(c) crown copyright
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l^i I Uia 1^5 1
B
109 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
C(66) 125
C O P Y NO.
GOVERNMENT)
0 *
2nd August, 1966
CABINET
BROADCASTING POLICY;
DRAFT WHITE
PAPER
Note by the L o r d P r e s i d e n t of the Council
I attach a draft White P a p e r on B r o a d c a s t i n g P o l i c y p r e p a r e d
by the P o s t m a s t e r General on lines approved by the M i n i s t e r i a l
C o m m i t t e e on B r o a d c a s t i n g .
The text has b e e n c i r c u l a t e d to the
m e m b e r s of the M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e and takes account of comments
r e c e i v e d f r o m them.
I seek the a g r e e m e n t of the Cabinet to the text of the White
P a p e r and t o its e a r l y publication.
H.B.
P r i v y Council O f f i c e , S. W. 1.
2nd A u g u s t , 1966
Annex to C(66) 125 Draft White Paper
,
g
BROADCASTING Introduction 1.
The Government have had under review various major aspects of "broadcasting policy. First among then was the question of the BBC's finances. Besides this, there were various proposals for the further extension of the broadcasting services; that xhe.re 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 not only to consider 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. 1
THE FINANCES OF THE BBC The B B C s request for an increase in the licence fee k.
Following the report of the Pilkington Committee in 1962, the
BBC were authorised;
(a) to provide an additional television service - 3BC2; (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; (d) to' extend the Light Programme.
5.30 a.n. until 2 a.m,; It now broadcasts from (e) to provide more programmes of adult education on television. Beth BBC and ITA have made full use of this authority; and (f) to start colour television on BBC2. - 1 ­
The d e c i s i o n t o a u t h o r i s e t h e s e major developments was
welcomed; and, e x c e p t f o r c o l o u r t e l e v i s i o n - which i s t o s t a r t
n e x t y e a r - t h e y e i t h e r have "been or a r e b e i n g c a r r i e d i n t o e f f e c t ,
5*.
The u n d e r s t a n d i n g on which the BBC p r o c e e d e d t o c a r r y out
t h i s programme was t h a t t h e y would be a f f o r d e d s u f f i c i e n t income'
to finance adequate s e r v i c e s .
I n t h e i r Annual Report f o r 1962-63,
the C o r p o r a t i o n r e c o r d t h a t i f they had r e c e i v e d the f u l l p r o c e e d s
of a £5 l i c e n c e from 1st A p r i l 1963? f o r which t h e y had a s k e d ,
t h e y c o u l d have f i n a n c e d t h e i r s e r v i c e s out of income u n t i l t h e
end of the
een s i x t i e s . ' The C o r p o r a t i o n s r e q u e s t was n o t
g r a n t e d , but from O c t o b e r 1963? when the Government of t h e day
r e l i n q u i s h e d the £1 a n n u a l e x c i s e d u t y , an amount e q u a l t o t h e
whole of the n e t p r o c e e d s of a £k l i c e n c e became p a y a b l e t o the
Corporation.
6.
I n O c t o b e r 1964? t h e BBC r e p r e s e n t e d t o the Government t h a t
the combined t e l e v i s i o n and sound l i c e n c e f e e s h o u l d be r a i s e d '
from £4 t o £ 6 , and t h e s o u n d - o n l y f e e from £1 t o £1 5 s ,
I t was.
of c o u r s e , the Government's duty f i r s t t o s a t i s f y t h e m s e l v e s t h a t
i n c r e a s e s of t h i s o r d e r would be j u s t i f i e d .
But i t was a l s o p l a i n
t h a t some immediate a c t i o n was c a l l e d f o r t o put the BBC i n f u n d s .
The Government t h e r e f o r e d e c i d e d t h a t t h e r e should be a c l o s e
e n q u i r y i n t o t h e C o r p o r a t i o n ^ f i n a n c e s , b u t , a s an^ i n t e r i m
measure, a l s o a u t h o r i s e d i n c r e a s e s i n the combined l i c e n c e f e e
from £4 t o £ 5 , and i n the s o u n d - o n l y f e e from £1 t o £1 !3s.
Both
i n c r e a s e s t o o k e f f e c t on 1st August 1965.
The Government's
enquiry
7.
The Government have completed t h e i r e n q u i r y i n t o the B B C s
finances.
P r a c t i c a l l y s p e a k i n g , the o n l y p o s s i b l e ways of
p r o v i d i n g f i n a n c e f o r the BBC a r e ; by d i r e c t Government subvention.,
by 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 C o r p o r a t i o n s s e r v i c e s , or
by t h e l i c e n c e - f e e system,
8.
A Government s u b v e n t i o n would be l i a b l e t o expose the
C o r p o r a t i o n t o f i n a n c i a l c o n t r o l i n such d e t a i l as would p r o v e
incompatible with the B B C s independence.
The money w o u l d , of
c o u r s e , have t o b e found from g e n e r a l t a x a t i o n ,
9.
Under t h e i r L i c e n c e and Agreement (Cmnd.2236) the BBC a r e
n o t a l l o w e d t o b r o a d c a s t commercial a d v e r t i e e m e n t s w i t h o u t f i r s t
h a v i n g sought and o b t a i n e d the P o s t m a s t e r G e n e r a l ' s p e r m i s s i o n .
B e c a u s e of the p r o b a b l e l o n g - t e r m e f f e c t on the c h a r a c t e r of t h e i r
s e r v i c e s the BBC have n e v e r sought t h i s p e r m i s s i o n .
The Government
r e c a l l t h a t the P i l k i n g t o n Committee f o u n d ' a g a i n s t the f i n a n c i n g
of t h e BBC i n any measure from a d v e r t i s i n g , and t h a t t h i s v i e w
commanded g e n e r a l a c c e p t a n c e .
10.
The Government have d e c i d e d t h a t t h e r e should be no change
a t p r e s e n t i n the arrangement whereby the BBC a r e f i n a n c e d t h r o u g h
the l i c e n c e f e e system.
But a t a time when none may be content t o
r e s t upon p r e s e n t s t a n d a r d s of e f f i c i e n c y and f i n a n c i a l performance
good though t h e y may b e , the Government have thought i t r i g h t t o
e x p e c t of the BBC t h a t t h e y s h o u l d s e t t h e m s e l v e s even more
exacting financial objectives.
They have a c c o r d i n g l y asked them
w h e t h e r , assuming the e x p e n d i t u r e c e i l i n g which would be i m p l i e d
i f t h e r e were no i n c r e a s e i n the l i c e n c e f e e f o r t h e p r e s e n t , the
C o r p o r a t i o n would be a b l e t o m a i n t a i n t h e i r p r e s e n t s e r v i c e s , and
t o p r o c e e d w i t h e x t e n s i o n s and developments e i t h e r a l r e a d y
a u t h o r i s e d or p r o p o s e d b e l o w .
The BBC have r e p o r t e d t h a t , b y
making s p e c i a l economies, t h e y w i l l - on c e r t a i n assumptions - be
a b l e t o do so u n t i l January 1968 rat l e a s t when t h e y would need an
i n c r e a s e of £ 1 .
-
2 ­
11. In order to make these special econom.es, the BBC will
restrict activities which they have hitherto considered well
justified hut 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 Corporations 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 £80n. 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
Ik.
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 TELE'VISION SERVICE 15. Ultima-bely, 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 BBC.1 and independent television, both broadcast on ^05-lines. Of the four 625-line networks possible in UHF, one is committed to BBC,2. 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 1+05-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. 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 1963 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. 17. 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 19. 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 BBC.2, In reaching this conclusion the Government saw a,s 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 France and eastern Europe for the SSCAM II 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 charge over the two k05-line services of BBC.1 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.. -
k.­
,
22o
I t i s the Government s v i e w t h a t t h e c o s t o f c o l o u r programmes,
w h i c h a r e l i k e l y a t t h e o u t s e t t o be a v a i l a b l e o n l y t o a s m a l l
m i n o r i t y o f v i e w e r s because of t h e c o s t of r e c e i v e r s , should not
f a l l upon v i e w e r s i n g e n e r a l .
A c c o r d i n g l y a supplementary l i c e n c e
f e e o f £5 w i l l be r e q u i r e d f r o m t h o s e e q u i p p e d t o r e c e i v e c o l o u r
programmes.
1
LOCAL SOUND BROADCASTING
23.
No g e n e r a l 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 can be p r o v i d e d
on medium w a v e l e n g t h s a l l o t t e d t o t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m .
The o n l y
p o s s i b i l i t y f o r such a s e r v i c e w o u l d be VHP.
T h i s would g i v e a
t y p i c a l s t a t i o n a range of about 5 m i l e s ,
I n p r a c t i c a l terms $
150-200 t o w n s and c i t i e s c o u l d be s e r v e d .
Of t h e p r o p o s a l s put t o
t h e Government f o r t h e p r o v i s i o n o f a s e r v i c e , some a d v o c a t e t h a t
i t 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 and f i n a n c e d f r o m
t h e S a l e b y them of a d v e r t i s i n g t i n e , o t h e r s t h a t i t s h o u l d be
p r o v i d e d b y t h e BBC.
2k,
I n a worthwhile s e r v i c e of b r a d c a s t i n g a l o c a l s t a t i o n should,
t h e P i l k i n g t o n C o m m i t t e e c o n c l u d e d , t r a n s m i t " f o r a s u f f i c i e n t part:
of the b r o a d c a s t i n g day, ^/material/ of p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t t o t h e
l o c a l i t y s e r v e d by t h a t s t a t i o n r a t h e r than t o o t h e r l o c a l i t i e s " .
I n t h e i r W h i t e P a p e r o f J u l y 1962 (Cmnd,1770) t h e p r e v i o u s
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 of 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 .
25,
But t h e r e i s n o t o n l y t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r such a s e r v i c e
could be s u s t a i n e d , m o n t h - i n , month-out; t h e r e i s a l s o t h e q u e s t i o n
w h e t h e r t h e r e w o u l d b e a c o n t i n u i n g p u b l i c demand f o r i t .
There i s
no c l e a r e v i d e n c e e i t h e r t h a t a d e q u a t e l o c a l m a t e r i a l i s a v a i l a b l e
o r t h a t t h e n e e d f o r such a s e r v i c e e x i s t s .
The Government t h e r e ­
f o r e f e e l t h a t an e x p e r i m e n t i s n e c e s s a r y .
26c
I n c o n s i d e r i n g t h e p o s s i b l e f o r m o f an e x p e r i m e n t w h i c h s h o u l d
l a s t no l o n g e r and be no m o r e e x t e n s i v e t h a n i s n e c e s s a r y t o p r o v i d e
t h e i n f o r m a t i o n on w h i c h t o f o u n d a d e c i s i o n w h e t h e r o r n o t t o
p r o c e e d t o a g e n e r a l and p e r m a n e n t s e r v i c e , t h e Government have had
r e g a r d t o t h e n e e d t o a r o i d s e t t i n g up a t t h i s s t a g e a n y new
broadcasting structure.
T h e y h a v e a l s o had t o b e a r i n mind t h e
need t o a v o i d an e x c e s s i v e d i v e r s i o n o f r e s o u r c e s f o r t h i s p u r p o s e .
T h i s l a t t e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n w o u l d be e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t w h e t h e r t h e
e x p e r i m e n t w e r e u n d e r t a k e n b y t h e BBC, a new c o r p o r a t i o n o r b y
commercial u n d e r t a k i n g s .
T h e y h a v e d e c i d e d t o a u t h o r i s e t h e BBC t o
conduct a n i n e - s t a t i o n e x p e r i m e n t , on "VHP.
The o b j e c t i v e i s t h a t t h e
s t a t i o n s should o f f e r a f u l l - s c a l e l o c a l s e r v i c e during the
experimental p e r i o d .
The C o r p o r a t i o n w o u l d e x p e c t t o b r i n g t h e f i r s t
s t a t i o n i n t o s e r v i c e b y t h e S p r i n g ; and t o h a v e t h r e e s t a t i o n s i n
s e r v i c e b y t h e Autumn o f 1 9 6 7 .
A t w o - y e a r experiment from t h e n would
p r o v i d e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n on w h i c h t o f o u n d t h e f i n a l d e c i s i o n .
27*
F o r e a c h e x p e r i m e n t a l s t a t i o n t h e r e w i l l be a L o c a l B r o a d c a s t i n g
Council appointed, by t h e P o s t m a s t e r General i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e
BBC.
Each C o u n c i l w i l l be w i d e l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e community ­
i n c l u d i n g y o u t h - and w i l l p l a y a f u l l y f o r m a t i v e p a r t i n t h e
d e v e l o p m e n t o f programme p o l i c y and c o n t e n t .
The Government a t t a c h
great importance t o the need t o ensure t h a t 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 t h e BBC h a v e a s s u r e d t h e Government t h a t t h e C o u n c i l s
w i l l h a v e 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
of the s t a t i o n s ,
The C o r p o r a t i o n w i l l accommodate t h e c o s t o f t h e
experiment w i t h i n t h e expenditure l i m i t r e q u i r e d by t h e d e c i s i o n t h a t
t h e l i c e n c e f e e w i l l r e m a i n unchanged a t l e a s t u n t i l 1 s t J a n u a r y 1 9 6 8 ,
-
5
­
22o
I t i s t h e G o v e r n m e n t s v i e w t h a t t h e c o s t o f c o l o u r programmes,
w h i c h a r e l i k e l y a t t h e o u t s e t t o be a v a i l a b l e o n l y t o a s m a l l
m i n o r i t y of v i e w e r s because o f t h e c o s t of r e c e i v e r s , should n o t
f a l l upon v i e w e r s i n g e n e r a l .
A c c o r d i n g l y a supplementary l i c e n c e
f e e o f £5 w i l l b e r e q u i r e d f r o m t h o s e e q u i p p e d t o r e c e i v e c o l o u r
programmes.
LOCAL SOUND BROADCASTING
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
V
23.
No g e n e r a l 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 can be p r o v i d e d
The o n l y
on medium w a v e l e n g t h s a l l o t t e d t o t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m .
p o s s i b i l i t y f o r such a s e r v i c e w o u l d be VHJ, T h i s would g i v e a
t y p i c a l s t a t i o n a r a n g e of a b o u t 5 m i l e s .
I n p r a c t i c a l termsj
150-200 t o w n s and c i t i e s c o u l d b e s e r v e d .
Of t h e p r o p o s a l s p u t t o
t h e Government f o r t h e p r o v i s i o n o f a s e r v i c e , some a d v o c a t e t h a t
i t 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 and f i n a n c e d f r o m
t h e s a l e b y them of a d v e r t i s i n g t i m e , o t h e r s t h a t i t s h o u l d be
p r o v i d e d b y t h e BBC.
2k,
I n a worthwhile s e r v i c e of bradcasting a l o c a l s t a t i o n should,
t h e P i l k i n g t o n C o m m i t t e e c o n c l u d e d , t r a n s m i t " f o r a s u f f i c i e n t part;
of the b r o a d c a s t i n g d a y , ^/material/ o f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t t o t h e
l o c a l i t y s e r v e d by t h a t s t a t i o n r a t h e r than t o o t h e r l o c a l i t i e s " s
I n t h e i r W h i t e P a p e r o f J u l y 1962 (Cmnd,1770) t h e p r e v i o u s
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 t h e 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 !
The Government s h a r e t h i s v i e w ,
in character".
But t h e r e i s n o t o n l y t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r such a s e r v i c e
25,
could be s u s t a i n e d , month-in, month-out; t h e r e i s a l s o t h e q u e s t i o n
There i s
w h e t h e r t h e r e w o u l d b e a c o n t i n u i n g p u b l i c demand f o r i t .
no c l e a r e v i d e n c e e i t h e r t h a t a d e q u a t e l o c a l m a t e r i a l i s a v a i l a b l e
The Government t h e r e ­
or t h a t t h e n e e d f o r such a s e r v i c e e x i s t s .
f o r e f e e l t h a t an e x p e r i m e n t i s n e c e s s a r y .
I n c o n s i d e r i n g t h e p o s s i b l e f o r m o f an e x p e r i m e n t w h i c h s h o u l d
26.
l a s t no l o n g e r and b e no more e x t e n s i v e t h a n i s n e c e s s a r y t o p r o v i d e
t h e i n f o r m a t i o n on w h i c h t o f o u n d a d e c i s i o n w h e t h e r o r n o t t o
p r o c e e d t o a g e n e r a l and p e r m a n e n t s e r v i c e , t h e Government h a v e had
r e g a r d t o t h e n e e d t o avoid s e t t i n g up a t t h i s s t a g e a n y new
broadcasting structure.
T h e y h a v e a l s o had t o b e a r i n mind t h e
need t o a v o i d an e x c e s s i v e d i v e r s i o n o f r e s o u r c e s f o r t h i s p u r p o s e .
This l a t t e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n would be e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t whether t h e
e x p e r i m e n t w e r e u n d e r t a k e n "by t h e BBC, a new c o r p o r a t i o n o r b y
commercial u n d e r t a k i n g s .
T h e y h a v e d e c i d e d t o a u t h o r i s e t h e BBC t o
conduct a n i n e - s t a t i o n e x p e r i m e n t , on "VHP. The o b j e c t i v e i s t h a t t h e
s t a t i o n s should o f f e r a f u l l - s o a l e l o c a l s e r v i c e during the
experimental p e r i o d .
The C o r p o r a t i o n w o u l d e x p e c t t o b r i n g t h e f i r s t
s t a t i o n i n t o s e r v i c e b y t h e S p r i n g ; and t o h a v e t h r e e s t a t i o n s i n
s e r v i c e b y t h e Autumn o f 1967.
A t w o - y e a r e x p e r i m e n t from t h e n w o u l d
p r o v i d e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n on w h i c h t o f o u n d t h e f i n a l d e c i s i o n .
27* F o r e a c h e x p e r i m e n t a l s t a t i o n t h e r e w i l l be 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 a p p o i n t e d by t h e P o s t m a s t e r G e n e r a l i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e
BBC. Each C o u n c i l w i l l b e w i d e l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e community ­
i n c l u d i n g y o u t h - and w i l l p l a y a f u l l y f o r m a t i v e p a r t i n t h e
d e v e l o p m e n t o f programme p o l i c y and c o n t e n t .
The Government a t t a c h
great importance t o the need t o ensure t h a t 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 t h e BBC h a v e a s s u r e d t h e Government t h a t t h e C o u n c i l s
w i l l h a v e 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
The C o r p o r a t i o n w i l l accommodate t h e c o s t o f t h e
of t h e s t a t i o n s .
experiment w i t h i n the expenditure l i m i t r e q u i r e d by t h e d e c i s i o n t h a t
t h e l i c e n c e f e e w i l l r e m a i n unchanged a t l e a s t u n t i l 1 s t J a n u a r y 1968o
-
5 ­
28.
The Government r e s e r v e u n t i l t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e e x p e r i m e n t
a n y d e c i s i o n on t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r a g e n e r a l o r permanent s e r v i c e
s h o u l d be a u t h o r i s e d , a n d , i f s o , how i t s h o u l d be c o n s t i t u t e d and
o r g a n i s e d and b y whom p r o v i d e d .
The d e c i s i o n t h a t t h e BBC s h o u l d
c o n d u c t t h e e x p e r i m e n t i m p l i e s no commitment t h a t t h e C o r p o r a t i o n
should p r o v i d e a permanent s e r v i c e , i f i t w e r e d e c i d e d t o a u t h o r i s e
one.
/29.
-
6 ­
A^CQNTINUOUS J^USIC^SERVICl
29.
The demand f o r c o n t i n u o u s l i g h t music i s n o t n e w .
What i s new
i s t h a t , by a p p r o p r i a t i n g w a v e l e n g t h s a l l o t t e d t o o t h e r c o u n t r i e s ,
the p i r a t e r a d i o s t a t i o n s have been a b l e t o e x p l o i t i t .
Legislation
t o end t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e s e s t a t i o n s h a s b e e n i n t r o d u c e d and t h e
demand f o r a c o n t i n u o u s s e r v i c e o f m u s i c w i l l be met b y t h e BBC.
U n t i l r e c e n t l y , the C o r p o r a t i o n have c o n s i d e r e d t h a t they c o u l d b e s t
s e r v e t h e i r v a r i o u s a u d i e n c e s by p r o v i d i n g t h e L i g h t Programme i n
i t s p r e s e n t f o r m on b o t h l o n g and m e d i u m - w a v e l e n g t h s .
The l o n g - w a v e
t r a n s m i s s i o n o f t h e L i g h t Programme i s now r e i n f o r c e d b y t h e BBC's
VHP t r a n s m i s s i o n s , w h i c h t h e m s e l v e s a r e a t t a i n i n g v i r t u a l l y c o m p l e t e
population coverage.
M o r e o v e r , p o r t a b l e VHP t r a n s i s t o r s e t s , a t
r e a s o n a b l e c o s t , a r e now b e c o m i n g a v a i l a b l e .
For these reasons, the
BBC now f e e l f r e e t o d e v o t e t h e medium-wave c h a n n e l o f 2h7 m e t r e s
to a s e r v i c e o f c o n t i n u o u s l i g h t m u s i c .
T h i s means t h a t t h e
C o r p o r a t i o n w i l l p r o v i d e m u s i c d u r i n g t h o s e d a y - t i m e h o u r s when t h e
l o n g - w a v e and VHF t r a n s m i t t e r s o f t h e L i g h t Programme a r e b r o a d c a s t i n g
programmes o t h e r t h a n m u s i c .
The G o v e r n m e n t w e l c o m e t h i s e x t e n s i o n
o f c h o i c e o f f e r e d b y t h e BBC t o t h e l i s t e n e r ,
PAY TV
30.
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
Janaary 1969o
h e Government a g r e e w i t h t h i s d e c i s i o n lov.i 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 w h i c h the v a s t m a j o r i t y o f
v i e w e r s a r e d e n i e d the v i e w i n g o f major s p o r t i n g e v e n t s .
T
HOURS OF BROADCASTING
31.
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 the P o s t m a s t e r G e n e r a l ' s powers to
control the hours of broadcasting would continue.
I n the T e l e v i s i o n
A c t 1963? and i n t h e BBC'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 196*4-* t h e s e p o w e r s w e r e r e - e n a c t e d i n a more
detailed form.
32.
I t has been r e p r e s e n t e d to the Government t h a t , i d e a l l y ,
these
powers s h o u l d n o t be u s e d , b u t h e l d as a r e s e r v e povi/er.
Both, t h e
ITA and t h e BBC w o u l d t h e n b e f r e e t o b r o a d c a s t f o r as many h o u r s a
day as t h e y c h o s e .
The Government h a v e a l s o c o n s i d e r e d w h e t h e r ,
i n s t e a d , t h e r e m i g h t be a u t h o r i s e d a l a r g e i n c r e a s e i n t h e number
of h o u r s o f b r o a d c a s t i n g a w e e k .
33"
I n a t y p i c a l week B B C . 1 , i n d e p e n d e n t t e l e v i s i o n and. BBC. 2
b r o a d c a s t f o r some 180 t o 200 h o u r s i n t o t a l .
The amount o f
t e l e v i s i o n b r o a d c a s t h e r e c o m p a r e s f a v o u r a b l y w i t h t h a t o f any o t h e r
W e s t e r n E u r o p e a n c o u n t r y and c o n s i d e r a b l y e x c e e d s t h a t o f m o s t .
34"
I n t h e G o v e r n m e n t ' s v i e w , t h e amount o f b r o a d c a s t i n g t i m e w i l l
remain a m a t t e r o f s u f f i c i e n t s o c i a l i m p o r t a n c e t o r e q u i r e t h a t t h e
Postmaster G e n e r a l should c o n t i n u e t o h o l d and e x e r c i s e h i s p r e s e n t
powers o f c o n t r o l .
N o r do t h e Government c o n s i d e r t h a t any g e n e r a l
increase i n b r o a d c a s t i n g hours w i l l be j u s t i f i a b l e f o r the p r e s e n t .
They do n o t , h o w e v e r , r u l e o u t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f more t i m e f o r
educational programmes.
THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITIES:
THYTR COMMON
RESl^NSIBILITIES'^' """"""
35.o
B o t h t h e BBC and I T A a r e p u b l i c c o r p o r a t i o n s , w h o l l y r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e i r programmes and f o r t h e d a y - t o - d a y c o n d u c t
of t h e i r a f f a i r s .
The p r i n c i p l e t h a t t h e p u b l i c c o r p o r a t i o n s s h o u l d
be i n d e p e n d e n t o f t h e Government h a s b e e n u p h e l d by s u c c e s s i v e
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n s s i n c e the b e g i n n i n g of b r o a d c a s t i n g i n the U n i t e d
Kingdom.
The G o v e r n m e n t a d h e r e t o t h i s c o n c e p t .
36,
The Government has discussed w i t h the b r o a d c a s t i n g a u t h o r i t i e s ,
' and w i t h o t h e r p a r t i e s i n P a r l i a m e n t , the idea o f e s t a b l i s h i n g ,
subject t o t h i s g o v e r n i n g p r i n c i p l e , a c o u n c i l t o c o n s i d e r g e n e r a l
issues of b r o a d c a s t i n g p o l i c y . .
They have concluded t h a t a d d i t i o n a l
machinery of t h i s s o r t would s e r v e l i t t l e u s e f u l purpose i f the
independence of the two p u b l i c c o r p o r a t i o n s i s t o be maintained.
Since f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i s r e q u i r e d o f them, they must be a f f o r d e d
f u l l a u t h o r i t y t o s e c u r e t h a t t h e i r s e r v i c e s are conducted in the
general i n t e r e s t ,
37, Though P a r l i a m e n t has p l a c e d them i n c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h each
other, they have a common o b j e c t i v e o f p u b l i c s e r v i c e .
I n the
continuing task of r e a l i s i n g t h i s o b j e c t i v e matters of common concern
are bound to a r i s e .
To d i s c u s s matters of t h i s k i n d , the Chairman
of the BBC and the Chairman o f the ITA h a v e , the Government understand
e s t a b l i s h e d r e g u l a r and f r e q u e n t m e e t i n g s . The two b r o a d c a s t i n g
a u t h o r i t i e s have now decided t o put these meetings on a more formal
f o o t i n g and t o use them as the o c c a s i o n f o r d i s c u s s i n g matters which
e i t h e r Chairman might wish t o r a i s e .
The meetings w i l l continue to
be p r i v a t e and u n p u b l i c i s e d .
38. The Government welcome t h i s means o f c o n s u l t a t i o n betv/een the two a u t h o r i t i e s and t h e i r ready r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t they w i l l b e n e f i t from an understanding by each a u t h o r i t y o f the o t h e r ' s v i e w s . - 8 ­