Television in the United Kingdom

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British television broadcasting started in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are up to 600 channels for consumers as well as on-demand content. There are six main channel owners who are responsible for most viewing. There are 27,000 hours of domestic content produced a year at a cost of £2.6bn. Analogue terrestrial transmissions are currently being switched off and this is due to complete in 2012.

Contents 1 Television providers 1.1 Analogue terrestrial television 1.2 Digital terrestrial television 1.3 Cable television 1.4 Satellite television 1.5 IP television (IPTV) 1.6 Mobile television 1.7 Internet television 1.8 Forthcoming providers 2 Channels and channel owners 2.1 Most-viewed channels 2.2 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) 2.3 Independent Television (ITV) 2.4 Channel 4 2.5 Five 2.6 British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) 2.7 UKTV 2.8 Other channel owners 3 Programming 3.1 100 Greatest British Television Programmes 3.2 List of most-watched television broadcasts 3.3 Genre lists 3.3.1 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows 3.3.2 Britain's Best Sitcom 3.3.3 British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series 3.3.4 Soap operas 3.4 Analogue terrestrial programming 3.4.1 Weekday 3.4.2 Weekend 4 Awards 5 Regulation 6 Licensing 7 Recent technical developments 7.1 Digital television 7.2 Video on demand 7.3 High-definition television 8 Production 8.1 In-house production 8.2 Independent production 9 History 9.1 Timeline 9.2 Closed and aborted television providers 9.3 Defunct channels 9.4 Commentary 10 See also 11 References

[edit] Television providers

Free and subscription providers are available, with differences in the number of channels, capabilities such as the programme guide (EPG), video on demand (VOD), high-definition (HD), interactive television via the red button, and coverage across the UK. Set-top boxes are generally used to receive these services; however Integrated Digital Televisions (IDTVs) can also be used to receive Freeview or freesat. Top Up TV and BT Vision utilise hybrid boxes which receive Freeview as well as additional subscription services. Households viewing TV from the internet (YouTube, Joost, downloads etc) are not tracked by Ofcom. The UK's five most watched channels, BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Five, are available from all providers (although in some localities Five is not receivable on analogue terrestrial television).

Provider	Free or pay	No. broadcast channels	VOD	HD	Red button	Households	Transmission
(Unbranded analogue terrestrial)	Free	Up to 6	No	No	No	3,300,000[1]	Analogue terrestrial
freesat	Free	46 (TV), 18 (radio)	No	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Digital satellite
FREESAT from Sky	Free + PPV	Over 230[2]	No	No	Yes	720,000[1]	Digital satellite
Freeview	Free	Up to 42 (TV), 26 (radio)	No	No	Yes	9,200,000[1]†	Digital terrestrial
Freewire	Free and subscription	25 free[3], 19 subscription[4]	No	No	No	40,000[5]	IPTV
The Internet	Varies	Unknown	Yes	Yes	No	15,606,100[6]	Internet television
BT Vision	Pay	As Freeview	Yes	No	No	150,000[7]	IPTV and digital terrestrial
Orange	Pay	Unknown	Unknown	No	No	Unknown	Mobile television
Sky TV	Pay	Around 600 (TV and radio)	Push	Yes	Yes	8,600,000[1]‡	Digital satellite
Smallworld	Pay	99[8]	No	No	No	¶	Digital cable
T-Mobile	Pay	Unknown	Unknown	No	No	Unknown	Mobile television
Tiscali TV	Pay	73	Yes	No	No	50,000[1]	IPTV
Top Up TV	Pay	As Freeview	Push	No	No	400,000[1]	Digital terrestrial
Virgin [analogue]	Pay	35[9]	No	No	No	300,000[1]§	Analogue cable
Virgin [digital]	Pay	Around 150 (TV)[10]	Yes	Yes	Yes	3,311,400[1]‖	Digital cable
Vodafone	Pay	Unknown	Unknown	No	No	Unknown	Mobile television
WightCable	Pay	120[11]	No	No	No	¶	Digital cable

† Figure in table is from Ofcom survey; based on sales figures (figure 17 in Ofcom report), homes where DTT is the only digital platform totals 9,600,000. Total number of homes using DTT equipment is 16.1 million

‡ Figure in table is from Ofcom survey; BSkyB Q1 2008 results report 8,340,000 subscribers (figure 12 in Ofcom report)

§ Figure in table is from Ofcom survey; Virgin Q1 2008 results report 203,500 analogue subscribers (figure 14 in Ofcom report)

‖ Figure in table is from Virgin Q1 2008 results (figure 14 in Ofcom report)

¶ Smallworld and Wightcable have -211,400 subscribers combined according to Ofcom figures (digital cable homes (fig, 2) - digital Virgin subscribers (fig. 14))

Reception devices for the UK's television providers

Provider	TV or IDTV	STB	Computer	Mobile phone
(Unbranded analogue terrestrial)	Yes	N/A	Yes	No
freesat	Yes	Yes	No	No
FREESAT from Sky	No	Yes	No	No
Freeview	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Freewire	No	No	Yes	No
The Internet	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
BT Vision	No	Yes	No	No
Orange	No	No	No	Yes
Sky TV	No	Yes	No	No
Smallworld	No	Yes	No	No
T-Mobile	No	No	No	Yes
Tiscali TV	No	Yes	No	No
Top Up TV	No	Yes	No	No
Virgin [analogue]	No	Yes	No	No
Virgin [digital]	No	Yes	No	No
Vodafone	No	No	No	Yes
WightCable	No	Yes	No	No

[edit] Analogue terrestrial television

Main article: Analogue terrestrial television in the United Kingdom

This was the traditional way of receiving television in the UK, however it has now largely been supplanted by digital providers. There are 5 channels with regional variations, plus a limited number of local channels. Analogue terrestrial transmissions are currently being switched off in phases as part of the Digital Switchover. The last region is due to be switched off in the second half of 2012. See Digital switchover dates in the United Kingdom for more information.

As of January 2008, BBC One, BBC Two, ITV and Channel 4 broadcast from a network of 1,148 transmitters. Five broadcasts from 53 transmitters, and the Restricted Service Licence stations broadcast from 14 transmitters.^[12] See Category:Transmitter sites in the United Kingdom for information on some of these.

[edit] Digital terrestrial television

Main article: Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom

Digital terrestrial television launched in 1998 as a subscription service named ONdigital. Since October 2002, the primary broadcaster is Freeview, with Top Up TV and Setanta Sports providing additional subscription services.

As of January 2008, DTT is broadcast from a network of 86 transmitters.^[13]

[edit] Cable television

Main article: Cable television

There are three providers of cable television, targetting different geographic areas within the UK. In all cases cable TV is a subscription service normally bundled with a phone line and broadband.

Smallworld Media is available in south-east Scotland and north-west England. Pricing ranges from £10.50 (cost of phone line with 'free' TV) to £80 per month.^[14]

WightCable is available in the Isle of Wight.

Virgin Media is available to 55% of UK households,^[15]. Pricing ranges from £11 a month (phone line with 'free' TV) to £30.50 a month,^[16] with additional fees for premium services such as Sky Sports. Virgin also market V+, a digital video recorder and high-definition receiver.

Virgin Media is the only cable provider to supply high-definition teleivison and video on demand, although these aren't available in areas provided with their analogue TV service.

[edit] Satellite television

Main article: Satellite television

There are three distinctly marketed satellite services.

Sky TV is a subscription service owned by British Sky Broadcasting. It is the dominant satellite provider with the largest number of channels compared to other providers. As of September 2008, subscription starts at £18 per month and rises to £47 per month. Installation is from £0 to £150 depending on the chosen set-top-box.^[17] Additional pay-per-view films, events and individal subscription channels are available. Sky TV markets Sky+ and Sky+HD, digital video recorders; the latter additionally provides high-definition television. Sky TV does not provide video on demand.

FREESAT from Sky, is a free satellite service owned by British Sky Broadcasting. Installation is priced at £75 or £150, which includes the receiver, dish, viewing card and access to all free-to-air and free-to-view channels in the UK.^[18] Existing Sky TV customers can end their ongoing subscriptions, and opt for the Free-To-View viewing card, giving them the FREESAT from Sky service. FREESAT from Sky does not provide high-definition television or video on demand.

freesat is a free satellite serivce created jointly by the BBC and ITV. In contrast to FREESAT from Sky, it does not need a viewing card. It is the UK's first provider of high definition television without a subscription; one channel was available at launch.^[19] freesat does not provide video on demand, or access to specific free channels which use BSkyB's encryption, including Channel 4 HD and five.

freesat, FREESAT from Sky and Sky TV transmit from SES Astra satellites at a longitude of 28.2° East (Astra 2A/2B/2C/2D) and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5° East. As the satellites are in geostationary orbit, they are positioned above the earth's equator(0°00′N 28°12′E / 0, 28.2 (Satellites transmitting Sky TV, freesat and FREESAT from Sky to the UK and Ireland)) approximately 35,786 km above mean sea level; this places them above the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

[edit] IP television (IPTV)

See also: IPTV

In contrast to Internet TV, IPTV refers to services operated and controlled by a single company, who may also control the 'Final Mile' to the consumers' premises. BT Vision, Freewire and Tiscali TV are the UK's three providers of IPTV services.

BT Vision and Tiscali TV offer a range of broadcast channels as well as additional on demand content.

Freewire offers free and subscription channels to students at 40 universities. It is received on PCs and distributed via the academic computer network, JANET.^[20][5][21]

[edit] Mobile television

See also: Mobile TV

Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone provide mobile television services for reception on third generation mobile phones. They consist of a mixture of regular channels (marketed as 'live TV') as well as made for mobile channels with looped content.

Orange provide 9 packages of TV channels, starting from £5/month.^[22]

T-Mobile provide 4 packages of TV channels, marketed as T-Mobile TV or Sky Mobile TV. The cheapest package is £3.50/month.^[23]

Vodafone provides 5 packages of TV channels collectively marketed as Sky Mobile TV, with the cheapest package at £3/month.^[24]

[edit] Internet television

See also: Internet television

Television received via the Internet may be free, subscription or pay-per-view, multicast, unicast, or peer-to-peer, streamed or downloaded, and use a variety of distribution technologies. Playback is normally via a computer and broadband Internet connection, although digital media receivers or media center computers can be used for playback on televisions, such as the Netgear Digital Entertainer or a computer equipped with Windows Media Center.

Since 2006, UK channel owners and content producers have been creating Internet services to access their programmes.

Sky TV has offered Sky Anytime since January 2006, software for Windows which allows customers who subscribe to the Sky Movies and Sky Sports channels to download video onto their PC through a broadband internet connection. The content includes sport highlights, feature-length movies, sports news and entertainment shows.

Channel 4 has offered 4 on Demand since November 2006. The Internet version allows users to view programming recently shown on Channel 4, E4 or More4, or from their archives. The 'catch-up' service offers content free of charge for thirty days after its broadcast. Some content is available free of charge, whilst most other programmes and films, including archive programming, is charged for on a per-download basis.

ITV offers itv.com, a web site focussed on on-demand video, with genres being added since June 2007. It allows viewers gain access to simulcasts, previews and catch-ups of broadcast content within a 30-day window. Aside from major sporting events and other premium content, this programming is free.

The BBC has offered BBC iPlayer since July 2007. Originally software for Windows for download and playback of selected programmes aired in the last 7 days, a streaming version has since been launched. The BBC also simulcasts BBC News via bbc.co.uk, and offers news reports and other video items through its website and a channel on YouTube. As of February 2008, BBC Three is also streamed on the Internet.

[edit] Forthcoming providers

This article contains information about a future television station, channel or network. The content may change dramatically as the channel or network launch approaches and more information becomes available.

Provider	Launch date	Free or pay TV	No. broadcast channels	VOD	HD	Red button	Transmission	Status
O2	2008	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	IPTV	Awaiting launch date
Orange	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	IPTV	Awaiting launch date
'Project Kangaroo'	2008	Unknown	Unknown	Yes	Unknown	Unknown	Internet television	Awaiting launch date
Smallworld [IPTV]	Early to mid 2008	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	IPTV	Awaiting launch date
Virgin [IPTV]	2009	Pay	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	IPTV and digital terrestrial	Awaiting launch date

In December 2007, Telefónica O2 (branded O₂) announced the roll out of IPTV services in 2008.^[25]

Orange announced the desire for IPTV services to be launched in 2007. Orange has revealed one content partner, Disney, and some cartoon mascots for the service. As of November 2007, there are no other details.^[26]

In November 2007, the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 announced a joint on-demand Internet service to be launched in 2008.^[27] The working title is Project Kangaroo.^[28]

In May 2007, Smallworld Media stated their intention to roll out an IPTV solution across their unbundled network in early to mid 2008.^[29]

In February 2007, Virgin Media announced a hybrid IPTV and digital terrestrial service to target the half of the country unable to receive their cable TV services. In November, they stated it will be at least 2009 before launch.^[30][31]

[edit] Channels and channel owners

See also: List of British television channels and Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom

[edit] Most-viewed channels

The Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) measures television ratings in the UK. In multi-channel homes, the channels with a viewing share of >= 1.0% according to BARB's measurements in January 2008 are:^[32]

Position	Channel	Owner	Share of total viewing (%)	Avg weekly viewing per person (Hours:mins)	Licence fee funded	Free or subscription	Carries adverts
1	BBC One	BBC	20.3	5:41	Yes	Free	No
2	ITV (branded ITV1, STV or UTV)	ITV plc, SMG plc, UTV Media, Yattendon Investment Trust	18.0	5:01	No	Free	Yes
3	BBC Two	BBC	7.4	2:04	Yes	Free	No
4	Channel 4 / S4C	C4 - Channel Four Television Corporation; S4C - Welsh Fourth Channel Authority	7.3	2:02	S4C - in part; C4 - no	Free	Yes
5	Five	RTL Group	4.5	1:16	No	Free	Yes
6	ITV2	ITV plc	2.0	0:33	No	Free	Yes
7	ITV3	ITV plc	1.4	0:24	No	Free	Yes
=	Sky Sports 1	British Sky Broadcasting	1.4	0:24	No	Subscription	Yes
9	Dave	UKTV (BBC Worldwide/Virgin Media Television)	1.2	0:22	No	Varies[33]	Yes
10	CBeebies	BBC	1.2	0:21	Yes	Free	No
11	E4	Channel Four Television Corporation	1.2	0:20	No	Free	Yes
=	BBC Three	BBC	1.2	0:20	Yes	Free	No
13	More 4	Channel Four Television Corporation	1.0	0:16	No	Free	Yes

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (January 2008)

Availability of channels from various providers with channel numbers

Position	Channel	Analogue terrestrial channel	Freeview channel	Sky TV channel	Virgin [digital] channel	Virgin [analogue] channel	Tiscali TV channel	freesat	Smallworld channel	Wightcable channel	Freewire channel	Internet
1	BBC One	1	1	101	101	?	1	101	?	?	?	N/A
2	ITV (branded ITV1, STV or UTV)	3	3	103	103	?	3	103	?	?	?	ITV1 - itv.com
3	BBC Two	2	2	102	102	?	2	102	?	?	?	N/A
4	Channel 4	Outside Wales - 4 Wales - N/A	Outside Wales - 4 Wales - 8	Outside Wales - 104 Wales - 117 HD - 140	104	?	4	Outside Wales - 104 Wales - 120	?	?	?	N/A
4	S4C	Wales - 4 Outside Wales - N/A	Wales - 4 Outside Wales - N/A	Wales - 104 Outside Wales - 134	Wales - 194 Outside Wales - N/A	?	N/A	Wales - 104 Outside Wales - 120	?	?	?	s4c.co.uk
5	Five	5	5	105	105	?	5	N/A	?	?	?	N/A
6	ITV2	N/A	6	118	114	?	12	113	?	?	?	itv.com
7	ITV3	N/A	10	119	116	?	13	115	?	?	?	itv.com
=	Sky Sports 1	N/A	N/A	401	511	?	551	N/A	?	?	?	skysports.com
9	Dave	N/A	19	111	126	?	40	N/A	?	?	?	N/A
10	CBeebies	N/A	71	614	702	?	305	601	?	?	?	N/A
11	E4	N/A	29	136	144	?	14	122	?	?	?	N/A
=	BBC Three	N/A	7	115	106	?	19	106	?	?	?	bbc.co.uk
13	More4	N/A	14	138	142	?	15	124	?	?	?	N/A

Availability of programming from channels through mobile and VOD providers

Position	Channel	Virgin VOD	BT Vision VOD	Tiscali TV VOD	Internet VOD	Orange	T-Mobile	Vodafone
1	BBC One	Yes	?	?	iPlayer	?	?	?
2	ITV (branded ITV1, STV or UTV)	No	?	?	itv.com	?	?	?
3	BBC Two	Yes	?	?	iPlayer	?	?	?
4	Channel 4	Yes	Yes	Yes	4oD	?	?	?
4	S4C	No	?	?	S4C Watch	?	?	?
5	Five	No	?	?	Demand Five	?	?	?
6	ITV2	No	?	?	itv.com	?	?	?
7	ITV3	No	?	?	itv.com	?	?	?
=	Sky Sports 1	No	?	?	Sky Anytime	?	?	?
9	Dave	No	?	?	N/A	?	?	?
10	CBeebies	Yes	?	?	iPlayer	?	?	?
11	E4	Yes	Yes	Yes	4oD	?	?	?
=	BBC Three	Yes	?	?	iPlayer	?	?	?
13	More4	Yes	Yes	Yes	4oD	?	?	?

[edit] British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Main article: BBC

See also: Category:BBC television channels in the United Kingdom

The BBC is the world's oldest and biggest broadcaster, and is the country's first and largest public service broadcaster. The BBC is funded by a television licence fee that all households with a television must pay. Its analogue channels are BBC One and BBC Two. The BBC first began a television service, initially serving London only, in 1936. BBC Television was closed during World War II but reopened in 1946. The second station, BBC Two, was launched in 1964. As well as these two analogue services, the British Broadcasting Corporation now also offers digital services BBC Three, BBC Four, BBC News, BBC Parliament, CBBC Channel, CBeebies, BBCi and BBC HD.

[edit] Independent Television (ITV)

Main article: ITV

See also: Category:ITV franchisees and List of ITV channels

ITV (Independent Television) is the network of fifteen regional and three national commercial television franchises, originally founded in 1955 to provide competition to the BBC. ITV was the country's first commercial television provider funded by advertisements, and has been the most popular commercial channel through most of its existence. Through a series of mergers, takeovers and relaxation of regulation, eleven of these companies are now owned by ITV plc, two by SMG plc while UTV and Channel Television remain independent. ITV plc, the operator of all English, Welsh and Southern Scotland franchises, has branded the channel as ITV1 since 2001, with regional names being used prior to regional programmes only. SMG plc, which operates the two other Scottish franchises, has now unified the regions under the single name of STV. UTV, the Northern Ireland franchisee operated by UTV plc, uses its own name on air at all times, while the independent Channel Television uses the generic ITV1 stream and its own name prior to regional programmes. ITV has been officially known as Channel 3 since 1990. ITV plc also operates digital channels ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Men & Motors and the CITV Channel. ITN currently holds the national news franchise, GMTV operates the breakfast franchise and Teletext Ltd operates the national teletext franchise.

[edit] Channel 4

Main article: Channel 4

Launched in 1982, Channel 4 is a state-owned national broadcaster which is funded by its commercial activities (including advertising). Channel 4 has expanded greatly after gaining greater independence from the IBA, especially in the multi-channel digital world launching E4, Film4, More 4 and various timeshift services. Since 2005, it has been a member of the Freeview consortium, and operates one of the six digital terrestrial multiplexes with ITV as Digital 3&4. Since the advent of digital television, Channel 4 is now also broadcast in Wales across all digital platforms. Channel 4 was the first British channel not to carry regional variations for programming, however it does have set advertising regions.

[edit] Five

Main article: Five (channel)

Five (previously known as Channel 5) was the final analogue broadcaster to be launched, in March 1997. Its analogue terrestrial coverage is less than that of the other analogue broadcasters, and broadcast in re-assigned frequencies, often at a lower power from major transmitters only. Many ex-VHF transmitters which were used for black and white transmissions prior to the switchover to UHF transmissions in the 1970s–80s are now used to broadcast Five, mainly due to capacity restraints on the masts. It was also the first terrestrial broadcaster to broadcast on satellite and carry a permanent digital on-screen graphic (DOG). The channel was re-named "five" in 2002, which saw an overhaul of the channel's identity and removal of the infamous DOG. RTL Group, Europe's largest television broadcaster, took full control of the channel in August 2005. Five launched two new channels, Five US and Five Life in October 2006. All of these channels are also carried on satellite television, cable television and digital terrestrial television services. Five also owns 20% of the digital terrestrial pay-TV provider, Top Up TV. Like Channel 4, Five does not have programming regional variations, however it does so for advertising.

[edit] British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB)

Main article: British Sky Broadcasting

See also: Category:BSkyB television channels

British Sky Broadcasting operates a satellite television service and numerous television channels including Sky1, Sky2, Sky3, Sky Movies and Sky Sports.

[edit] UKTV

Main article: UKTV

See also: Category:UKTV channels

UKTV is a joint venture between the BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, and Virgin Media Television. Both companies additionally wholly-own a number of other channels, broadcast domestically or internationally.

Channels under the joint venture are Dave, UKTV Documentary, UKTV Drama, UKTV Food, UKTV Gardens, UKTV Gold, UKTV History, UKTV People, UKTV Style, plus a number of timeshift services.

[edit] Other channel owners

The most watched digital channels are owned by the six broadcasters above. Other broadcasters who have secured a notable place on British television include Viacom, Discovery Networks and Disney.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Programming

British television differs from other countries, such as the United States, in as much that programmes produced in Britain do not generally have a long 'season' run of around 20 weeks. Instead, they are produced in a series, a set of episodes varying in length, usually aired over a period of a few months. See List of British television series.

[edit] 100 Greatest British Television Programmes

Main article: 100 Greatest British Television Programmes

100 Greatest British Television Programmes was a list compiled in 2000 by the British Film Institute (BFI), chosen by a poll of industry professionals, to determine what were the greatest British television programmes of any genre ever to have been screened. Although not including any programmes made in 2000 or later, the list is useful as an indication of what were generally regarded as the most successful British programmes of the 20th century. The top 10 programmes are:

1. Fawlty Towers BBC2 1975-1979
2. Cathy Come Home (The Wednesday Play) BBC1 1966
3. Doctor Who BBC1 1963-1989, 1996, 2005-
4. The Naked Civil Servant ITV 1975
5. Monty Python's Flying Circus BBC2 1969-1974
6. Blue Peter BBC1 1958-
7. Boys from the Blackstuff BBC2 1982
8. Parkinson BBC1/ITV 1971-1982, 1998-2007
9. Yes Minister / Yes, Prime Minister BBC2 1980-1988
10. Brideshead Revisited ITV 1981

[edit] List of most-watched television broadcasts

Main article: List of most-watched television broadcasts

In 2005, the British Film Institute compiled a list of programmes with the biggest audience since 1955. The top 10 are:

Rank	Show	Episode	Number of Viewers	Date	Network
1	1966 World Cup Final		32.30 million	30 July 1966	BBC/ITV
2	Funeral of Princess Diana		32.10 million	6 September 1997	BBC1/ITV
3	British Royal Family documentary		30.69 million	1969	BBC1/ITV
4	EastEnders	Den divorces Angie	30.15 million	25 December 1986	BBC1
5	Apollo 13 splashdown		28.60 million	17 April 1970	BBC1/ITV
6	FA Cup replay: Chelsea vs. Leeds		28.49 million	29 April 1970	BBC1/ITV
7	Royal Wedding of Charles & Diana		28.40 million	29 July 1981	BBC1/ITV
8	Wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips		27.60 million	14 November 1973	BBC1
9	Coronation Street	Alan Bradley killed by tram	26.93 million	8 December 1989	ITV
10	Coronation Street	Hilda Ogden leaves	26.00+ million[34]	25 December 1987	ITV

[edit] Genre lists

[edit] 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows

Main article: 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows

The 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows was a poll conducted by the British television channel Channel 4 in 2001. The top 5 UK-produced programmes are:

1. The Muppet Show 1976-1981
2. DangerMouse 1981-1992
3. Bagpuss 1974
4. Grange Hill 1978-2008
5. Mr Benn 1971-1972

[edit] Britain's Best Sitcom

Main article: Britain's Best Sitcom

Britain's Best Sitcom was a poll conducted in 2004 by the BBC to identify the United Kingdom's best situation comedy. The top 5 programmes were:

1. Only Fools and Horses 1981-2003 — 342,426 votes
2. Blackadder 1983-1989, 2000 — 282,106 votes
3. The Vicar of Dibley 1994-2007 — 212,927 votes
4. Dad's Army 1968-1977 — 174,138 votes
5. Fawlty Towers 1975, 1979 — 172,066 votes

[edit] British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series

Main article: British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series

The British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series is one of the major categories of the British Academy Television Awards. The last 5 winners are:

• 2007: The Street - Granada Productions / BBC One
• 2006: Doctor Who - BBC Wales / BBC One
• 2005: Shameless - Company Pictures / Channel 4
• 2004: Buried - World Productions / Channel 4
• 2003: Spooks - Kudos Film & Television / BBC One

[edit] Soap operas

Main article: The British Soap Awards

Award totals for soap operas as awarded by the British Soap Awards:

1. EastEnders - 51
2. Coronation Street - 47
3. Emmerdale - 17
4. Hollyoaks - 9
5. Brookside - 7
6. Doctors - 4
7. Family Affairs - 2
8. Night and Day - 1

[edit] Analogue terrestrial programming

[edit] Weekday

Weekday programming on terrestrial channels begins with breakfast national news programmes (along with regional news updates) on BBC One and GMTV, with children's programming on BBC Two and Five. Channel 4 and S4C predominately broadcasts teen-orientated programmes in its morning slot, T4, including soaps, music and comedy programming. The weekday breakfast news programme ends at 9:15 am on BBC One and 9:25 am on GMTV.

Following this on BBC One, lifestyle programming is generally shown, including property, auction and home/garden makeover. BBC One continues this genre until after the lunchtime news, whereby afternoon has a soap called Doctors followed by US dramas with the word "Murder" in the title currently occupy the schedule. ITV on the other hand takes over from GMTV at 9:25 am, and generally broadcasts more human-interest chat-style shows, including The Jeremy Kyle Show, This Morning and Loose Women, in the morning to mid-afternoon slots, with the ITV Lunchtime News (including a regional bulletin) at 1:30 pm. Channel 4 continues its T4 slot, often with home-project and archeology lifestyle programming in the early afternoon after the News at Noon. Five broadcasts chatshow programmes in the morning including The Wright Stuff and Trisha Goddard with regular news bulletins. In the afternoon it shows a drama followed by an hour of Australian soaps such as Home and Away and Neighbours and a film.

At around 3:05 pm, BBC One switches to its CBBC children's output, before the game show The Weakest Link at 5:15 pm. BBC Two often carries lifestyle programming such as Animal Park and often many sporting events. ITV shows a lifestyle programme followed by a chat show called The Alan Titchmarsh Show and a daily soap opera called The Royal Today before repeats of classic ITV shows, such as Heartbeat, Poirot and Midsomer Murders in late-afternoon, before a gameshow-style programme at 5:00 pm, which have included Golden Balls and The Price Is Right.

News bulletins are broadcast between 6pm and 7pm on both BBC One and ITV, with BBC One beginning with the national 6 O'Clock news and ITV with the flagship regional news programme. At around 6.30, BBC One broadcasts the regional news programmes whilst ITV broadcasts the national news. Both Channel 4 and Five have news programmes at around 7pm.

Primetime programming is usually dominated by further soaps—including EastEnders on BBC One, Coronation Street and Emmerdale on ITV, and Hollyoaks on Channel4. These soap operas or 'continuing dramas' as they are now called can vary throughout the year, however weekly dramas, such as Holby City, are also fixed to scheduling. Because of this, the UK can often rely more heavily on TV guides, be it with the newspaper, online on as available on information services on the television: Ceefax/Teletext/BBCi as well as built in Electronic Programme Guides.

[edit] Weekend

Weekend programming traditionally contains further children's, lifestyle programming, as well as sporting events and the occasional afternoon film. There are further battles for viewers in the weekend primetime slot, often featuring reality or talent game shows in the evening. Morning and late evening news programmes still continue on BBC One and ITV, yet even these can be shifted about due to delays in sporting events.

After midnight, when late evening films are shown, many channels cease broadcasting "normal" programming or simulcast with another channel. Before 2000, the channels simply closed down, displaying news in the form of Ceefax or a test card. However, recently programming has been shown continuously. BBC channels will join BBC News in a multichannel simulcast. Since 2005, ITV has broadcast the ITV Play strand of phone-in participation TV programmes. Depending on the time of year, Channel 4 will close down to show live feeds of Big Brother (in the summer) and its spin-off, Celebrity Big Brother (in January). On weeknights, Five generally shows various sports from around the world, including boxing and football from European leagues, with phone-in participation-TV Quiz Call on weekends.

[edit] Awards

Main articles: British Academy Television Awards and National Television Awards

The British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs) are the most prestigious awards given in the British television industry, analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States. They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are only open to British programmes. After all the entries have been received, they are voted for online by all eligible members of the Academy. The winner is chosen from the four nominees by a special jury of nine academy members for each award, the members of each jury selected by the Academy's Television Committee.

The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, sponsored by ITV and initiated in 1995. Although not widely held to be as prestigious as the BAFTAs, the National Television Awards are probably the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Unlike the BAFTAs, the National Television Awards allow foreign programmes to be nominated, providing they have been screened on a British channel during the eligible time period.

[edit] Regulation

Main article: Ofcom

Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the communication industries in the United Kingdom, including television. As the regulatory body for media broadcasts, part of Ofcom's duties are to examine specific complaints by viewers/listeners about programmes. Ofcom is also responsible for the management, regulation, assignment and licensing of the electromagnetic spectrum in the UK, and licenses portions of it for use in TV broadcasts.

[edit] Licensing

Main article: Television licensing in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom and the Crown dependencies, a television licence is required to receive any publicly broadcast television service, from any source. This includes the commercial channels, cable and satellite transmissions. The money from the licence fee is used to provide radio, television and Internet content for the British Broadcasting Corporation, and Welsh-language television programmes for S4C. The BBC^[35] gives the following figures for expenditure of licence fee income:

• 50% - BBC One and BBC Two
• 15% - local TV and radio
• 12% - network radio
• 10% - digital (BBC Three, BBC Four, BBC News 24, BBC Parliament, CBBC, CBeebies)
• 10% - transmission costs and licence fee collection
• 3% - BBC Online, Ceefax, and Interactive Content (including bbc.co.uk and BBCi)

[edit] Recent technical developments

[edit] Digital television

Digital television has been available in the UK since 1998 via satellite, cable or terrestrial, and since 1999 via IPTV. It introduced interactive television, 16:9 widescreen, electronic programme guides and audio description.

Ofcom is tracking digital television penetration as part of the digital switchover, and releases quarterly reports. The report for Q1 2008 states:^[1]

• 87.1% (22.2 million of 25.5 million televisions) of main TV sets now receive digital television
• 53% (18.1 million of 34.5 million televisions) of secondary TV sets now receive digital television
• 67.5% (40.5 million of 60 million televisions) of all TV sets now receive multichannel TV; the remainder receive analogue terrestrial television. Multichannel refers to cable (analogue and digital), satellite, digital terrestrial or IPTV.

Ofcom does not consider households which use Internet television as their primary source, whether connected to a TV set or not, nor television from the mobile TV providers or Freewire.

[edit] Video on demand

Video on demand (VOD) offers the viewer a choice of programmes in an on-screen programme guide. When the viewer selects a programme to watch, it starts playing immediately. The programmes may be free, pay-per-view or subscription.

BT Vision, Tiscali and Virgin Media are the UK's three providers of video on demand delivered via IPTV or cable. They offer a combination of catch-up and archive content from programme makers and channel owners. Virgin is the UK's largest provider of on-demand content, with over 3,000,000 subscribers. Video on demand in the UK is also seeing overseas programme makers such as HBO launching VOD services.^[36] Virgin also offers high-definition VOD.

BSkyB and Top Up TV market Sky Anytime and Top Up Anytime. Sky Anytime is available to subscribers of Sky+ or Sky+HD with a particular model of set-top-box. Both are 'push VOD' services which offer access to pre-selected programmes which are played back from the set-top-boxes hard disk drive.

Internet television also provides access to VOD, e.g. YouTube and other streamed video websites.

[edit] High-definition television

Close-up view
HDTV resolution	SDTV resolution

Main article: High-definition television in the United Kingdom

High-definition television (HDTV) has four to five times as much picture information compared to standard-definition television, which results in sharper pictures. HDTV uses a resolution of 1280 x 720p (720 progressively scanned lines), or 1920 x 1080i (1080 interlaced lines), at a 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen). In contrast, standard-definition television uses a resolution of 720 x 576i (576 interlaced lines), at an aspect ratio of either 4:3 or 16:9 (widescreen).

freesat, Sky TV and Virgin Media are the UK's three providers of high-definition television. Sky TV offers Sky+HD from £10/month. It includes one free channel (BBC HD), and up to 16 subscription or pay-per-view channels. Virgin's V+ box offers BBC HD, and 4,300 hours of on-demand high-definition content.^[37]. freesat offers BBC HD and ITV HD.

As of June 2008, there are almost 10 million high-definition TVs in the UK.^[38] Ofcom reports Sky TV had signed up 465,000 customers to their HD service by the end of March 2008, and Virgin have 364,200 customers of their V+ PVR and HD receiver.^[1]

[edit] Production

As of 2002, 27,000 hours of original programming are produced year in the UK television industry, excluding news, at a cost of £2.6bn. Ofcom has determined that 56% (£1.5bn) of production is in-house by the channel owners, and the remainder by independent production companies. Ofcom is enforcing a 25% independent production quota for the channel operators, as stipulated in the Broadcasting Act 1990.^[39]

[edit] In-house production

ITV plc, the company which owns 11 of the 15 regional ITV franchises, has set its production arm ITV Productions a target of producing 75% of the ITV1 schedule,^[40] the maximum allowed by Ofcom. This would be a rise from 54% at present, as part of a strategy to make ITV1 content-led chiefly in order to double production revenues to £1.2bn by 2012.^[41] ITV Productions currently produces programmes such as Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Heartbeat.^[42]

In contrast, the BBC has implemented a Window of Creative Competition (WOCC), a 25% proportion over and above the 25% Ofcom quota in which the BBC's in-house production and independent producers can compete.^[43] The BBC produces shows such as All Creatures Great and Small and F*** off I'm a Hairy Woman.^[44]

Channel 4 commissions all programmes from independent producers.

[edit] Independent production

As a consequence of the launch of Channel 4 in 1982, and the 25% independent quota from the Broadcasting Act 1990, an independent production sector has grown in the UK. Notable companies include talkbackTHAMES, Endemol UK, Hat Trick Productions, and Tiger Aspect Productions. A full list can be seen here: Category:Television production companies of the United Kingdom

[edit] History

[edit] Timeline

See also: Category:British television series by decade, Category:Years in British television, and List of years in television

1936	Analogue terrestrial	Following mechanical television test transmissions starting in 1926, and the first official broadcast in 1929,[45] the BBC launches electronic television broadcasts, the BBC Television Service, from Alexandra Palace. The picture format is monochrome, 405-line, and the transmission analogue terrestrial VHF
1938	Analogue cable	Community Antenna TV launches in Bristol and Kingston upon Hull, the UK's first cable services, distributing the 405 line service
1955	Regulation	The Independent Television Authority is appointed to oversee the creation of ITV by the Television Act 1954
1955	Analogue terrestrial	ITV, the UK's second channel, begins when Associated-Rediffusion, the first ITV franchise, launches
1964	Analogue terrestrial	BBC Two launches, in a higher definition 625-line format (576i). As it is broadcast in UHF frequencies and a different format, owners of 405 line TVs are unable to receive it
1960s	Analogue cable	Rediffusion Vision start a 625-line cable service
1967	Analogue terrestrial	Colour transmissions begin on BBC Two using the PAL format
1969	Analogue terrestrial	Colour transmissions begin on BBC One and ITV
1972	Regulation	The Sound Broadcasting Act 1972 reconstitutes the ITA as the Independent Broadcasting Authority
1976	Analogue terrestrial	Ceefax and ORACLE, the UK's first teletext services, launch
1982	Analogue terrestrial	Launch of Channel 4 and S4C, the UK's second and third independent channels. S4C broadcast to Wales, and Channel 4 the remainder of the country
1985	Analogue terrestrial	The two-station analogue terrestrial VHF transmissions cease
Late 1980s	Analogue cable	Issue of franchises to local cable operators, which will eventually merge to become Virgin Media, Smallworld and WightCable
1989	Analogue satellite	Sky launches, a subscription satellite service, with pay-per-view movies and events
1990	Regulation	The Broadcasting Act 1990 abolishes the Independent Broadcasting Authority and Cable Authority and replaces them with the Independent Television Commission. The Act makes mergers between ITV franchises possible - they will ultimately condense to ITV1, STV and UTV
1990	Analogue satellite	BSB launches, a subscription 5-channel satellite service
1991	Analogue terrestrial	Two ITV regions and Channel 4 broadcast stereo sound transmissions using NICAM, with the rest of the ITV network following in the next couple of years. The BBC launches NICAM stereo broadcasting on 31 August, having started test transmissions in 1986
1992	Analogue satellite	After merging with Sky, BSkyB ceases transmissions on BSB's old satellite
1997	Analogue terrestrial	Five launches; it is the UK's first terrestrial broadcaster to also launch on Sky
1998	Digital satellite	BSkyB launches SkyDigital, now marketed as Sky TV, the UK's first digital satellite service. Unlike the analogue service, it includes an Electronic Programme Guide, interactive TV and text services, widescreen picture format from certain channels (16:9), audio description and near video-on-demand pay-per-view movie channels. This also sees the BBC, Channel 4 and S4C to broadcast via satellite for the first time; as such, Channel 4 becomes available in Wales, and a new Welsh-only version of S4C broadcasts nationally. The BBC is initially encrypted and non-regional; it will drop encryption and launch regional variations from May 2003.[46][47] ITV will not join SkyDigital until October 2001.[48] SkyDigital launches with around 200 TV or radio channels
1998	Digital terrestrial	Launch of OnDigital, a subscription digital terrestrial service
1998	Digital cable	NTL, Telewest and Cable and Wireless begin digital cable services with similar characteristics to SkyDigital. Unlike SkyDigital, cable remains a regional service, carrying all versions of BBC channels and ITV
1999	IPTV	Kingston Interactive Television (KIT), the UK's first IPTV service, launches in Hull. It is the UK's first video on demand service
2001	Analogue satellite	BSkyB ceases its analogue satellite service
2002	Digital terrestrial	Closure of ITV Digital (né OnDigital)
2002	Digital terrestrial	Launch of Freeview, a free digital terrestrial service to replace ITV Digital
2003	Regulation	The Communications Act 2003 abolishes the Independent Television Commission and replaces it with Ofcom
2004	Digital terrestrial	Launch of Top Up TV, a subscription service on digital terrestrial
2006	Cable	Merger of NTL and Telewest; they will later merge with Virgin Mobile and relaunch as Virgin Media
2006	Cable	The UK's first public high-definition broadcasts, as BBC and ITV show the 2006 FIFA World Cup in high-definition via NTL:Telewest
2006	IPTV	Kingston Communications cease KIT
2006	IPTV	Launch of BT Vision, a subscription video on demand service combined with a Freeview receiver
2006	Internet television	BSkyB launches Sky Anytime, a program to download television shows to PCs via the Internet, for subscribers to Sky TV
2006	Internet television	Channel 4 launches 4 on Demand, allowing free and paid-for downloads via the Internet of television shows
2007	Internet television	ITV relaunch itv.com as an on-demand portal
2007	Analogue terrestrial	The digital switchover begins as a consequence of switching off analogue terrestrial UHF transmissions
2007	Internet television	The BBC launches BBC iPlayer, a tool for watching BBC programmes online
2008	Digital satellite	Freesat launches, a free satellite television service
2012	Analogue terrestrial	Analogue terrestrial UHF transmissions cease in all regions.

[edit] Closed and aborted television providers

Provider	Years	Free or pay	No. of channels	Colour	Digital	VOD	Transmission
(Unbranded VHF collection)	1936-1985	Free	2	No	No	No	Analogue terrestrial
405-line cable service	1938-?	Unknown	2	No	No	No	Analogue cable
Sky [analogue]	1989-2001	Pay	Unknown	Yes	No	No	Analogue satellite
BSB	1990-1992	Pay	5	Yes	No	No	Analogue satellite
OnDigital / ITV Digital	1998-2002	Pay	Unknown	Yes	Yes	No	Digital terrestrial
KIT	1999-2006	Pay	Unknown	Yes	Yes	Yes	IPTV

Sky Picnic, a subscription digital terrestrial service proposed by BSkyB in October 2007, was aborted in September 2008. BSkyB claimed this was due to regulatory delays, whereas Ofcom claimed BSkyB 'dragged its feet' in providing the necessary information.^[49][50]

[edit] Defunct channels

There are around 80 defunct British channels. For a list, see Category:Defunct British television channels.

[edit] Commentary

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (January 2008)

Television caught on in Britain in 1947, but only 9 percent of British homes owned a TV during the first four years of its existence. These statistics were extremely familiar to the United States. In fact most of Britain’s TV statistics were identical to the U.S., but two years behind (Smith, 1995, p. 49). Although, Britain was the first country that had a regular daily television schedule direct to homes and they were the first to have technical professions to work on TVs. (A. Smith, Television: An International Hero 1995)

The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) was established in 1927 to work with radio and inevitably became involved in TV in 1947. The BBC has very close ties with the government because of their financial support to the broadcasts. Even though the government is involved with the BBC financially, the station has the independence to decide what to do with money. (J. Gabriel, Thinking About Television 1973

The British government also appointed people to particular positions on the Board of Governors, (the people who run the station). Instead of appointing someone that would help the government take over the station, the BBC and British government worked together to fill the needs of both organisations and hire someone that would fit the system that is in place. (A. Smith, 1995)

When commercial television was first introduced in Britain, advertising during the broadcasts operated similarly to the way the United States operated. They both received money from advertisers, although how they received their money was very different. English advertisers had nothing to do with the programme they were advertising with. The station controlled where the advertisement would go and the product’s company had no say on this. In America, the advertiser would directly pay for their ad to be played during a particular programme. (J. Gabriel, 1973)

[edit] See also

• BACC
• British sitcom
• ITC Code on Sports and Other Listed Events
• Soap opera
• Sports broadcasting contracts in Great Britain

[edit] References

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