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We reachinto the heart ofthe community.

Northern Ireland’s ruraltraditions, farming industry

and communities have alwaysbeen important.

The first documentary produced byBBC Northern Ireland, in 1955, was

called Family Farm.

Later there were series: Country Windowled to Land ‘n Larder, then Farm View and morerecently, the broader-based Country Times. And

we got a bird’s eye view of landscape and people inSky High. Family life, the work of local hospitals,

doctors and fire-fighters have all featured in documentaryprogrammes.

Northern Ireland

The digitalage began for

local television in1998 with BBC

Choice. It was followedin 2001 by BBC TWO NI.

Its programmes for, and about,Northern Ireland can be watchedby digital viewers everywhere.Technology has made the local,global.

The BBC’s local Digital service hasbeen joined by BBC Three andBBC Four.And let’s not forgetCBBC and Cbeebies.

At the beginning of 1999, thenumber of ‘digital homes’ was 1%.Today, almost 40% of us haveaccess to digital television onsatellite, cable and Freeview. Onechannel has been replaced bymany, and television has become

interactive, with viewers beingable to choose their own cameraangles and programme schedules.

Television has changed from atiny and experimental affairto a mass medium watchedby millions.

Much has changed in the journeyfrom black and white to digitalwide-screen. But the BBC’scommitment to putting audiencesfirst, and to making the best ofeverything available to everyone,has remained constant. Informing,educating, entertaining andconnecting with audiences are asimportant now as when it allbegan. Here’s to 50yrs ofinnovation and achievement, andto making good the promise ofpublic service television for a newgeneration.

Other traditions such as UlsterScots have been recognised indocumentaries.And ourprogrammes continue to reflectthe changing multi-culturalnature of life in NorthernIreland.

We learn about each other from eachother. BBC television has allowed usto explore, and better understand,the world around us.

Arts and music programmeshave celebrated and nurturedlocal artistic talent.

From thoughtful documentaries onSeamus Heaney and T.P. Flanagan tobreathtaking spectaculars like PromsIn The Park, and from Gallery toMusical Traditions and First Stop, BBCtelevision has reflected the diversityand changing nature of the arts inNorthern Ireland.

BBCNI has a unique role at theheart of community life andcreativity. It works hard tounderstand, and be responsiveto, the needs of local audiences.

Constant research, public meetings,telephone calls and letters all keepprogramme-makers in touch withwhat viewers think.The BBCGovernors ensure that the publicinterest is at the heart of everythingthat the BBC does.Their work inNorthern Ireland is assisted bythe Broadcasting Council. Itmonitors BBC output,performance andexpenditure and helps tomake the Corporationproperly accountableto local licence-feepayers.

The BBC has made a significant contribution in a great manyways to Northern Ireland life over the past 50 years.We reach the community in all sortsof ways, and do so live, every night.

In 1957, the first permanent outsidebroadcast facilities arrived.

In 1994, the first satellite van made itsappearance.

Now, live links from anywhere inNorthern Ireland are a vital part ofnews coverage.

A television studio is an integral partof BBCNI facilities in Foyle.

In addition, there are BBC Newslinecorrespondents in Coleraine,Londonderry,Armagh and Enniskillen.

BBC Northern Ireland’s DramaDepartment is one of the mostvibrant and productive in the UK.

Since the first locally produced dramain the 1970s, Stewart Parker’sCatchpenny Twist, output hasexpanded enormously. BBCNI now

develops, finances and produces 17hours of drama each year forNetwork audiences. Ballykissangel,Messiah and Eureka Street have allattracted critical acclaim.

Local writers, actors and technicianshave all benefited.

As have our audiences.

Schools’ programmes, have beena defining feature of BBCtelevision in Northern Ireland.Generations have grown up in thecompany of Ulster in Focus.

Today’s youngsters continue to learnabout the world through PrimaryFocus and a range of interactiveeducational resources.

Now You’re Talking was a uniqueproject, our first Irish language learningseries on television.

1983 – BBCNorthern Irelandcreates a YouthProgrammes Unit,aimed at youngpeople aged 15-21.And BreakfastTime starts.

1984 – InsideUlster replacesScene Around Six.

1986 – At The Edgeof the Union, adocumentary aboutGregory Campbell andMartin McGuinness,causes politicalcontroversy.

1988 – TheGovernmentintroduces theBroadcasting Ban.Actors’ voicesreplace those ofGerry Adams andothers.

1992 –BBCNI and RTEco-produce GoFor It, a newtalent series.

1994 – Firstsatellite van fornews-gathering inNorthern Ireland.

1996 –Newsline 6.30replaces InsideUlster.TownChallenge begins.

1999 – BBCcelebrates 20years ofChildren inNeed.

1998 – There ismarathoncoverage of thenegotiationsleading to theGood FridayAgreement.Thedigital televisionservice begins.

1995 – The Hole In TheWall Gang make theirtelevision debut with thesatirical Two Ceasefires AndA Wedding.There is amassive outside broadcastoperation as the Clintonscome to Northern Ireland.Patrick Kielty is given hisown programme, PK Tonight.

1989 – Televisionfrom the House ofCommons begins.

The Broadcasting Actis introduced. Itrequires that 25 percent of programmesshould be made byindependentproducers.

1990 2000 2003A BBCNIdocumentary on theRev Dr Ian Paisley isthe most watchedtelevisionprogramme in thisyear, with almost 60%of the viewingpopulation.

2002 – The launch ofFREEVIEW, the BBC’s freeto air digital service, whichincludes NorthernIreland’s own digitalchannel, BBC 2NI. Give MyHead Peace celebrates its50th episode. Children inNeed stages its largestconcert event for 10,000people in the OdysseyArena and Proms in thePark comes to Belfast.

BBC Three begins.And BBCNImarks 50 years of television witha special series of programmes.

MONITOR MONITOR