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Public Service Broadcastingin the United Kingdom

Jason PhillipsCMTCOM 220 Media and Community Building

Professor Walter WrightJuly 5, 2008

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Question

Is there still a place for Public Service Broadcasting in today's increasingly competitive

media environment?

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Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) Goals

To provide specified amounts or certain genres of programs that are likely to appeal to the broadest spectrum of viewers

To ensure a continuing tradition of providing a variety of quality programs

To broadcast with impartiality over a universal, affordable medium

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PSB Definition

''PSB refers to broadcasting intended for the public benefit rather than for purely commercial concerns'' (Wikipedia)

Dictionary.com defines ''serve'' as ''to contribute to; promote''

''Public'' is defined as ''concerning all the people of a country or community'' BBC Television Centre

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History

In 1922, the BBC is created as the first PSB, adopting the mission to "inform, educate and entertain"

First commercial broadcaster, ITV, is launched in 1955

In 1981, the government created Channel 4 and S4C to provide different forms of PSB

Five was launched in 1997 and given a number of public service requirements

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Quality

The Sykes Committee (1923) laid down rules due to ''potential power over public opinion and the life of the nation''

These rules stated that the BBC must provide a stipulated amount of news, films, childen's programs, etc. and have changed little over time

When independent television began broadcasting in 1955, they were subject to similar regulations, but were also forbidden to allow advertisers to unduly influence programming

The essence of these regulations was to reinforce the idea that the broadcaster's top priority was the production and distribution of quality programs

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The Antithesis: Satellite and Cable

Main concern is making money

Modus operandi is to buy the cheapest programs and compromise on quality

Audience is fragmented, creating less revenue for the station

Result is a vast choice of channels with nothing to watch

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Universality

Public Service broadcasters aim for universality in three areas:GeographyPaymentAppeal

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Geography

Transmissions should be received across entire nation

Transmitters have to be placed in the required locations regardless of expense to the broadcasting company

Channel 5 is yet to achieve this, but the four other channels have complied

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Payment

Universality of payment is achieved by:A license fee for the BBCAdvertising for the remaining channels

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Appeal

Broadcasters strive to achieve universal appeal within various genres

Ratings are measured through BARB (Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board)

By monitoring the ratings, broadcasters are able to ascertain which programs should be axed and which should be followed up or repeated

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Tradition

The BBC has been in existence for three-quarters of a century and has become a British institution

There is a high comfort level with the traditional format of the BBC and commercial television

These channels do not have the 'American' feel that satellite and cable channels exude

BBC World Service celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2007

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Variety

The variety of programs is an essential part of the mission of the PSB to please the majority of its audience, as much as possible

Often, the most interesting program of an evening is one that the viewer did not plan to watch

If a person were watching a cable or satellite channel devoted entirely to history, he/she might not discover a program of interest in another area

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Impartiality

Regulations require PSB's to be impartial

Because the audiences are vast and the revenue is constant, PSB's are able to deliver in-depth analysis of current affairs, and keep the public informed of issues that concern the nation as a whole

Satellite and cable companies entertain their viewers with sensationalized or 'dumbed-down' news items

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Affordability

At approximately £360 per year, satellite and cable channels are considered an unaffordable luxury by many

Terrestrial television costs are considerably less at approximately £85 per year

99% of people in Britain have a television, but without PSB, this number would be drastically reduced

Because the least affluent people can still afford television; the government, advertisers and broadcasters can reach most of the population

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Conclusion

Public Service Broadcasters should not be allowed to merge with cable and satellite channels

Public Service Broadcasters should be:

Working together to provide five stations with genuine choice

Strengthening their unique position

Securing the future of this valuable national asset

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Works Cited

Hood, Stuart and Thalia Tabary-Peterssen. On Television. London: Pluto Press, 1987.

Public Service Broadcasting in the United Kingdom. 19 June 2008. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 5 July 2008,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_service_broadcasting_in_the_United_Kingdom

serve. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). 5 July 2008, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/serve.

Welcome to the BARB Website. (n.d.). Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. 5 July 2008, http://www.barb.co.uk/index1.cfm?flag=home.