We have taken the time to outline the history of one of the most influential organizations in the UK – the BBC.
What you need to known about the BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is the biggest and oldest broadcasting association not only in the UK, but on a global scale as well. It is a publically funded operation, a media network which influence is spread on all continents and is channeled through television, radio and websites alike. Not only that, but as of today, it employs the largest number of media specialists among organizations of its kind – 35 402 people from all backgrounds are responsible for the programming of the BBC network – two thirds of them are permanently employed, while the rest are on part-time contract.
Follow the money
The BBC was established in the 1920s and ever since the main source for funding of the whole operation were the so called broadcast license fees, which were collected from every household in the UK in possession of a device capable of receiving and recording television signals. Another major means of funding is of course selling the broadcasting rights of BBC programming to third parties around the world. Thanks to the countless hit TV shows that have been produced here, especially in the past decade or so – titles worth mentioning include of course the modern-classic Sherlock, Mad Dogs, Doctor Who and quite many more – this is actually today’s major source of income for the British Broadcasting Corporation.
But let us turn away from the present and focus our attention to the history and past of the BBC, because that is exactly where the reasons for the corporation to become so successful are truly to be found.
The origin story
Wherever you look, you will find the year 1920 to be the birth-year of the BBC. The first ever public broadcast was conducted on the waves emitted from the Marconi Factory in Chelmsford in June, and the funding for the whole endeavor were courtesy of the Daily Mail. The broadcast featured the talent of the then world-famous soprano opera-singer Dame Nellie Melba. That event is considered to be an important terminus for changing the public opinion towards radio broadcasting in general, but as one could imagine, there was still a pretty long way to go. The main problem was with the government, and the military to be more precise. The reason was simple – at that point the technology was not evolved enough, thus a public broadcast was more than likely to interfere with military transmission, which was a thing no one wanted. Everything has already started however – by 1922 over a hundred requests for broadcasting license were submitted to the GPO. The British Broadcasting Company was established that same the initial years of operation were plagued by financial difficulties of various sorts.
The Government steps in
The issue brought up the attention of the government. At that time the so called Sykes Commission, which was appointed to resolve the matter in the best way they can, which proved to be making the BBC a publically run company. Well, bearing in mind the results that were produced, including the financing methods – despite opposition from certain members of the British society – the BBC proved to be a rather successful publically financed project. Even a Royal Charter was issued in order to legitimize the existence of the BBC.
The original goal of the BBC, as stated by its first general director, was to broadcast “All that is best in every department of human knowledge, endeavor and achievement…. The preservation of a high moral tone is obviously of paramount importance.” Now this is a rather noble pursue, but when you come to think about it, the British public was forced, for a long time, to listen to only high-brow radio broadcast, which was in its origin intended to run against the American method of radio programming, which aimed at attracting as large an audience as possible. The British and American methods clashed like only two extremes could, which was not good for the audience on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
Either way, since the audience in the UK had no other alternative, the popularity of the BBC grew by the end of the 1930s. This prompted the opening of other, this time privately owned, broadcasting companies by the end of the decade. Most of the programs at that time were musical in nature, but more and more radio plays and news transmissions were already coming on the scene, and the face of the BBC was being shaped fast and effectively.
Today the BBC is an excellent source for news, entertainment and things to learn. They offer viewers/listeners any for of information – from history programs to even something as specific as a removals guide in London. The program package of the network is extensive and includes a long list of entertainment options.
Current programmes
Currently the TV shows that are on different channels of the BBC are as follows.
Comedy
The Catherine Tate Show (BBC Two 2004–2007, BBC One 2009 and 2013–present) (From 2013 as Catherine Tate’s Nan)
Not Going Out (BBC One 6 October 2006–present)
Citizen Khan (BBC One 27 August 2012 – present)
Cuckoo (BBC Three 25 September 2012 – present)
Blandings (BBC One 13 January 2013–present)
Count Arthur Strong (BBC Two 8 July 2013 – 13 August 2013, BBC One 6 January 2015 – present)
Badults (BBC Three 23 July 2013 – present)
Still Open All Hours (BBC One 26 December 2013 – present)
Boomers (BBC One 15 August 2014 – present)
Uncle (BBC Three 13 January 2014 – present)
Inside No. 9 (BBC Two 5 February 2014–present)
W1A (BBC Two 19 March 2014 – present) continuation of Twenty Twelve (otherwise known as Two Thousand Twelve) (BBC Two 14 March 2011 – 24 July 2012)
Cradle to Grave (BBC Two 3 September 2015–present)
Boy Meets Girl (BBC Two 3 September 2015–present)
Tracey Ullman’s Show (BBC One 11 January 2016–present)
Mum (BBC Two 13 May 2016–present)
Love, Nina (BBC One 20 May 2016–present)
Drama
Doctor Who (BBC One 23 November 1963 – 6 December 1989; 27 May 1996; 26 March 2005 – present)
Silent Witness (BBC One 21 February 1996 – present)
Jonathan Creek (BBC One 10 May 1997 – present)
Inspector George Gently (BBC One 8 April 2007 – present)
Sherlock (BBC One 25 July 2010 – present)
Case Histories (BBC One 5 June 2011 – present)
Death in Paradise (BBC One 25 October 2011 – present)
Call the Midwife (BBC One 15 January 2012 – present)
The Syndicate (BBC One 27 March 2012 – present)
Line of Duty (BBC Two 26 June 2012 – 2016, BBC One 2017-present)
Murder (BBC Two 26 August 2012–present)
Last Tango in Halifax (BBC One 20 November 2012 – present)
Ripper Street (BBC One 30 December 2012 – present)
Father Brown (BBC One 14 January 2013 – present)
Shetland (BBC One 10 March 2013 – present)
WPC 56 (BBC One 18 March 2013–present)
Our Girl (BBC One 24 March 2013 – present)
The Village (BBC One 31 March 2013 – present)
The Fall (BBC Two 13 May 2013 – present)
Peaky Blinders (BBC Two 12 September 2013–present)
Hinterland (BBC One Wales 4 January 2014 – present, BBC Four 28 April 2014 – present)
Happy Valley (BBC One 29 April 2014 – present)
In the Club (BBC One 5 August 2014 – present)
The Missing (BBC One 28 October 2014 – present)
Poldark (BBC One 8 March 2015 – present)
Ordinary Lies (BBC One 17 March 2015 – present)
Doctor Foster (BBC One 9 September 2015 – present)
River (BBC One 13 October 2015 – present)
American Crime Story (BBC Two 15 February 2016 – present)
The A Word (BBC One 22 March 2016 – present)
New Blood (BBC One 9 June 2016 –present)
Class (BBC Three 22 October 2016)