(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/129/126
Image Reference:0041
CONFIDENTIAL
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llS D O C U M E N T IS T H E P R O P E R T Y OF H E R B R I T A N N I C M A J E S T Y S
l
C(66) 141
229
GOVERNMENT)
COPY NO.
jjj
18th O c t o b e r , 1966
CABINET
BROADCASTING POLICY
Memorandum by the P o s t m a s t e r G e n e r a l
A t the m e e t i n g of the Cabinet on 4th August ( C C ( 6 6 ) 42nd Conclusions,
Minute 6 ) , I was invited to make a t e c h n i c a l a p p r a i s a l of the p o s s i b i l i t y and
implications of setting up stations to t r a n s m i t , soon after the end of the y e a r ,
p r o g r a m m e s s i m i l a r to those p r o v i d e d by the p i r a t e stations.
My report
which e n v i s a g e s the establishment, by statute, of a new broadcasting
c o r p o r a t i o n , financed f r o m a d v e r t i s i n g , to p r o v i d e a national popular music
p r o g r a m m e and a l s o a s e r v i c e of l o c a l sound broadcasting was c o n s i d e r e d
at a m e e t i n g of M i n i s t e r s under the P r i m e M i n i s t e r ' s chairmanship on
12th O c t o b e r .
2.
Established by A c t of P a r l i a m e n t , the new c o r p o r a t i o n would - unlike
the Independent T e l e v i s i o n Authority ( I T A ) - itself s e l l the a d v e r t i s i n g t i m e ,
and i t s e l f produce the p r o g r a m m e s .
L i k e the I T A , it would be obliged to
maintain suitable standards in p r o g r a m m e s and advertisements? t o s e e k to
pay its own way and repay an initial Exchequer loan; and to s u r r e n d e r any
surplus r e v e n u e to the E x c h e q u e r .
The A c t would g i v e the G o v e r n m e n t
broadly the same p o w e r s in r e l a t i o n to the new c o r p o r a t i o n as those they
have in r e l a t i o n to the B B C and I T A .
3.
T h e m u s i c p r o g r a m m e would be b r o a d c a s t on one of the m e d i u m
wave -lengths allocated to the United Kingdom,
Since a l l the a v a i l a b l e
w a v e - l e n g t h s a r e used by the B B C some curtailment of one of the existing
s e r v i c e s of sound broadcasting is i n e v i t a b l e .
Of the p o s s i b i l i t i e s outlined
in my r e p o r t , the meeting of M i n i s t e r s favoured a scheme in which the
m u s i c p r o g r a m m e would be put out on a w a v e - l e n g t h of 247 m e t r e s .
This
is the w a v e - l e n g t h used for the B B C s L i g h t P r o g r a m m e to supplement the
c o v e r a g e of the l o n g - w a v e t r a n s m i t t e r on 1500 m e t r e s .
Used f o r a m u s i c
p r o g r a m m e it could c o v e r about 60 per cent of the population by day and
about 40 per cent by night.
About 10 per cent of the population would loese
the Light P r o g r a m m e at night, and f o r another 20 per cent the quality of
r e c e p t i o n of the Light P r o g r a m m e would be i m p a i r e d .
The l i s t e n e r s
affected would, h o w e v e r , be able to r e c e i v e the new m u s i c p r o g r a m m e
which would be generally s i m i l a r in c h a r a c t e r to the L i g h t P r o g r a m m e .
4.
F o r l o c a l sound broadcasting m y r e p o r t e n v i s a g e s that the new
c o r p o r a t i o n would establish 60 stations initially.
They would operate
on v e r y high frequencies ( V H F ) and each station would have a range of
a few m i l e s .
F o r each town and city s e r v e d the c o r p o r a t i o n would appoint
a L o c a l B r o a d c a s t i n g Council which would play a fully f o r m a t i v e p a r t in
the d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o g r a m m e policy and content.
-1­
dONFgDENYBAL
5.
Both the music programme and the local sound stations would
carry advertising,
A new corporation wovdd need capital over the first
few years of £5 million which would have to be provided by an Exchequer
loan.
The prospects for repaying this loan would be uncertain.
On the
best estimates available, the music programme would, by the fourth
year, perhaps be breaking even or at most achieving a surplus on running
costs of slightly over £ 1 million a year; but even by the fourth year the
During
local broadcasting stations might be losing £ 1 million a year.
the first three years neither service would earn as much revenue.
6.
There are possible variants of this scheme.
The local sound
broadcasting element might be on an experimental scale (no more than a
dozen stations initially) to test public response before large resources
are committed to a general and permanent s e r v i c e ; and the experimental
service might be provided either by the BBC or by local Somnvunity
stations each under the control of a separate broadcasting authority.
1
7.
However, the meeting of Ministers considered that the effective
choice lay between the scheme described in paragraphs 3-5 above and the
proposal contained in the draft White Paper (annex to C(66) 125) which I
presented to the Cabinet at its meeting on 4th August.
This proposal
was that the BBC should provide the music programme on 247 metres
and undertake a nine-station experiment in local sound broadcasting.
8,
Apart from the general considerations which apply to any service
financed by advertising, the main advantages and disadvantages of these
two alternative schemes are these.­
(i) A music programme provided by the BBC could start quickly.
A new corporation (which would need time to acquire sites
and to build and equip the transmitting stations) would probably
not be ready before the early part of 1969. Legislation would
be needed to establish a new corporation.
(
(ii) A music programme provided by the BBC would not differ much
from the present Light Programme, The new corporation
would give the listener an alternative to the BBC.
( i i i ) The BBC could provide the music programme much more
cheaply, both in capital and running costs.
On the other
hand the cost of local sound broadcasting provided by the
BBC would have to be met from the licence fee reveneue,
(The BBC estimate that a general service of local sound
would add 5 shillings to the licence f e e ) .
The new
corporation would earn substantial income from advertising,
although it is uncertain whether it would be financially
self-supporting.
(iv) A limited experiment in local sound broadcasting would enable
public response to be tested before large resources were
committed.
On the other hand, a 60-station scheme would
enable the sound broadcasting element of the Open University
to start more quickly.
-2­
9.
T h e m e e t i n g of M i n i s t e r s was divided in opinion but the v i e w of
the m a j o r i t y was that the o v e r a l l balance of advantage lay with the
c r e a t i o n of a new c o r p o r a t i o n t o p r o v i d e the s e r v i c e s d e s c r i b e d in
paragraphs 1 - 5 a b o v e .
It was r e c o g n i s e d , h o w e v e r , that this c o u r s e
had the s e r i o u s disadvantage that the m u s i c p r o g r a m m e could not be
brought into operation f o r s o m e considerable t i m e after the enactment
of the M a r i n e , e t c . , Broadcasting ( O f f e n c e s ) B i l l .
It was the unanimous
v i e w , t h e r e f o r e , that the B B C should b e asked t o b r i d g e this hiatus by
p r o v i d i n g a m u s i c p r o g r a m m e on 247 m e t r e s until the new c o r p o r a t i o n
was r e a d y f o r s e r v i c e .
10.
I have r e v i s e d the draft White P a p e r annexed t o C ( 6 6 ) 125 t o
r e f l e c t these conclusions.
T h e r e v i s e d draft i s annexed.
11.
I a c c o r d i n g l y invite m y colleagues
( i )
( i i )
( i i i )
to a g r e e that a new broadcasting c o r p o r a t i o n , financed
by a d v e r t i s i n g , should be established to p r o v i d e a
national popular m u s i c p r o g r a m m e and a s e r v i c e of l o c a l
sound broadcasting on the b a s i s outlined in this paper j
'
to a g r e e that I should discuss with the C h a i r m a n of the
B B C the p r o v i s i o n of B B C m u s i c p r o g r a m m e on
247 m e t r e s as an i n t e r i m a r r a n g e m e n t , and r e p o r t
again to the Cabinet if t h e r e i s any obstacle to this
proposal;
t o a p p r o v e , subject to the consultation at ( i i ) , the
annexed draft White P a p e r .
E. S.
G e n e r a l P o s t O f f i c e , E. C. 1.
17th O c t o b e r , 1966
-3-
COIMFiDEiTOM.
Annex
,
^ o o
y
Draft White Paper
BROADCASTING
Introduction
1.
The Government have had under review various major aspects of broadcasting policy. First among them was the question of the B B C s finances. Besides this, there were various proposals for the further extension of the broadcasting services; that there should be a fourth television service; that a service of local sound broadcasting should be introduced; and that there should be an extra service of sound broadcasting entirely given over to music. 2.
The Government have thought it best to consider them as a comprehensive whole. For two other major questions it was however desirable for the Government to publish their views before the general review was completed. A Bill to put an end to the activities of pirate radio stations has already been introduced. And on colour television, the Postmaster General announced on 3rd March last the decision that a service using the PAL transmission system and broadcast on the 625-line standard would start towards the end of next year. 3.
In reaching the conclusions announced in this review, it has of course been the Government's duty to consider both what purposes the proposals for further extending the broadcasting services should seek to serve, and what organisation would best promote those purposes. The Government have also had to consider to what extent it would be in the national economic interest to allow these extensions. It is not enough that they should be desirable in themselves. The overriding consideration is whether the country can afford them. THE FINANCES OF THE BBC The B B C s request for an increase in the licence fee 4.
Following the report of the Pilkington Committee in 1962, the BBC were authorised; (a to provide an additional television service - BBC2; (b to provide self-contained television services for Scotland and Wales; (c greatly to increase the number of hours for which its Third Programme/Network Three broadcasts. It now broadcasts throughout the day; (a to extend the Light Programme.
5.30 a.m. until 2 a.m.; It now broadcasts from
(e to provide more programmes of adult education on television. Both BBC and ITA have made full use of this authority; and (f to start colour television on BBC2. - 1 ­
The decision to authorise these major developments was welcomed; and, except for colour television - which is to start next year - they either have been or are being carried into effect. 5.
The understanding on which the BBC proceeded to carry out
this programme was that they would be afforded sufficient income
to finance adequate services. In their Annual Report for 1962-63,
the Corporation record that if they had received the full proceeds
of a £5 licence from 1st April 1963, for which they bad asked,
they could have financed their services out of income until the
end of the nineteen sixties. The Corporation's request was not
granted, but from October 1963, when the Government of the day
relinquished the £1 annual excise duty, an amount equal to the
whole of the net proceeds of a i,k licence became payable to the
Corporation.
6.
In October 1964, the BBC represented to the Government that
the combined television and sound licence fee should be raised
from £k to £6, and the sound-only fee from £1 to £1 5s. It was,
of course, the Governmenfs duty first to satisfy themselves that
increases of this order would be justified. But it was also plain
that some immediate action was called for to put the BBC in funds.
The Government therefore decided that there should be a close
enquiry into the Corporation's finances, but, as an interim
measure, also authorised increases in the combined licence fee
from £4 to £5, and in the sound-only fee from £1 to £1 5s. Both
increases took effect on 1st August 1965.
The Governments enquiry 7.
The Government have completed their enquiry into the B B C s finances. Practically speaking, the only possible ways of providing finance for the BBC are; by direct Government subvention, by the sale of advertising time in the Corporations services, or by the licence-fee system. 8.
A Government subvention would be liable to expose the Corporation to financial control in such detail as wotild prove incompatible with the B B C s independence. The money would, of course, have to be found from general taxation. 9.
Under their Licence and Agreement (Cmnd.2236) the BBC are
not allowed to broadcast commercial advertisements without first
having sought and obtained the Postmaster General's permission.
Because of the probable long-term effect on the character of their
services the BBC have never sought this permission. The Government
recall that the Pilkington Committee found against the financing
of the BBC in any measure from advertising, and that this view
commanded general acceptance.
10. The Government have decided that there should be no change at present in the arrangement whereby the BBC are financed through the licence fee system. But at a time when none may be content to rest upon present standards of efficiency and financial performance, good though they may be, the Government have thought it right to expect of the BBC that they should set themselves even more exacting financial objectives. They have accordingly asked them whether, assuming the expenditure ceiling which would be implied if there were no increase in the licence fee for the present, the Corporation would be able to maintain their present services, and to proceed with extensions and developments either already authorised or proposed below. The BBC have reported that, by making special economies, they will - on certain assumptions - be able to do so until January 1968 at least when they woiild need an increase of £1, - 2 ­
11. In order to make these special economies, the BBC will restrict activities which they have hitherto considered well justified but which, against the background of continued financial stringency, can be sacrificed to the overriding national need for economy. The Corporation have conducted a searching examination of all their ancillary services and operations, with a view to making the maximum retrenchment in detail. By itself, however, this will not suffice. Some larger scale projects, desirable in' themselves, for enlarging and modernising the Corporation^ programme production capacity, will be forgone for the present. But the BBC will be able to maintain their present level of programme output and to proceed with extensions and developments of their services already authorised or about to be authorised. Licence evasion 12. One assumption on which the BBC have based their undertaking
to manage without an immediate increase in the licence fee is that
counter measures against licence evasion will prove effective.
It has been reliably estimated that, of the gross revenue
amounting to some £80m. payable in a full year, some £9m. is lost
through evasion. This is far too much to be tolerated. Honest
viewers and listeners are, in effect, paying for the dishonesty
of the evaders.
13. Steps have already been taken by the Postmaster General to tighten up counter evasion measures, but, by themselves, they will not suffice. Further measures are required. The Government are reviewing the penalties which Magistrates may impose on convicted evaders, and are discussing with the associations representing retailers and the rental companies ways in which dealers could help in the enforcement of the licence system. The Government will announce their proposals as soon as these discussions have been completed, BBC finance;
conclusion
14. The Government recognise the efforts which the Corporation are making to defer their request for an increase in the licence fee. The increase will be required in due course, but, given the combined effect of the special economies to be secured by the BBC and of the further measures to be taken to combat licence-evasion, the Government are satisfied that no increase in the fee will be. required before 1968. A FOURTH TELEVISION SERVICE 15. Ultimately, the frequencies now available for television could
accommodate six services of near-national coverage on the 625-line
definition standard; two in the very high frequency (VHF) bands?
and four in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands. At present, the
VHF bands are occupied by BBC1 and independent television, both
broadcast on 405-lines. Of the four 625-line networks possible in
UHF, one is committed to BBC2. There is therefore unused frequency
space in the UHF bands for three more 625-line services. Space for
two of them must be reserved in case it is required in order to
change over the existing 405-line services to 625-lines by the
duplication method. This means that the present basis on which
planning must proceed is that, for the next 10 to 15 years,
frequencies will certainly be available for only one additional
television service of near-national coverage, in UHF and on
625-lines,
-
3
­
One;
16. When the Television Act 1963 was before Parliament, the Government of the day stated their intention to allocate this service to a second programme of independent television during 1965 unless the financial or other obstacles were insurmountable. However it were allocated, a fourth television service would make large demands on resources. The three main services of television already provide a large volume of programmes of various kinds and the Government do not consider that another television service can be afforded a high place in the order of national priorities. 1 7 . Moreover, before deploying the last frequencies certainly available for television for many years to come, the Government would need to be satisfied that the case for committing them to any new service had been fully established, ^Besides the claim of independent television, there is also the possibility that the frequencies would be required for a specialised service of educational television/. 18. The Government have decided that no allocation of frequencies to a fourth television service will be authorised for the next three years at any rate. COLOUR TELEVISION 1 9 . The Government have already announced the decision that colour
television, using the PAL transmission system and the 625-line
definition standard should be provided. The service is to start
towards the end of next year on BBC2. In reaching this conclusion
the Government saw as an important consideration the prospect of
increasing exports - provided that an early start could be made.
20. In making this announcement, the Postmaster General stated that if the Oslo conference of the International Radio Consultative Committee were to show that another transmission system found general acceptance, the Government would take such a development into consideration. In the event, the conference did not reach a common view on any transmission system. In general, the countries of western Europe expressed a preference for the PAL system, and Prance and eastern Europe for the SECAX III system. Accordingly, in the United Kingdom the colour service will be provided on the PAL system. 21. It has always been recognised that the decision to provide colour television on the 625-line definition standard is dependent upon the intention to change over the two 405-line services of BBC1 and independent television - to 625-lines. The Postmaster General's Television Advisory Committee has been asked to report as soon as possible on the method of changeover to be adopted. 22. It is the Government's view that the cost of colour programmes,
which are likely at the outset to be available only to a small
minority of viewers because of the cost of receivers, should not
fall upon viewers in general. Accordingly a supplementary licence
fee of £5 will be required from those equipped to receive colour
programmes.
SOUND RADIO 23. The BBC broadcast three programmes - the Home Service, the
Light Programme and the Third Network. Complementary planning
broadly ensures that, at any given time, listeners have an effect­
ive choice between programmes of different kinds; and, between
them, the three programmes cater for a wide span of tastes and
interests ranging from those which attract very large audiences
to those which, being highly specialised, serve small audiences.
The three programmes are widely regarded as very well suited to
their function of providing a comprehensive service o f sound-radio
on a national basis.
A popular music programme 2ko The Government recognise that there is, however, a need for a
new service, devoted solely to the provision of a continuous popular music programme. They do not consider that such a specialised service, additional to the service of sound radio provided by the BBC, should be financed b y the licence fee system,
the proceeds of which are required for the Corporation^ present services. Accordingly, the Government propose that there should be a new programme of continuous popular music, but that it should be financed by the sale of advertising time
8 25. It will be provided by a new public corporation, which will itself produce the programmes and sell the advertising time; and will be transmitted on a medium wavelength by a small number of high-powered stations. 26. Because the medium wavelengths available to this country are
already intensively used, it will be necessary to rearrange their
deployment so as to release a wavelength for allocation to t h e new
Corporation. The Government will discuss with the BBC how this
rearrangement should be made so as to cause the least disturbance
to their services. Some disturbance will be inevitable. But the
Government are satisfied that the basic three programme pattern
need not be materially affected. /Some time must elapse before the
new popular music programme can start. In the interim period, the
BBC have undertaken to broadcast music in popular styles on their
medium wavelength (2k7 metres) transmission of the Light Programme
at those periods during daytime when its transmission on t h e long­
wavelength (1500 metres) is broadcasting the spoken word. In this
way, there will from an early date be made available to listeners
a daily programme of continuous popular music from 5.30 a.m. until
6.30 p.m.; and from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m i 7.
- Local sound radio 27. No general service of local sound broadcasting, which would be
available during hours of darkness as well as in daylight, can be
provided only on medium wavelengths allotted t o the United Kingdom.
The only possibility for such a service lies i n "VHF. In practical
terms, some 150 towns and cities could b e served. Of the proposals
put t o the Government for the provision o f a service, some advocate
that it should b e provided b y commercial compamies, others that it
should b e provided b y the BBC.
28. In a worthwhile service o f broadcasting a local station should,
the Pilkington Committee concluded, transmit "for a sufficient part
o f the broadcasting day ^material/ o f particular interest t o the
community served b y that station"rather than t o other localities."
In their White Paper o f July 1962 (Omnd. 1770) the Conservative
- 5 ­
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a g r e e d . " t h a t t h e j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r l o c a l sound
b r o a d c a s t i n g would be the p r o v i s i o n o f a s e r v i c e g e n u i n e l y " l o c a l
in character".
The Government s h a r e t h i s v i e w .
1
29.
They c o n s i d e r t h a t t h i s o b j e c t i v e would prove i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h
t h e c o m m e r c i a l o b j e c t i v e s o f c o m p a n i e s e n g a g i n g i n l o c a l sound
b r o a d c a s t i n g ; and t h a t , i n t h e r e s u l t , t h e f o r m e r w o u l d b e l i k e l y t o
s u f f e r . I n t h e i r view i t i s of f i r s t importance t o maintain public
s e r v i c e p r i n c i p l e s i n the f u r t h e r development of the broadcasting
s e r v i c e s ; and a c c o r d i n g l y t h e y r e j e " c t t h e v i e w t h a t a s e r v i c e o f
l o c a l sound r a d i o s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d b y c o m m e r c i a l c o m p a n i e s .
30.
E v i d e n c e o f t h e e x p e r t i s e and p r o f e s s i o n a l e n t h u s i a s m w h i c h t h e
BBC w o u l d b r i n g t o l o c a l sound b r o a d c a s t i n g i s t o b e f o u n d i n t h e
t r i a l 'programmes' t h e y have p r e p a r e d .
These have been h e a r d , as
r e c o r d i n g s , b y a number o f a u d i e n c e s ; and h a v e b e e n w e l l r e c e i v e d . The s c a l e o f t h e B B C s t o t a l o p e r a t i o n i n b r o a d c a s t i n g i s , h o w e v e r ,
a l r e a d y v e r y l a r g e , and i t h a s a l r e a d y new and i m p o r t a n t commitments
t o meet i n t h e e x t e n s i o n o f i t s t e l e v i s i o n s e r v i c e s .
The Government
c o n s i d e r t h a t t h i s o p e r a t i o n and t h e s e commitments r e p r e s e n t a s l a r g e
a b u r d e n a s t h e l i c e n c e f e e s y s t e m s h o u l d be r e q u i r e d f o r t h e p r e s e n i ;
to sustain.
31.
A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e y propose t h a t t h e p r o v i s i o n of a s e r v i c e of
l o i B a l sound b r o a d c a s t i n g s h o u l d b e u n d e r t a k e n b y t h e new c o r p o r a t i o n
t o b e s e t up t o p r o v i d e t h e p o p u l a r m u s i c programme; and t h a t t h e
s e r v i c e o f l o c a l sound b r o a d c a s t i n g s h o u l d a l s o h e f i n a n c e d f r o m t h e
s a l e of a d v e r t i s i n g time i n t h e programmes.
A g a i n , t h e new
c o r p o r a t i o n w i l l i t s e l f s e l l t h e a d v e r t i s i n g t i m e and p r o d u c e t h e
programmes.
32.
The Government e n v i s a g e t h a t some 60 s t a t i o n s w o u l d b e b u i l t
b y t h e new C o r p o r a t i o n .
F o r e a c h t o w n and c i t y s e r v e d t h e
C o r p o r a t i o n would be r e q u i r e d t o a p p o i n t a L o c a l B r o a d c a s t i n g C o u n c i l .
E a c h C o u n c i l w o u l d b e w i d e l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f community - i n c l u d i n g
youth play a f u l l y f o r m a t i v e p a r t i n the development of
programme p o l i c y a n d c o n t e n t .
The Government a t t a c h g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e
t o the need t o ensure t h a t the s e r v i c e s provided by the s t a t i o n s are
l o c a l i n c h a r a c t e r and n o t a l l m o u l d e d t o a common p a t t e r n i m p o s e d
f r o m t h e c e n t r e ; and i t w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d o f t h e new c o r p o r a t i o n
t h a t t h e C o u n c i l s w o u l d b e a f f o r d e d t h e maximum p o s s i b l e v o i c e i n
t h e d i r e c t i o n and p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e s t a t i o n s .
and would
33.
L e g i s l a t i o n t o i n c o r p o r a t e t h e new C o r p o r a t i o n , and t o g i v e
e f f e c t t o t h e G o v e r n m e n t ' s p r o p o s a l s f o r a p o p u l a r m u s i c programme
and l o c a l sound b r o a d c a s t i n g , w i l l b e b r o u g h t b e f o r e P a r l i a m e n t a s
soon as p o s s i b l e .
PAY TV
34,
The C o n s e r v a t i v e Government a u t h o r i s e d an e x p e r i m e n t t o l a s t
t h r e e y e a r s and g r a n t e d a l i c e n c e w h i c h w i l l n o t e x p i r e b e f o r e
January 1969.
The Government a g r e e w i t h t h i s d e c i s i o n b u t t h e y w i l l
not a l l o w a s i t u a t i o n t o d e v e l o p i n which the v a s t m a j o r i t y of
v i e w e r s are denied the v i e w i n g of major s p o r t i n g e v e n t s .
HOURS OF BROADCASTING
35,
The f i r s t W h i t e P a p e r ( C m n d , 1 7 7 0 ) on t h e r e p o r t o f t h e
P i l k i n g t o n Committee s t a t e d t h a t t h e P o s t m a s t e r G e n e r a l ' s powers t o
c o n t r o l the hours o f b r o a d c a s t i n g would c o n t i n u e , - I n the T e l e v i s i o n
A c t , 1 9 6 3 j and i n t h e B B C s L i c e n c e and A g r e e m e n t , a p p r o v e d b y
P a r l i a m e n t i n ; J a n u a r y 1964, t h e s e p o w e r s were r e - e n a c t e d i n a more
detailed form
e
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36. It has "been represented to the Government that, ideally, these powers should not "be used, but held as a reserve power. Both the ITA and the BBC would then be free to broadcast for as many hours a day as they chose. The Government have also considered' whether, instead, there might be authorised a large increase in­
the number of hours of broadcasting a week. 37. In a typical week BBC 1, independent television and BBC 2 broadcast, for some 180 to 200 hours in total. The amount of television broadcast here compares favourably with that of any other Western European country and considerably exceeds that ,of most. 38. In the Government s view, the amount of broadcasting time will remain a matter of sufficient social importance to require that the Postmaster General should continue to hold and exercise his present powers of control. Nor do the Government consider that any general increase in broadcasting hours will be justified for the present. They do not, however, rule out the possibility of more time for educational programmes. 1
THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITIES; THEIR COMMON RESPONSIBILITIES 39. Both the BBC and ITA are public corporations, wholly responsible for the content of their programmes and for the day-to­
day conduct of their affairs. The principles that the public corporations should be independent of the Government has been upheld by successive Administrations since the beginning of broadcasting in the United Kingdom.. The Government adhere to this concept, 40. The Government has discussed with the broadcasting authorities, and with other parties in Parliament, the idea of establishing, subject to this governing principle, a council to consider general issues of broadcasting policy. They have concluded that additional machinery of this sort would serve little useful purpose if the independence of the two public corporations is to be maintained. Since full responsibility is required of them, they must be afforded full authority to secure that their services are conducted in the general interest. 1+1. Though Parliament has placed them in competition with each
other, they have a common objective of public service, In the
continuing task of realising this objective matters of common
concern are bound to arise. To discuss matters of this kind, the
Chairman of the BBC and the Chairman of the ITA have, the Government
understand, established regular and frequent meetings. The two
broadcasting authorities have now decided to put these meetings on
a more formal footing and to use them as the occasion for discuss­
ing matters which either Chairman might wish to raise. The meetings
will continue to be private and unpublicised,
k2.
The Government welcome this means of consultation between the
two authorities and their ready recognition that they will benefit
from an understanding by each authority of the other s view.
1
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