The Third Programme
In September 1946 the BBC launched a cultural radio service named the Third Programme. The Third, as it was usually called, aired concerts of classical music together with serious talks and discussions. Although the audience for such programmes was quite small, and some even argued that it a waste of BBC resources, the Third Programme proved enduringly popular with the audiences at which it was aimed.
The broadcasting white paper of 1946, produced by the Labour government, ensured that the BBC should remain editorially independent of government. It stated that: "The Government intend that the Corporation should remain independent in the preparation of programmes for overseas audiences, although it should obtain from the government departments concerned such information about conditions in those countries and the policy of His Majesty’s government towards them as will permit it to plan its programmes in the national interest." On January 1st 1947 the BBC's Royal Charter was renewed for a period of five years and the BBC started the General Overseas Service.
In 1948 the new 'Copenhagen Plan' for the allocation of radio frequencies across Europe was formulated to allocate scarce frequencies to the ever increasing number of radio stations more efficiently. This came into effect on 15 March 1950 and had the effect of moving the frequencies of all BBC stations.
A Little More About Television And The New BBC VHF Radio Service
In 1949 the BBC expanded the fledgling television service to the Midlands with the opening of the Sutton Coldfield transmitter on December 17th. October 1951 brought television to the North, to Scotland in March 1952, to South Wales and the West in August 1952 and finally 1955 to Northern Scotland and The Channel Islands. In 1951 the cost of the combined television and radio receiving licence was increased to £3 while the radio only licence fee remained at only £1.
The BBCs monopoly which had, until now, only been challenged from the overseas services of Radio Luxembourg, and before the war by Radio Normandie, anticipated the introduction of commercial television as the Television Bill passed through parliament in 1954. This paved the way for the creation of The Independent Television Authortity (ITA) in August. The ITA advertised for contractors to run various regional 'ITV' television companies across the UK.
ITV On Air
In September 1955 the first Independent Television (ITV) programme companies came on air serving London and the South East.
In 1956 more ITV contractors come on air: Granada and ABC, Yorkshire Independent Television from ITA Emley Moor. ABC and ATV in the Midlands also came on air in 1956.
In 1956 the BBC moved its television transmitter from Alexandra Palace to a tower near Croydon at Crystal Palace.
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A now famous landmark - IBA Emley Moor in Yorkshire built in 1970 for ITV & BBC UHF TV
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