BBC History
The British Broadcasting Company as the BBC was originally called was formed in October 1922.By 1925 the BBC could be heard throughout most of the UKJohn Reith was the biggest influence as he envisaged an independent British Broadcaster able to educate, inform & entertain the whole nation, free from political interference and commerical pressure.
The newspaper industry sucessfully kept the BBC out of the news business.
The General Stirke of 1926 brought the BBC its first serious confrontation with the Government over editorial independence. With no regular newspapers being published, the country turned to the BBC for its news.
The BBC soon outgrew Savoy Hill and moved into the world's first purpose-built radio production centre- Broadcasting House in Portland Place- in 1932.
Also, in the same year the BBC broadened its horizons with the opening of the Empire Service, the forerunner of the BBC World Service.
On the 2nd of November 1936, the BBC opened the world's first regular service of high0definition television from Alexandra Palace in North London.
The BBC emerged from the war with an enhanced reputation for honesty and accuracy in its news broadcasts. By the end of the war, the BBC was broadcasting in 40 languages.
By the 1960s, the BBC had a little competition from ITV.
BBC Two was launched in 1964 and Radio 1 began in 1967.
Colour television broadcasts began on BBC Two in 1967, followed by BBC One in 1969. Within 10 years there would be 12 million colour licences in the UK.
The 1970s was the Golden Age of television!Income grew as more and more homes brought television licences and more switched to colour. This meant that schedules were able to offer greater depth and variety.
As well as entertaining and informing, the BBC addressed its educational remit. This deacade saw the launch of BBC's collaboration with the Open University.
The CEEFAX text service was introduced in 1972 and subtitling began in 1979.
The 80s was the decade of the Falkland's War, the miners' strike, the Wedding of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer and the arrival of Eastenders and Neighbour's.
Eastenders quickly became the m
ost watched BBC programme on television. It still regulalry attracts over 12 million viewers.
Competitive pressure and political pressure grew on the BBC as Channel 4 went on air in 1982, more commercial radio stations opened and satellite television services were launched.
The arrival of digital technology and the internet during the 1990s marked a new era in broadcasting.For the viewers- Digital television offered more channels and wider interactivityFor the listener- digital radio provided CD quality sound and flexibility of sevice.
BBC online was one of the leading wedsites in Europe by the end of 1999.
The end of the decade saw a number of groundbreaking sciene and natural history programmes- in particular "The Human Body" and "Walking with Dinosaurs".
Huge audiences watched a "Panorama" interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, in which she spoke frankly about her crumbling marriage and the expressions of grief at her death in 1997 took the BBC by surprise.
Other innovations in the 90s included the "Teletubbies" and "Tweenies" for children, and the launch of BBC News 24.
Following ITV's decision to drop "News At Ten", the BBC's evening bulletin moved to 10pm.
"The Weakest Link" presented by Anne Robinson was an instant success and the format was quickly exported to other countries. In children's television "Teletubbies" was sold to over 75 countries and translated into 45 languages.
Digital expansion followed with the launch of BBC Four, Cbeebies, CBBC and BBC Three.
Radio 4 made history when it devoted 8 hours on Boxing Day to read "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone"The arrival of digital services in 2002 marked the largest expansion of raio in the BBC's history. Services such as 1Xtra, 5 Live, Sports Extra, 6 Music and BBC 7 were launched and World Service was made available to domestic listeners by popular demand!
In 2007 the BBC launched iPlayer.
The British Broadcasting Company as the BBC was originally called was formed in October 1922.By 1925 the BBC could be heard throughout most of the UKJohn Reith was the biggest influence as he envisaged an independent British Broadcaster able to educate, inform & entertain the whole nation, free from political interference and commerical pressure.
The newspaper industry sucessfully kept the BBC out of the news business.
The General Stirke of 1926 brought the BBC its first serious confrontation with the Government over editorial independence. With no regular newspapers being published, the country turned to the BBC for its news.
The BBC soon outgrew Savoy Hill and moved into the world's first purpose-built radio production centre- Broadcasting House in Portland Place- in 1932.
Also, in the same year the BBC broadened its horizons with the opening of the Empire Service, the forerunner of the BBC World Service.
On the 2nd of November 1936, the BBC opened the world's first regular service of high0definition television from Alexandra Palace in North London.
The BBC emerged from the war with an enhanced reputation for honesty and accuracy in its news broadcasts. By the end of the war, the BBC was broadcasting in 40 languages.
By the 1960s, the BBC had a little competition from ITV.
BBC Two was launched in 1964 and Radio 1 began in 1967.
Colour television broadcasts began on BBC Two in 1967, followed by BBC One in 1969. Within 10 years there would be 12 million colour licences in the UK.
The 1970s was the Golden Age of television!Income grew as more and more homes brought television licences and more switched to colour. This meant that schedules were able to offer greater depth and variety.
As well as entertaining and informing, the BBC addressed its educational remit. This deacade saw the launch of BBC's collaboration with the Open University.
The CEEFAX text service was introduced in 1972 and subtitling began in 1979.
The 80s was the decade of the Falkland's War, the miners' strike, the Wedding of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer and the arrival of Eastenders and Neighbour's.
Eastenders quickly became the m
ost watched BBC programme on television. It still regulalry attracts over 12 million viewers.Competitive pressure and political pressure grew on the BBC as Channel 4 went on air in 1982, more commercial radio stations opened and satellite television services were launched.
The arrival of digital technology and the internet during the 1990s marked a new era in broadcasting.For the viewers- Digital television offered more channels and wider interactivityFor the listener- digital radio provided CD quality sound and flexibility of sevice.
BBC online was one of the leading wedsites in Europe by the end of 1999.
The end of the decade saw a number of groundbreaking sciene and natural history programmes- in particular "The Human Body" and "Walking with Dinosaurs".
Huge audiences watched a "Panorama" interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, in which she spoke frankly about her crumbling marriage and the expressions of grief at her death in 1997 took the BBC by surprise.
Other innovations in the 90s included the "Teletubbies" and "Tweenies" for children, and the launch of BBC News 24.
Following ITV's decision to drop "News At Ten", the BBC's evening bulletin moved to 10pm.
"The Weakest Link" presented by Anne Robinson was an instant success and the format was quickly exported to other countries. In children's television "Teletubbies" was sold to over 75 countries and translated into 45 languages.
Digital expansion followed with the launch of BBC Four, Cbeebies, CBBC and BBC Three.
Radio 4 made history when it devoted 8 hours on Boxing Day to read "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone"The arrival of digital services in 2002 marked the largest expansion of raio in the BBC's history. Services such as 1Xtra, 5 Live, Sports Extra, 6 Music and BBC 7 were launched and World Service was made available to domestic listeners by popular demand!
In 2007 the BBC launched iPlayer.
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