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Television history

Television history. Television in Britain. 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

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Television history

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  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 BBC’s 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 (1958–1968) • Tyne Tees Television: North-east England franchise (1958–) • Ulster Television (UTV): Northern Ireland franchise (1959–)

  7. ITV begins • First broadcast: Elgar’s 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 BBC’s 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 Authority’s 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 BBC’s 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 Python’s Flying Circus (1969-74) • The Ascent of Man (1972-73)

  12. Major contractors after 1968 franchise round • Associated TeleVision: Midlands (1968–1981) • 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 (1968–1992) • 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 O’Clock 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)

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