Television history

1
Television history

• Television in Britain

2
Television after the war in Britain

• First broadcast 7.6.1946
• Adherence to pre-war technical standards with 405
  lines 625 line Pal system adopted in 1960
• As far as early 1950s one hour of programme in
  the morning, one in the afternoon, few in the
  evening
• Something for everyone and everything for
  someone
• Televising of the London Olympic Games, 1948
• Televising of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth
  II, June 1953 estimated 20 million viewers and
  captured on film for immediate broadcasts in the
  USA, Canada and elsewhere

3
Reviewing the broadcasting environment the
crucial reports

• Beverage report 1951
• Pilkington report 1962
• Annan report 1977

4
Beveridge report

• Criticized BBC monopoly and paternalism but
  nevertheless recommended its continuation with
  certain reservations
• Argued against television advertising
• Criticized BBC London centeredness
• In his minority report Selwyn Lloyd advocated
  competition funded either by advertising or
  public subsidy
• The new conservative administration rejected the
  report but nevertheless renewed BBCs charter
• No sponsored programmes

5
Independent television (ITV, 1955)

• The Popular Television Association people have
  the right to make their own choices
• Television Act of 1954 made it possible to start
  a commercial channel
• ITV begins broadcasting in 1955
• Independent Television Authority (ITA) is set to
  allocate franchises and monitor operations
  particularly as regards public service
• Advertising and programmes must be clearly
  distinguished
• Independent Television News (ITN) is created to
  produce nationwide news broadcasts
• By 1957 more demand for advertising time than can
  be incorporated into programming
• Regions / programme time divided between
  contractors which effectively form a network

6
The first major contractors

• Anglia Television East of England franchise
• Associated-Rediffusion (A-R or ARTV, London
  weekdays)
• Associated TeleVision (ATV, London weekends and
  Midlands weekdays)
• ABC Weekend TV (Midlands and North weekends)
• Granada TV Network (North weekdays)
• Scottish Television Central Scotland franchise
• Southern Television South and South East England
  franchise
• TWW Wales and West of England franchise
  (19581968)
• Tyne Tees Television North-east England
  franchise (1958)
• Ulster Television (UTV) Northern Ireland
  franchise (1959)

7
ITV begins

• First broadcast Elgars Cocaigne overture
  followed by a variety show, boxing and a gala.
• First British TV-advert Gibbs toothpaste
• At first advertisers lacked interest because of
  low coverage (sets had to be adapted)
• Programming mainly light entertainment
• In 1957 demand for advertising time exceeds
  supply
• BBC holds on to tradition, ITV becomes innovative
• Soon ¾ of adult viewers prefer ITV
• ITN gradually creates a televisual news format in
  contrast to BBCs very literary style.

8
Early ITV favourites

• Cool for Cats (1956-59).
• Emergency - Ward Ten (ATV, 1957-67)
• Coronation Street (Granada 1960 -)

9
BBC renewal

• Current affairs programme Tonight (1960-) gains
  up to 9 million regular viewers
• More critical approach to politicians and experts
• Public service ethos survives but more emphasis
  is put on the need to offer a great variety of
  programming and to serve minorities
• Well scripted comedy
• Fierce struggle for a second channel

10
Pilkington report

• Television is and will be a main factor in
  influencing the values and moral standards of our
  society.
• The Authoritys working assumption is that
  television has little effect. This is, in our
  view, a mistake. In discounting the influence of
  the medium they scale down their
  responsibilities.
• ITV had not held to the goals set in 1954
• Concern for the survival of working class culture
• Individualist vs. mutualist ideals
• Competition weakens BBCs ability to fulfil its
  responsibilities
• BBC2 begins broadcasting in1964 (624 lines)

11
BBC programmes in the new broadcasting environment

• Juke Box Jury (1959-67)
• Cathy Come Home (1963)
• The Great War (1964)
• Till Death Us Do Part (1965-75)
• The Forsyte Saga (1967)
• Civilization (1969)
• Monty Pythons Flying Circus (1969-74)
• The Ascent of Man (1972-73)

12
Major contractors after 1968 franchise round

• Associated TeleVision Midlands (19681981)
• Granada NW England franchise (1968)
• Harlech Television (HTV ) Wales and West of
  England franchise (1968)
• London Weekend Television (LWT) London Weekend
  franchise (1968)
• Thames Television London weekday franchise
  (19681992)
• Yorkshire Television Yorkshire/Lincolnshire
  franchise (1968)

13
Changes in the 1970s

• 19 January 1972 day restrictions on broadcasting
  hours finally lifted
• Independent Local Radio System (ILR, 1972) strips
  BBC of its radio monopoly
• Rapid spreading of colour television in the early
  1970s
• Broadcasting about national and international
  turmoil creates new audiences but strains
  relationships both with the government and the
  opposition
• Convergence and collaboration between BBC and ITV

14
Celebrated programmes in the 1970s

• ITV
• A Family at War (Granada, 1970-72)
• Upstairs Downstais (LWT, 1971-77)
• The World at War (Thames, 1974)
• The Muppet Show (1976-81)
• BBC
• The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970)
• I, Claudius (1976)
• Pennies from Heaven (1978)
• Not the Nine OClock News (1979- 82)

15
The Annan Report (1977) principles

• British broadcasting should be characterized by
• accountability through Parliament to a public
  which is given more chance to make its voice
  heard
• diversity of services
• flexibility of structure
• editorial independence

16
The Annan Report recommendations

• A new channel should be awarded to ITV
• The channel should cater for interests of
  minorities presently ill served by television
• It should be supervised by an Open Broadcasting
  Authority
• It should function as a commissioner of
  programmes funded by the Open University, the
  Arts Council, charities, advertising etc.
• Further regulatory bodies Public Enquiry Board,
  Broadcasting Complaints commission,
  Telecommunications Advisory Committee

17
Jeremy Isaacs Channel Four aims

• Increase the variety of programmes offered
• Offer programmes also for minorities
• Bring out the entire spectrum of political
  opinions
• Satisfy educational needs
• Encourage valuable independent production

18
Controversial Channel 4 programmes

• The Friday Afternoon (1982-83)
• Vietnam A Television History (1984)
• Union World (1984-85)
• One in Five (1983)
• Out on Tuesday (1988)
• Sex Talk (1990)