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THE
ITV SYSTEM IN 1968 pages
8 and 9
Parliament
created the Independent Television Authority in August 1954 for ten years, and
then extended its life for another twelve years to 1976. Its function, as
defined by the 1964 Television Act, is to provide public television services of
information, education and entertainment. The Authority accordingly:
Builds,
owns and operates transmitting stations (32
stations cover about 98 per cent of the population; additional relay stations
are being built to improve or extend coverage. Colour will be introduced on the
ITV service from about the end of 1969).
Selects
and appoints programme companies (14
companies operate in the ITA's 13 areas, obtaining their revenue from the sale
of advertising time and paying a rental to the ITA and a levy, based on net
advertisement revenue, to the Exchequer. From the end of July 1968 there will be
15 companies in 14 areas).
Controls
the programmes (ensuring
that they are in accordance with the Television Act, including the accuracy of
news, impartiality in matters of controversy, balance in subject matter, and the
maintenance of good taste).
Controls
the advertising (ensuring
that in frequency, amount and nature advertisements accord with the Television
Act and the rules and principles laid down by the Authority).
The
Authority comprises a Chairman, a Deputy-Chairman and eleven Members. They are
distinguished persons from different walks of life and are appointed by the
Postmaster-General. All serve in a part-time capacity. Three of the Members have
as their special care the interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The
present Chairman is the Rt Hon. Lord Aylestone, C.B.E., appointed on 1st
September 1967.
The
Authority has a staff of about 760, of whom 340 are administrative and technical
staff at headquarters, 400 engineers and others at the transmitters, and
twenty-five regional staff (the Authority has regional offices in Belfast,
Birmingham, Cardiff, Carlisle, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne,
Norwich, Plymouth, St Helier, and Southampton).
The
Authority is aided by advisory committees on which serve many distinguished and
representative people. In addition to a General Advisory Council and Scottish,
Northern Ireland and Welsh Committees, the following deal with specific
subjects: Advertising Advisory Committee (plus Medical Advisory Panel); Central
Appeals Advisory Committee (plus Scottish Appeals Advisory Committee); Central
Religious Advisory Commit tee (plus Panel of Religious Advisers and Scottish
Religious Advisory Panel); and Educational Advisory Council (plus Schools
Committee and Adult Education Committee).
The
programmes are produced by the fourteen programme companies in thirteen separate
areas. National news bulletins for all areas are provided by Independent
Television News, a non-profit-making company in which all the programme
companies are shareholders.
The
programme companies under contract with the Authority until 29th July 1968 are: ABC
Television (Midlands and North, Saturdays and Sundays); Anglia
Television (East of England); ATV Network (London on
Saturdays and Sundays, Midlands on Mondays to Fridays); Border Television
(The Borders and Isle of Man); Channel Television (Channel
Islands); Grampian Television (North-East Scotland); Granada
Television (North on Mondays to Fridays); Rediffusion (London
on Mondays to Fridays); Scottish Television (Central Scotland);
Southern Independent Television (South of England); TWW (Wales
and West of England); Tyne Tees Television (North-East England);
Ulster Television (Northern Ireland); and Westward Television
(South-West England).
Under
the new pattern from 30th July 1968, fifteen programme companies in fourteen
areas will be under contract with the Authority: ABC Television/Rediffusion
Television* (London from Monday to 7 p.m. Friday); Anglia
Television (East of England); ATV Network (Midlands); Border
Television (The Borders and Isle of Man); Channel Television (Channel
Islands); Grampian Television (North-East Scotland); Granada
Television (Lancashire); Harlech Television (Wales and West
of England); London Weekend Television (London on Fridays from 7
p.m., Saturdays and Sundays); Scottish Television (Central
Scotland); Southern Independent Television (South of England);
Tyne Tees Television (North-East England); Ulster Television
(Northern Ireland); Westward Television (South-West England);
and Yorkshire Television (Yorkshire).
The
programme companies must consult the Authority in advance about their programme
schedules. Within the approved schedules, the Authority may subsequently call
for detailed information about particular programmes, or a company may itself
seek the views of the Authority about a particular programme.
The
main formal channels of communication between the Authority and the programme
companies are a Standing Consultative Committee, presided over by the
Authority's Director-General; and a Programme Policy Committee, presided over by
the Chairman of the Authority. Senior executives of each company and senior
staff of the Authority attend the meetings of these committees. There are also
various informal channels for consultation and the exchange of information.
In any
one service area, viewers of Independent Television can see about 65-70 hours of
programmes each week. About one third of the programmes are of a serious or
informative nature. The fourteen programme companies of Independent Television
each week provide for transmission a total of about 135 hours of different
programmes produced in their own studios, accounting for about 50-55 hours of
the programmes seen in any one service area. The remaining programmes comprise
British film material made for television or the cinema, much of which is
produced by subsidiaries of the programme companies or in association with them;
and foreign recorded programmes.
*
Thames Television Ltd.
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