Television and Radio in the UKTelevision and Radio in the UK

University Foundation course

Life in Britain

University Foundation course

Life in Britain

British PressBritish Press

Biggest daily newspapers… tabloids lots of photos obsessed with celebrities sex and scandal

…Frivolous (opposite of serious)

Biggest daily newspapers… tabloids lots of photos obsessed with celebrities sex and scandal

…Frivolous (opposite of serious)

For serious news…For serious news…

BroadcastingBroadcastingBroadcastingBroadcasting

The BBCThe BBC

Reputation for truth

for objectivity

for impartiality

for independence

Reputation for truth

for objectivity

for impartiality

for independence

The BBCThe BBC

Founded in 1931 as a public service to bring ‘high culture to the masses’

Director General - John Reith - a man with a mission…

saw radio as a way to promote

learning & culture

(with some light entertainment too!!)

Founded in 1931 as a public service to bring ‘high culture to the masses’

Director General - John Reith - a man with a mission…

saw radio as a way to promote

learning & culture

(with some light entertainment too!!)

The BBCThe BBC

1932 BBC World Service

During World War 2…BBC became identified with democracy and free speech

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1122_75_years/page3.shtml

1932 BBC World Service

During World War 2…BBC became identified with democracy and free speech

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1122_75_years/page3.shtml

The BBCThe BBC

In the money-driven world of 21st Century…

…how does it remain independent?

…how does it fund its programming?

Advertising?

…the licence fee

In the money-driven world of 21st Century…

…how does it remain independent?

…how does it fund its programming?

Advertising?

…the licence fee

Commercial TVCommercial TV

Independent Television (ITV)

Started in 1954 Money comes from advertising Do advertisers influence programming? What about ITV News (ITN)?

Independent Television (ITV)

Started in 1954 Money comes from advertising Do advertisers influence programming? What about ITV News (ITN)?

Traditional TV ChannelsTraditional TV Channels

The ‘big’ five channels:

BBC1 (1936)

ITV (1954)

BBC2 (1964)

Channel 4 (1982)

Five (1997)…British households can now access huge number of

channels via satellite, cable, freeview digital channels…

The ‘big’ five channels:

BBC1 (1936)

ITV (1954)

BBC2 (1964)

Channel 4 (1982)

Five (1997)…British households can now access huge number of

channels via satellite, cable, freeview digital channels…

QualityQuality

With commercial TV came the question of quality…

What is relationship between advertising revenue and the number of viewers?

More viewers = more expensive advertising rates = more revenue

Pressure on ITV to make popular TV

In early years ITV captured 75% of BBC audience…

With commercial TV came the question of quality…

What is relationship between advertising revenue and the number of viewers?

More viewers = more expensive advertising rates = more revenue

Pressure on ITV to make popular TV

In early years ITV captured 75% of BBC audience…

The Ratings WarThe Ratings War

BBC and main commercial channels in constant competition with each other to get largest share of the audience

Biggest battle is between the two mainSoap Operas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcW4ZzlxVHc&NR=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvjYPB8sXiY

BBC and main commercial channels in constant competition with each other to get largest share of the audience

Biggest battle is between the two mainSoap Operas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcW4ZzlxVHc&NR=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvjYPB8sXiY

The ratings: a typical weekThe ratings: a typical week

British Quality TVBritish Quality TV

Has popular TV led to ‘dumbing down’?? Highest paid performer on TV in 2002 was

…a history professor!!(David Starkey, paid £2m by channel 4 for documentary series on British

monarchs)

To finish, some Award-winning comedy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Tck7-1Ooc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l5twcFiYd0

Has popular TV led to ‘dumbing down’?? Highest paid performer on TV in 2002 was

…a history professor!!(David Starkey, paid £2m by channel 4 for documentary series on British

monarchs)

To finish, some Award-winning comedy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Tck7-1Ooc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l5twcFiYd0