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Cultural life > Media and publishing > Broadcasting
Photograph:Workers leaving British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) headquarters in London.
Workers leaving British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) headquarters in London.
Carl de Souza—AFP/Getty Images

The BBC, which had been established as an independent public corporation in 1927, held a monopoly of both radio and television broadcasting until 1954, when the Independent Television Authority (ITA) was established to provide the facilities for commercial television companies. The ITA's successor today is the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Created by the Communications Act of 2003, Ofcom is responsible for regulating all commercial radio and television services, including satellite and cable, as well as all wired, wireless, and broadband telecommunications. Commercial television broadcasters include Channel Four and the ITV network. Almost every household receives the terrestrial television channels; by the early 21st century about 1 in 4 households also could receive several dozen additional channels by satellite or cable. The satellite and cable market is dominated by BSkyB, partly owned by Murdoch's News International, which operates 11 channels of its own (including a 24-hour news channel and three sports channels) and also distributes channels for other companies via its satellite and digital networks.

The BBC draws its revenue from license fees (on a scale fixed by the government) from persons owning television sets. It is governed by 12 individuals appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister, with separate governors for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Ofcom, with a governing board of 10 members, licenses and regulates commercial television companies, which earn revenue by selling advertising time and (in the case of some satellite and cable companies) subscription and pay-per-view channels. The BBC operates two terrestrial television channels, and Ofcom operates three. On its second television channel, the BBC tends to offer programs of above-average intellectual and cultural interest—competition that the Channel Four commercial channel meets with its own cultural programs. The BBC also provides a 24-hour news service and a channel devoted to live proceedings of Parliament to people able to receive satellite, cable, or digital television services. In addition, BBC Radio operates a comprehensive external service, broadcasting around the world in more than 40 languages, as well as a world service in English 24 hours a day.

Both the BBC and terrestrial commercial channels supply educational programs for schools and for adult studies. The Open University, offering degree courses to people who lack formal academic qualifications, uses educational programs that are broadcast by the BBC; these programs are backed by correspondence courses.

The BBC and Ofcom are public bodies that in the last resort can be controlled by the government, and Parliament can alter the terms of their authority. The government has the statutory power to veto a broadcast, but only rarely does it interfere with the day-to-day management of the BBC or Ofcom. There are more than 30 BBC local radio stations and more than 200 commercial local radio stations serving the United Kingdom.

For a more detailed discussion of cultural life in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, see the cultural life sections of the articles England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.


Peter Kellner

Ed.
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