unit 8- broadcasting act (5)

The reason of the Act was to change the structure of British television the act came about after the finding from the Peacock Committee. which led directly to the abolition of the Independent Broadcasting Authority and its replacement with the Independent Television Commission and Radio Authority which they are now replaced by Ofcom.

The Independent Television Commission also known as ITC was a licensed and regulated commercial television service in the UK, it regulated the existing 15 channels and the big network of ITV. It lasted from 1991 to 2003. In 2003 It became OFCOM which took the duties of ITC. They became one with the Radio Authority, office of telecommunications and the radio communication agency and now they regulate the TV and radio in the United Kingdom.This allowed for the final terrestrial channels to be created.

The Broadcasting Act was a reform package for British broadcasting, including television it Created 5th terrestrial television channel – now known as Five, and multi-channel satellite television.

Margaret thatcher created this act when she came to power in 1979 there were just three channels – ITV1, BBC1 and BBC2 and so she wanted to change this as she had pressure from advertising industry for new broadcasts. she did this so broadcast market can be open to foreign companies.

she thought exposing it to the market would make it better and also because she didn't agree with certain public service broadcasters as she thought they were against her and the government.  the act contains the regulation of independent television.

Before the act, the BBC used to make its own 'in-house' programmes meaning that they produced everything themselves. When the act was then introduced the BBC was forced to outsource to other companies by 25%

the act had an impact on the 1990 broadcasting act on tv regulation because it allowed channels to be created and have more channels also tv companies became broadcasters rather than regulator. it also a licencing authority it allowed channel 5 to be created and have more growth in the satellite channels.

the act repealed the broadcasting Act 1981 and the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984, amended the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967, the Marine Broadcasting  Act 1967, and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

however the act was opposed from many of the labour party and some of the conservative party who saw it as a representative of a decline in standards and saw it as an unwelcome Americanisation.