bob Dylan, the Ford Cortina car, Francis Bacon, Phil Spector, Desert Island Discs, T.S.Eliot, The Beano and the song My Way. Voted one of the 50 most influential programmes of all time (Broadcast magazine 2005), Arena continues to produce gold standard documentaries for UK and world wide audiences.

    "Arena is the oasis in the sea of insanity that is television" - Werner Herzog

  • George Martin Showcase on BBC Music

    George Martin Showcase on BBC Music

    Clips from Arena's latest film Produced by George Martin as well as a few from the Arena archive.

    Watch the clips

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