History of Broadcasting

Media Histories

- Technological determinism 

- The market model

- Social conflict model such as social groups

- Liberal or Whig approaches

It can be said that even broadcasting 100 years ago offered convergence, much like it does in today's day and age. 

Key Periods

1850's: Telegraphy using wire

1880: Edison shows electricity can pass through air

1890-1925: New Broadcasting technologies emerged

1901: Marconi transmits Morse code in the UK

1920: The Marconi company creates a London radio station

1926: This is when the general strike occurred. This established the relationship between the BBC and the state. 

1927-1954: The era of traditional PSB (public service broadcaster)

1954-1979: The market returns to challenge the BBC and during 1954, ITV is created.

1980-2011: Politics and New Media hit Broadcasting. In 1979 was the new Thatcher Government and during this time new media became apparent. New technologies were created such as cable TV in the 80's. New Labour - free market strategy but with the role for BBC. 

Importance

A main issue that is important throughout this topic is Convergence. 

Within this, American telephone companies developed radio, which was originally created for point-to-point communication. After which, Marconi partners the Daily Mail in the 20's.

During this time there was a conflict of interest. The governments and military wanted secure communication and this was not possible through things like the telegraphy wire system. 

It can be said that the US and the UK have different stories about the history of Broadcasting.

-The US was and is virtually unregulated and was seen as a free market.

-Commercial radio was funded by advertising.

-The British government was alarmed by the way the US were creating the 'Chaos of the ether'.

-An epidemic of broadcasting was stated by the British post office official.

-In 1922, the government was putting pressure on people, and through this, these manufacturers created the BBC.

-Newspapers wanted to stop the BBC as the new wave of broadcasting was putting newspapers out of business. 

As a whole commercial interests prevailed in the US and the UK was far more political in general.

The BBC and the General Strike

The BBC was established in 1926 and at this time there was a national crisis. Lord Reith who was the founder of the BBC and he was its first general manager when it was set up as the British Broadcasting Company in 1922. He had a strong vision to inform educate and entertain the public. The BBC was not profit driven and was funded by TV licenses. The monopoly going on at the time allowed Reith to use television scheduling as a strategy to improve. There was a variety of popular and serious programming and a sense of cultural consensus around the home countries. Regional accents were banned and there was a strict regulation of political news coverage. 

During the 30's life at the BBC was strict. They liked to maintain a certain standard and therefore all workers had to wear smart suits and in general had an extremely strict dress code. At this time, many employees were dismissed for divorce. Although this can be seen as a bad point, some good points came from this time at the BBC and this was that there were many exciting opportunities for the young. 

Between 1945-1979 the market returns to challenge the BBC and the BBC then launches television services in the late 30's. The swinging 60's were known for things such as drugs and a sense of rebellion, this is shown through the use of pirate radio in the 60's. 

Social Changes

- WW1: Universal male sufferage - votes for women. 

- Communism - Revolution

- Social and Political changes

- The General Strike

- Cheapness and Accessibility 

- Commercial: because of the interest of manufacturers and the way advertising shapes the way the BBC developed. 

Elements of PSB's (Public service broadcaster)

- Funded by television license fees

- No advert breaks

- Non-profitable, therefore putting audiences first

- Inform, educate and entertain (Reith's values)

- Used for reasurrance for government to public

- Established a national culture

- Impartiality: enshrined in a notion of Britishness

It is important throughout to remember the importance of context, including social, economic and political issues going on at the time. As without these issues, such problems may not of occurred.