1.
Public Service BroadcastingPublic Service Broadcasting
 Public service broadcasters generally transmit
programming that aims to improve society by
informing viewers
 Public service broadcasters also strive to
entertain their viewers

2.
Public Service BroadcastingPublic Service Broadcasting
 The BBC is a good example of a Public Service
Broadcaster. Here are some key dates:
– 1922, the BBC is formed and John Reith is
installed as General Manager
– The company begins a daily radio broadcast
– 1925, following the invention of television, Reith
presents a statement of his views on broadcasting.
He argues that broadcasting should:
 Educate, inform and entertain
 Act as a cultural, moral and educative force

3.
Public Service BroadcastingPublic Service Broadcasting
 Further key dates:
– 1936-39, BBC television begins broadcasting,
although radio is still dominant
– 1954, the Television Act allows commercial
television to be broadcast, although it must keep to
some of the principles of public service and:
 Educate, inform and entertain
– 1955, ITV begins transmitting
– 1982, Channel 4 is launched
– 1984, Sky satellite channel is launched

4.
Commercial TelevisionCommercial Television
 The aim of commercial stations (ITV, 5 and
SKY) is to provide popular shows that attract
an audience -therefore leading to higher prices
when advertising is sold
 For this reason, the ideals of public
broadcasting are often incompatible with
commercial goals
 See TV Ratings

5.
Channel 4Channel 4
 Channel 4 was set up after a 1977 government
report argued that television was not meeting
the needs of a diverse society
 Channel 4 thus has a legal duty to:
– Inform, educate and entertain
– Appeal to tastes not catered for by ITV
– Encourage diversity and originality
– Be distinctive
 Channel 4 is thus both commercial and PSB

6.
FundingFunding
 75% of the BBC’s funding comes from the
licence fee (currently set at £131.50)
 The remaining income comes from commercial
activities such as:
– Worldwide sales of its programmes
– Publications such as Radio Times, Top Gear, Good
Food, etc

7.
FundingFunding
 All commercial terrestrial stations (ITV, 5) are
funded by advertising

8.
FundingFunding
 Satellite stations such as SKY are funded
through:
– Advertising
– Subscriptions charges

9.
FundingFunding
 Channel 4 is both a commercial channel and
has a public service broadcasting (PSB) duty. It
is therefore funded through:
– Advertising
– Some Government funding (a small part of the
licence fee)

10.
Funding - IssuesFunding - Issues
 The future of the licence fee is under attack in
today's competitive market
– Why should consumers pay when they can get
quality programming elsewhere?
– The BBC has launched digital stations such as
BBC News 24, BBC3 and BBC4 but these are not
universally available

11.
PSB – Key ArgumentsPSB – Key Arguments
 Arguments against:
– Outdated
– Irrelevant
– Elitist
– Restricting competition which could bring
increased choice and ‘quality’

12.
PSB – Key ArgumentsPSB – Key Arguments
 Arguments for:
– Maintain the principle of an ‘enlightened
democracy’
– Maintain the high standards of broadcasting
– Judge success by ‘quality’ rather than ratings
– Continue the idea of a shared experience – guard
against the narrowcasting of satellite TV