Evening star., 1960-01-10
Great Britain

Great Britain
In 1887 Britain inaugurated
over the BIC the first public TV
programs anywhere. Today Brit
ish TV reaches more than 80 per
cent Of the population on two net
works-the BIC, a publicly owned
corporation, and the Independent
Television Authority, a CONNER
cial chain of stations.
The BIC Tv network does not
sell advertising but is financed
almost entirely by an $1l.20 an
nual license fee paid by 10 million
set-owners. Although it is
government-established corpora
ton, operating under royal char
ter, it receives no funds from the
taxpayers-only the viewerS-and
therefore can maintain an inde-
pendent, non-partiSan policy. 1t Is
directed by a board Of prominent
citizens. There Is no government
censorship.
The BIC broadcastS every day
on a national network. There are
about so hours TV a week,
usually eight hours a day between
3 and IL pm.
The programs strike balance
between information, education,
and entertainment. On the aver
age they are seen by about six to
nine million people but a big
event. such as the opening of
Parliament or a championship
football game, might reach IL to
20 million viewers in a country Of
so million people.
TypicoI Program
A typical program might in
clude: News: q Commute play; q
light entertainment show; a movie.
Brains Trust" discussion among
such outstanding takers as Ber-
trand Russell, Prof. D. w. Bro
gan Of Cambridge or Sir Isaiah
Berlin of Oxford; q live" broad
cast Of a big sporting event; music
and art items.
In general the BIC is inclined to
accent information and cultural
interests more than entertainment.
This high level policy seems to be
popular too, for one of the BBC's
best programs, Panorama" en-
tirely devoted to current affairs,
attracts so per cent Of the viewers
able to tune in on commercial TV
which stresses mainly light enter
tainment. The BIC has also
pioneered in documentary pro-
grams sending teams to make ami
NAL films in Indonesia or arch
Biological shots in Jericho. 1t has
even dealt with controversial
subjects like abortion and suicide.
The BIC has been particularly
successful in televising the great
pageantS Of British life like the
Queens review Of the annual
"Trooping the Color" ceremony on
the Horse Guards Parade ground
in London. In major sports pro-
grams the BIC has maintained
its lead through long-term con-
tracts for the most popular events.
In addition to its general pro-
gram, the BIC presents daily pro-
grams for children and women,
regular religious telecasts, special
telecastS for the schools in term
time, and a weekly farmers pro-
gram.
The British commercial network
Is controlled by the Independent
Television Authority. public
corporation established by Par
Lament in 1855 whose chairman
was the highest ranking diplomat
in the Foreign Office. The TIA
built and operates eight TV sta
tions which broadcast go hours
week in the major population
areas. 1t is financed on a nom
profit basis by fees which it re-
ceives under contract from the
private companies that have been
formed to produce the programs.
Generally each region is served by
one company but certain popular
TV areas are divided between two
contracting companies. one for
weekday programs and the other
for week end programs. However.
the TIA is responsible for main
tanning proper balance and
quality Of the presentations.
How SoIes ore Mode
The program producing COM
pany sells commercial spot an
nouncements to the advertiser,
usually six to eight minutes per
hour. Each commercial, which
runs for about 20 seconds, occurs
every is minutes or so at the
start and finish of a program or
during natural break. Perhaps
once a day there will be an ad-
vertising magazine, a group of
commercials in story form. This
plan separates the program ma
terial from the advertising and
thus pretty well keeps the pro-
gram content out of advertiser
control.
Commercial TV has been sue
cessful financially. In 1858 Brit
ish commercial TV accounted for
10 per cent of all British adv
tising revenue or $l40 milli !,
The top charge for the peak view
ing hour in London is $3,5OO per
minute.