MED4104 - Directed Study Week 1

In our lecture this week we have discussed in depth, TV and public service broadcasting, the main areas we focused on regarding this topic were industry, institution and history and
how these were and are relevant in big national television companies such as BBC and ITV. In the key readings we can look at the history of TV and film, historiography (Long, 2012: 453- 463) and the origins of public broadcasting (Creeber, 2003: 22- 26). Both readings will help me to understand historiography and how it is conveyed through TV and film. We also explored theorists such as Hall and Arnold who had different opinions on how TV was run. Hall believed the broadcasting industry was a 'Containment of democracy' he said that their was a fear of democracy and made the point that there needed to be a reform (Hall, 1986c: 38) whereas Arnold stated it was 'A way to prevent anarchy' he disagreed, saying that it transcended class conflict and kept everything 'Sweet and light' (Arnold, 1869).

In relation, the reading I have acquired for this week looks at public service broadcasting in more depth, from the history to the present and the independency in the industry. I have chosen to explore 'Inside broadcasting' by Julian Newby (1997) after reading the introduction I can see Newby explains the growth in the broadcasting industry and how although in the past broadcasting was a small private organisation run strictly by the government, there is now more room for positions in broadcasting than there ever was. From viewing the chapters and headings briefly I have formulated some questions in regards to the industry itself before reading this text, the questions are as follows:


1) How did the coming of ITV change public service broadcasting? - 'ITV brought regional
television, advertisements and a slightly lighter, brighter more advertiser-friendly form of
programming' the birth of ITV changed the ratings of the BBC creating the two stations to
compete in a ratings battle that still goes on today, this eventually opened up the opportunity
for other channels such as BBC 2 and channel 4 to appear.


2) How did independency change national television? - Independency 'Reduced the core workforces and therefore union strength' people wanted to 'Force the BBC out of the pure public sector and into the quasi-mixed economy in which it now finds itself'. Independency also opened up job opportunities for everyone.


3) How did other channels such as channel 4/5 change the industry? - Creating new channels such as BBC 2 and channel 4 changed the ratings causing ITV and BBC to be allowed more air time thus making more money, ITV 'Not only was stealing audiences with quiz shows and westerns but it was stealing trained BBC staff' both ITV and BBC still remain independent rivals.


4) How has broadcasting today changed? - Broadcasting now offers more job opportunites than before, the rapid growth in television has put more of a demand on employees, with a lot more technology having been created and still developing more opportunities in technical and administrative areas are available.


5) How has the history of public service broadcasting shaped it for the future? - Without the history of public service broadcasting existing, the industry wouldnt be what it is today, with not only satellite being invented, television is now streamed all over the internet, the development of television might not be what it is now without the independency of broadcasting and the famous fued with BBC and ITV which caused the development of national television and PSB.

After reading throughly through Newby's 'Inside broadcasting' I was able to answer my questions above. 'Inside broadcasting' can be considered a historiography as it discusses the background history on broadcasting, it explains the major differences from the past to the present and how broadcasting changed and offered people and audiences more opportunites. Newby provides me with background information on PSB and the changes that were faced by the BBC. Newby touches on a lot of areas that the set readings also make points of, from reading all texts I now understand the history and development of public service broadcasting and how this has all had an impact on broadcasting today.

References:

Creeber, Glen (2003) The Origins of Public Service Broadcasting (British Television Before The War) in Michele Hilmes (ed.) (2003) The Television History Book. London: BFI. Pp.22-26.

Long, P and Wall, T (2012) 'Media Histories' IN Media studies: Texts, production, Context (2nd Edition), London: Pearson. pp 448-481.  

Newby, J. (1997) Inside broadcasting. London: Routledge.