The media play a central role in Britain’s daily life, informing and
educating, questioning and challenging – and of course – entertaining. In
recent years the availability of more radio frequencies, together with
satellite, cable and microwave transmissions, has already made a greater
number of local, national and international services possible. The
transition from analogue to digital transmission technology is now
expanding this capacity enormously. The Internet is providing,
increasingly, an additional medium for information, entertainment and
communication.Television and Radio
Broadcasting in Britain has traditionally been based on the
principle that it is a public service accountable to people. While
retaining the essential public service element, it now also embraces
the principles of competition and choice:
. the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), which broadcasts
television and radio programmes;
. the ITC (Independent Television Commission), which licenses
and regulates commercial television services, including cable
and satellite services.
. the Radio Authority, which licenses and regulates commercial
radio services, including cable and satellite.
The three bodies work to broad requirements and objectives
defined and endorsed by Parliament, but are otherwise independent
in their daily conduct of business.Television viewing is by far Britain’s most popular leisure
pastime: over 97 per cent of households have at least one TV set.
British television productions are sold world – wide.BBC
The BBC provides two complementary national terrestrial
television networks: BBC 1 and BBC 2, which transmit 24 hours a day. It
also provides a range of digital channels, including BBC News 24 and
BBC Choice. BBC Network Radio serves an audience of 29 each week,
transmitting 24 hours a day on its five national networks. BBC has 39
local radio stations serving England and the Channel Islands, and
regional and community radio services in Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland. BBC World Service broadcasts by radio in English and 42 other
languages world – wide. It has a global weekly audience of at least 140
million listeners. BBC Worldwide Television is responsible for the
BBC’s commercial television activity. It is one of Europe’s largest
exporters of television programmes. It also runs an advertiser –
funded, 24 – hour international news and information channel; and an
entertainment and drama channel broadcast to subscribers in continental
Europe and Africa.The BBC’s domestic services are financed predominantly from the
sale of annual television licences; there are no paid advertisements.
BBC World Service radio is funded by a government grant, while BBC
Worldwide Television is self – financing.Independent Television
The ITC licenses and regulates three commercial television
services – Channel 3 and Channel 4 (in Wales the corresponding service
is S4C), which complement each other, and Channel 5 – all financed by
advertising and sponsorship. Channel 3 programmes are supplied by 15
regionally based licensees and an additional licensee providing a
national breakfast – time service. Licences for Channel 3 and 5 are
awarded for a ten – year period by competitive tender to the highest
bidder who has passed a quality threshold.Independent Radio
Independent radio programme companies operate under licence
to the Radio Authority and are financed mainly by advertising revenue.
There are three independent national services: Classic FM, broadcasting
mainly classical music; Virgin 1215, playing broad – based rock music;
and Talk Radio UK, speech – based service. About 200 independent local
radio services are also in operation. Stations supply local news and
information, sport, music and other entertainment, education and
consumer advice.Teletext, Cable and Satellite Services
The BBC and independent television both operate a Teletext
service, under which information is displayed as “pages” of text and
graphics on receivers equipped with the necessary decoders.
Cable services are delivered through underground cables and
are paid for subscription. Cable franchises have been granted covering
areas comprising 83 per cent of all homes and nearly all urban areas in
Britain. In mid – 1999 there were about 12.1 million homes able to
receive such services, and 3 million subscribing homes. Digital
technology is being introduced which will support up to 500 television
channels. Cable also has the capacity for computer – based interactive
services, such as home shopping and email.
Many British – based satellite television channels have been
set up to supply programmes to cable operators and viewers with
satellite dishes. Some offer general entertainment, while others
concentrate on specific areas of interest, such as sport, music,
children’s programmes and feature films. The largest satellite
programmer is BSkyB (British Sky Broadcasting) which, with around 7
million subscribers, dominates paid – for television in Britain. It
launched its digital satellite service in 1998, carrying more than 140
channels.
Satellite television and cable services are funded mainly
by subscription income.The Press
National newspapers have an average total circulation of over 13
million on weekdays and about 14 million on Sundays, although the total
readership is considerably greater. There are 10 national morning daily
papers and 10 national Sundays – five “qualities”, two “mid – market”
and three “populars”. There are about 1,350 regional and local
newspapers, and over 7,000 periodical publications.
There is no state control or censorship of the newspaper and
periodical press, which caters for a range of political views,
interests and level of education. Where they express pronounced views
and show obvious political leanings in their editorial comments, these
may derive from proprietorial and other non – party influences.
A non – statutory Press Complaints Commission deals with
complaints by members of the public about the content and conduct of
newspapers and magazines, and advises editors and journalists. In 1995,
the Government rejected proposals for statutory regulation of the press
and for legislation to give protection to privacy. Instead, it endorsed
self – regulation under the Commission and recommended tougher measures
to make self – regulation more effective.
Working practices throughout the newspaper industry have become
more efficient with the widespread used of advanced computer – based
technology. Publishers have been able to reduce production costs by
using computer systems for editing and production processes.
