England - Periods - Decline of Empire 1946-1964

TV becomes Popular

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Television was first introduced in the United Kingdom in the 1930s, although the technology was in development long before then. The first public demonstration of television in the UK took place in 1926, when John Logie Baird transmitted a moving image of a ventriloquist's dummy over a distance of several meters.

In 1932, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began experimental television broadcasts, using the Baird system. The first regular broadcasts began in 1936, using a new system developed by Marconi-EMI. The BBC's service initially only broadcast for a few hours each day, and programming was limited to a few experimental shows.

The outbreak of World War II in 1939 interrupted the development of television in the UK, but after the war ended, the government took steps to accelerate its development. In 1946, the Television Act was passed, which established a regulatory body, the Television Advisory Committee, to oversee the development of the new medium.

During the 1950s and 1960s, television in the UK became increasingly popular, with more households purchasing sets and programming expanding to include drama, comedy, and news programming. The introduction of commercial television in 1955, with the launch of ITV, provided viewers with more options and competition for the BBC.

Television became popular relatively quickly in the UK, although it took some time for the technology to become widely available and affordable for most households. According to a report from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), by the end of 1951, there were approximately 2.5 million television sets in the UK, representing about 10% of households.

The first shows that people liked to watch on television were a mix of live events and pre-recorded programs. In the early days of television, programming was limited to a few experimental shows, such as music performances, variety shows, and news programs. However, as the medium developed, more diverse programming became available, including drama, comedy, and documentaries.

One of the most popular shows of the early years of television was "The Grove Family," a drama series that ran from 1954 to 1957 and followed the lives of a working-class family in London. Other early popular shows included "Hancock's Half Hour," a comedy series starring Tony Hancock, and "The Adventures of Robin Hood," a swashbuckling adventure series.

The introduction of commercial television in 1955, with the launch of ITV, also brought a new range of popular shows to UK audiences. Some of the early popular ITV programs included "The Army Game," a comedy series set in a military academy, and "Sunday Night at the London Palladium," a variety show featuring music and comedy acts.

Overall, as television became more popular and programming became more diverse, a wide range of shows gained popularity among UK audiences, reflecting the interests and tastes of the time.

Govt Regulation 

The regulation of television broadcasting in the UK was initially the responsibility of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which was established by Royal Charter in 1927. The BBC was granted a monopoly on television broadcasting until the introduction of commercial television in 1955.

The regulatory framework for commercial television was established by the Television Act of 1954, which created the Independent Television Authority (ITA). The ITA was responsible for granting and renewing licenses for commercial television companies, as well as regulating their programming content.

The ITA's regulations included rules on the amount of advertising allowed during programming, restrictions on political advertising, and requirements for impartiality in news and current affairs programming. The ITA also had the power to investigate and sanction television companies for breaches of its regulations.

In 1964, the BBC's monopoly on television broadcasting was broken when the Independent Television (ITV) network was allowed to broadcast to the entire country. This was followed by the launch of a second commercial network, BBC2, in 1964.

During the late 1960s, the regulatory framework for television broadcasting in the UK underwent significant changes. In 1967, the ITA was replaced by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), which had a wider remit to regulate both commercial and public service broadcasting.

The Broadcasting Act of 1967 also introduced a requirement for all television companies to provide a certain amount of educational programming, and established the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, which allowed viewers to make complaints about television programming. These changes helped to shape the regulatory framework for television broadcasting in the UK that exists to this day.

In the early days of television in the UK, viewers accessed programming through over-the-air broadcast signals, using a television set with an antenna. The first television sets were expensive and out of reach for many households, but as the technology developed and became more widely available, prices began to come down, making television more accessible to the general public.

In the 1950s and 1960s, television sets became more affordable, and television ownership became more common. According to a report from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), by the end of 1960, there were over 10 million television sets in the UK, representing about 40% of households.

Viewers did not have to pay directly for access to the BBC's programming, as the BBC was funded by a license fee paid by households with a television set. This fee, which is still in place today, is collected by the government and used to fund the BBC's programming and operations.

Commercial television companies, such as ITV, funded their programming through advertising revenue, rather than a license fee. Viewers did not have to pay directly for access to commercial television programming, but were exposed to advertising during the programming.

In the 1980s, satellite television and cable television became available in the UK, providing viewers with even more channels and programming choices. Initially, these services were expensive and out of reach for most households, but prices began to come down as competition increased.

Today, viewers in the UK access television programming through a variety of platforms, including traditional broadcast television, streaming services, and online video platforms. Some of these services require a subscription fee or payment per view, while others are funded through advertising.

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Reference: Article by Greg Scott (Staff Historian), 2024

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