The control of the TV has stayed in the BBC’s hands; this is understandable as they get the licence fees from all the public who wish to watch the television. The BBC and ITV has help to revolutionise the way we watch terrestrial television it tries to have something for the whole family so they can all watch at the same time, they mix well know children’s presenters with adult issues, this keeps both sides interested!
The control of what is seen on the ‘box’ has changed considerably since the 50’s, to think that the Carry on set of films caused an upset to think what they would be saying to the things we are able to see on TV now. It has all become very visual with today’s society where sex and social class is on the front line of advertising. It is even certain to say TV has become part of our society, where thousands tune in just to see people with even more problems than them!
British companies own our current channels and have done for many years but recently there has been Plans to allow companies from outside Europe to buy UK television and radio stations and will be pushed through despite objections from MPs. As Rupert Murdock is rumoured to wanting to buy channel 5, he owns ‘News corp.’ which include other American channels like ‘Disney’, this means there would be an American influence on British television, Some groups have argued US media companies should not be allowed to own UK broadcasters if UK companies remain barred from owning American media. Deputy Director general John Cridland warned that the UK market should be opened up only to those countries offering equal access to their own markets - something currently blocked by the US.
Commercial television began on the 22nd September 1995; views watched the first ever British broadcast advert for Gibbs SR Toothpaste. Governed by the ITA (Independent Television Authority) slots were allocated for different regional franchises on a fixed term basis. The ITA required the contractors (program producing companies) to inform, educate and entertain producing programs of balance and variety and with out the ‘Londonization’ that had been complained about. ITV began broadcasting in 1956 they were different from the BBC as they were independent of the government
In this early stage of television the most innovative development were those in recording as these had benefits for consumer and producer. They were able to record shows before they were aired and be able to play back past footage these were called the first ‘telerecordings’. In the 1950 it was very clear that most broadcasts were live as the mistakes and picture quality. An EMI system was brought in to help with the difficulties but it initially didn’t cope with the transmission of film through electronic scanning. Film companies soon began to make films just for television, ITV brought well over 100 of these series and the BBC followed shortly afterwards but in smaller quantities as they didn’t rely on them as much. Television is perhaps more parasitic than most media (after the internet) in the sense that its original content can appropriate that both cinema and the live theatre
Technological weakness strengthened industrial muscle – broadcasting unions banned recorded output so most shows were live and very few films were shown during the 50’s but at the end of the fifties there was a huge step in technology and contractors were able to create plays by filming the scenes and then editing them together afterwards much like that of a film. It also allowed them to film on location as apposed to the doggy sets they had. Now things are a lot different as the digital age takes over. If you stand in front of a blue back ground you can be anywhere you like, the ability o place digital images into a program or film revolutionised a sector of television and cinema. Many films were made incorporation plastic models into the picture but The Matrix was the first film to take real advantage of the abilities that computers had to offer and the film really pushed the boundaries out, it is a milestone of cinema and TV.
On the 19th of January 1972 all restriction on broadcasting were lifted this was the era of modern television. This was the era that unemployment increased as the fall of huge industries like the coal mining and ship building caused unemployment’s. In 1970 only 775,000 colour TVs were sold but in 1973 the number leaped to 6 million and in 1977 more homes owned a colour TV than a phone. Between 1961 and 1986 average weekly viewing doubled from 13.5 to 26 hour. Nearly 80% of people watched television at some point during the day becoming the main relaxation tool. We have excelled our technology even further and have made it possible to get bank details on screen get our own selection of music playing change camera views of certain programs like big brother. It’s a huge increase in control from the consumers’ point of view.
