ITV began broadcasting in 1955, initially considering itself a “popular alternative to the elitist provided by the BBC”. (P.3, Public Service Broadcasting: A Reader, James McDonnel, 1990, Routledge). It was such a success that it attained more than 70% of ratings within two years of its broadcasting commencement (P.116, Media Equities: Evaluation and Trading, Christopher Gasson, Woodhead Publishing, 1995, Cambridge, England). BBC2 was launched in 1964 to compete for the mass audience. It was presented as “a clear alternative to BBC1...”, whose provision of programming “aims to cater for special interests” (P.114, Rethinking the Media Audience: The New Agenda, Pertti Alasuutari, SAGE Publications Ltd, 1999). With the subsequent advent of the state owned commercial public service broadcaster- Channel 4 in 1982, and commercial analogue broadcasters- ITV, and channel 5 in 1995 (rebranded as Five in 2002) (P.178, Modern Scottish Culture, Michael Gardiner, Edinburgh University Press, 2005), and with the growing power of satellite broadcasters, many question whether it is longer necessary for the BBC’s public service. In The Review of the BBC’s Royal Charter, it is stated that “a lot of sky output meets the standard of public service broadcasting although it is not obliged to” (The Review of the BBC’s Royal Charter: 1st Report of Session 2005-06, Volume II: Evidence, P.42, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Select Committee on the BBC Charter Review, The Stationary Office, 2005). Furthermore, Channel 4 and Five have considerable public service obligations which are mandatory if they wish to withhold their broadcasting licence, thus PSB is not unique to the BBC. One could argue that the licence fee is unjust as the public must pay for services provided by
ITV began broadcasting in 1955, initially considering itself a “popular alternative to the elitist provided by the BBC”. (P.3, Public Service Broadcasting: A Reader, James McDonnel, 1990, Routledge). It was such a success that it attained more than 70% of ratings within two years of its broadcasting commencement (P.116, Media Equities: Evaluation and Trading, Christopher Gasson, Woodhead Publishing, 1995, Cambridge, England). BBC2 was launched in 1964 to compete for the mass audience. It was presented as “a clear alternative to BBC1...”, whose provision of programming “aims to cater for special interests” (P.114, Rethinking the Media Audience: The New Agenda, Pertti Alasuutari, SAGE Publications Ltd, 1999). With the subsequent advent of the state owned commercial public service broadcaster- Channel 4 in 1982, and commercial analogue broadcasters- ITV, and channel 5 in 1995 (rebranded as Five in 2002) (P.178, Modern Scottish Culture, Michael Gardiner, Edinburgh University Press, 2005), and with the growing power of satellite broadcasters, many question whether it is longer necessary for the BBC’s public service. In The Review of the BBC’s Royal Charter, it is stated that “a lot of sky output meets the standard of public service broadcasting although it is not obliged to” (The Review of the BBC’s Royal Charter: 1st Report of Session 2005-06, Volume II: Evidence, P.42, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Select Committee on the BBC Charter Review, The Stationary Office, 2005). Furthermore, Channel 4 and Five have considerable public service obligations which are mandatory if they wish to withhold their broadcasting licence, thus PSB is not unique to the BBC. One could argue that the licence fee is unjust as the public must pay for services provided by