Britain: An official handbook > 1993

TELEVISION AND RADIO
programmes to cable operators in Britain and,
in many cases, throughout Europe. While
some offer general entertainment, others
concentrate on specific areas of interest, such
as sport, music and children’s programmes.
British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) carries
channels devoted to light entertainment,
news, feature films and sport, transmitted
from the Astra and Marcopolo satellites. Each
Astra satellite can transmit 16 channels,
simultaneously. Two satellites are operational
so far, with more planned, and provide about
18 channels in English. Other channels
broadcast sport, general entertainment for
women, and a service for children. MTV is a
pop video channel. The Marcopolo satellite
carries BSkyB broadcasts made under
contract to the ITC on the five DBS channels
allocated to Britain under international
agreement. BSkyB will cease broadcasts from
Marcopolo at the end of 1992.
Recent Developments
In February 1992 the BBC announced plans
to launch a 24-hour subscription news service
transmitted from the Astra satellite. Coverage
of domestic and overseas news and current
affairs would be linked to the BBC World
Service Television Channel (see p 436) to
create a low-cost service. Work on the new
service is expected to start in 1993.
BBC Enterprises and Thames TV, one of
the present independent programme
companies, intend to launch a joint
entertainment satellite channel—UK Gold—
on the Astra satellite. The service, which will
broadcast for 20 hours a day, is due to start
in November 1992. The service will be free
to all satellite viewers.
Educational Broadcasting
Both the BBC and independent television
broadcast educational programmes for schools
and continuing education programmes for
adults. Broadcasts to schools deal with most
subjects of the National Curriculum, while
education programmes for adults cover many
fields of learning and vocational training.
Supporting material, in the form of books,
pamphlets, filmstrips, computer software, and
audio and video cassettes, is available to
supplement the programmes.
Each year the BBC Open University
Production Centre produces around 350 radio
and audio programmes and 200 television and
video programmes made specially for
students of the Open University (see p 163).
The Centre also produces educational and
training video materials in collaboration with
external agencies such as the Department of
Trade and Industry and the Department for
Education.
The ITC has a duty to ensure that schools
programmes are presented on independent
television.
Advertising and Sponsorship
The BBC does not give publicity to any firm
or organised interest except when this is
necessary for providing effective and
informative programmes. It must not
broadcast any commercial advertisement or
any sponsored programme; it may, however,
cover sponsored sporting and artistic events.
Advertising and sponsorship are allowed
on independent television and radio subject
to controls. Codes of advertising standards
and programme sponsorship covering
commercial television and radio are operated
by the ITC and the Radio Authority.
Advertising
Advertisements are broadcast on independent
television and radio between programmes as
well as in breaks during programmes.
Advertisers are not allowed directly to
influence programme content or editorial
control. In television, food manufacturers and
retailers are the largest category of
advertisers.
Advertisements must be clearly
distinguishable and separate from
programmes. The time given to them must
not be so great as to detract from the value of
the programmes as a medium of information,
education or entertainment. Television
advertising is limited to an average of seven
minutes an hour throughout the day and
seven and a half minutes in the peak evening
viewing period. Advertising is prohibited in
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