British Radio and Television

Since the 1970s 98 per cent of British households have had television sets able to receive four channels, two put out by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), two by commercial companies. Commercial satellite and cable TV began to grow significantly in 1989-90, and by 1991 the two main companies operating in Britain had joined together as British Sky Broadcasting. By 1991 about one household in ten had the equipment to receive this material.

Every household with TV must by law pay for a licence, which costs about the same for a year as a popular newspaper every day. A few people, including those with non-colour TV, pay less. The payments are mainly a compulsory subscription to the BBC, which derives nearly all of its funds from this source, supplemented by any profits that it makes from its weekly programme magazine, Radio Times, and from selling some of its productions to other countries.

Unlike the press, mass broadcasting has been subject to some state control from its early days. One agreed purpose has been to ensure that news, comment and discussion should be balanced and impartial, free of influence by government or advertisers. From 1926 first radio, then TV as well, were entrusted to the BBC, which still has a board of governors appointed by the government. The BBC's monopoly was ended in 1954, when an independent board was appointed by the Home Secretary to give licences to broadcast ('franchises') to commercial TV companies financed by advertising, and called in general independent television (ITV). These franchises have been given only for a few years at a time, then renewed, subject to various conditions.

In 1990 Parliament passed a long and complex new Broadcasting Act which made big changes in the arrangements for commercial TV and radio. The old Independent Broadcasting Authority, which had given franchises to the existing TV and radio companies, was abolished. In its place, for TV alone, a new Independent Television Commission was set up in 1991, with the task of awarding future franchises, early in the 1990s, either to the existing companies or to new rivals which were prepared to pay a higher price. The Commission also took over responsibility for licensing cable programme services, including those satellite TV channels which are carried on cable networks. The new law did not change the status of the BBC, but it did have the purpose of increasing competition, both among broadcasters and among producers. It envisaged that a new commercial TV channel, TV5, would start in the early 1990s.

The general nature of the four TV channels functioning in 1991 seems likely to continue, with BBC1 and ITV (soon to be called Channel 3) producing a broadly similar mixture of programmes in competition with each other. ITV (Channel 3) has a complex structure. Its main news is run by one company, Independent Television News (ITN), its early morning TV-a.m. by another. There are about a dozen regional companies which broadcast in their regions for most of each day, with up to ten minutes of advertisements in each hour, between programmes or as interruptions at intervals of twenty or thirty minutes. These regional companies produce some programmes of local interest and some which they sell to other regions, so that for much of each day the same material is put out all through the country. Some of BBC1 's programmes are similarly produced by its regional stations. BBC2 and the independent Channel 4 (which has its own company) are both used partly for special interest programmes and for such things as complete operas.

By international standards it could reasonably be claimed that the four regular channels together provide an above-average service, with the balance giving something to please most tastes and preferences. Some quiz-shows and 'soap operas', or long-running sagas, attract large numbers of viewers - and to some extent the BBC competes for success in this respect. But minority preferences are not overlooked. In Wales there are Welsh-language programmes for the few who want them. There are foreign language lessons for the general public, as well as the special programmes for schools and the Open University. BBC news has always kept a reputation for objectivity, and the independent news service is of similar quality.

Television is probably the most important single factor in the continuous contest for the public's favour between the political parties. Parties and candidates cannot buy advertising time. At intervals each channel provides time for each of the three main political parties for party-political broadcasts, and during an election campaign a great deal of time is provided for the parties' election broadcasts, always on an equal basis. Minor parties get time, based partly on the number of their candidates. In Wales and Scotland the nationalist parties get TV time on the same basis as the three others. Studios and transmitters must be provided free of charge. But often a party prefers to film a broadcast outside the studio at its own expense, for greater impact.

BBC TV Europe broadcasts some of its own programmes by satellite, and from 1991 BBC TV International began to sell and distribute its World Service TV news in English and some other languages.

The BBC's Radio 4 is the main general interest radio service, with some items run by regional studios. Radio 3 is for minority interests, including music, '2' for light entertainment, '1' for pop music and '5' for sport, education and children's programmes. There are also several dozen local BBC radio stations, covering the whole country. The world wide radio service has been established for a long time, and is the only activity of the BBC to receive a government subsidy.

The BBC runs several dozens of local radio stations, which compete with independent commercial rivals, financed by advertisements. All provide a mixture of local news and comment, with some entertainment matter, mainly pop music, in between. In 1991 the Home Secretary appointed a new Radio Authority to take over the functions related to radio of the old IBA, and in particular to grant new licences to broadcast. In the 1990s there should be one or more new commercial radio stations broadcasting nationwide, including one 'non-pop' station, possibly for continuous broadcasts of classical music.

The law of 1990 leaves the Home Secretary with a general responsibility for radio and TV, and he appoints two independent bodies to act as safeguards against abuse. If anyone thinks that there has been unjust or unfair treatment, or unwarranted infringements of privacy, in any radio or TV programme, he or she may bring a complaint to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission whose members are appointed by the Home Secretary.

The second body, the Broadcasting Standards Council, was given a statutory basis by the law of 1990. Its establishment was in part a response to a Clean Up TV pressure group, inspired mainly by a retired school teacher, Mrs. Mary Whitehouse, whose vigorous campaigning had made her a well-known personality, often invited to appear on TV herself. This Council has to consider the portrayal of sex and of violence, and matters of taste and decency, in any radio or TV programme or advertisement; to draw up a code of practice; to consider complaints, monitor programmes and undertake relevant research.