Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channels[nb 1] for consumers as well as on-demand content. There are six main channel owners who are responsible for most viewing. There are 27,000 hours of domestic content produced a year at a cost of £2.6 billion.[nb 2] Analogue terrestrial transmissions are currently being switched off and this is due to be completed in 2012.
Free and subscription providers are available, with differences in the number of channels, capabilities such as the programme guide (EPG), video on demand (VOD), high-definition (HD), interactive television via the red button, and coverage across the UK. Set-top boxes are generally used to receive these services; however Integrated Digital Televisions (IDTVs) can also be used to receive Freeview or Freesat. Top Up TV and BT Vision utilise hybrid boxes which receive Freeview as well as additional subscription services. Households viewing TV from the internet (YouTube, Joost, downloads etc.) are not tracked by Ofcom. The UK's five most watched channels, BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, are available from all providers.
| Provider | Years | Free or pay | No. broadcast channels | Households | Transmission | Video on demand | HD | Red button |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Unbranded analogue terrestrial) | 1964–2012 | Free | Up to 5 | 2,600,000[1] February 2009 |
Analogue terrestrial | No | No | No |
| BT Vision | 2006- | Pay | 3 On-demand content via Vision On-Demand |
433,000[2] October 2009 |
IPTV and digital terrestrial | Yes | No | Yes |
| Freesat | 2007- | Free | 115 (TV) 38 (radio)[nb 3] |
1,700,000 May 2011 |
Digital satellite | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Freesat from Sky | 1998- | Free + PPV | 240+ (TV) 80+ (radio)[3] |
597,000[1][nb 4] Q4 2008 |
Digital satellite | No | Yes | Yes |
| Freeview | 2002- | Free | 50+ (TV) 24 (radio) |
9,700,000[1] Q4 2005 |
Digital terrestrial | No | Yes[nb 5] | Yes |
| Sky TV | 1998- | Pay | 400+ (TV) On-demand content via Sky Anytime 160+ (radio) |
8,900,000[1] August 2006 |
Digital satellite | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Top Up TV | 2004- | Pay | 10 On-demand content via TV Favourites |
490,000[4] Q3 2009 |
Digital terrestrial | Yes | No | Yes |
| Virgin TV | 2006- | Pay | 250+ (TV)[5] On-demand content via Virgin Central 35+ (radio) |
3,672,000[1][nb 6] Q2 2009 |
Digital cable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The following are providers for local areas, or these that transmits TV via mobiles or the Internet.
| Provider | Years | Free or pay | No. broadcast channels | VOD | HD | Red button | Households | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freewire | Unknown | Free and subscription | 25 free,[6] 19 subscription[7] | No | No | No | 40,000[8] | IPTV via JANET |
| The Internet | Unknown | Varies | Unknown | Yes | Yes | No | 17,275,660[9] | Internet television |
| Orange | 1994- | Non-freePay | Unknown | Unknown | No | No | Unknown | Mobile television |
| Smallworld[nb 7] | Unknown | Non-freePay | 99[10] | No | No | No | [nb 8] | Digital cable |
| T-Mobile | 1993- | Non-freePay | Unknown | Unknown | No | No | Unknown | Mobile television |
| Vodafone | 1991- | Non-freePay | Unknown | Unknown | No | No | Unknown | Mobile television |
| WightCable | Unknown | Non-freePay | 120[11] | No | No | No | [nb 8] | Digital cable |
| Type | Percentage | Households | Providers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 50.4% | 13,033,440 | Freesat, Freesat from Sky, Freeview, analogue terrestrial TV | |
| Pay | 49.6% | 12,826,560 | Sky TV, Smallworld Cable, TalkTalk TV, Top Up TV, Virgin Media, Wightcable |
| Type | Percentage | Households | Providers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial (free) | 47.6% | 12,300,000 | Analogue terrestrial, Freeview | |
| Satellite (free/pay) | 37.1% | 9,600,000 | Freesat, Freesat from Sky, Sky TV | |
| Cable (pay) | 12.0% | 3,100,000 | Smallworld Cable, Virgin Media, Wightcable | |
| Others | 3.3% | 860,000 | BT Vision, TalkTalk TV, Top Up TV |
| Provider | TV or IDTV | STB | Computer | Mobile phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Unbranded analogue terrestrial) | Yes | N/A | Yes | No |
| Freesat | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Freesat from Sky | No | Yes | No | No |
| Freeview | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Freewire | No | No | Yes | No |
| The Internet | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BT Vision | No | Yes | No | No |
| Orange | No | No | No | Yes |
| Sky TV | No | Yes | No | No |
| Smallworld | No | Yes | No | No |
| T-Mobile | No | No | No | Yes |
| TalkTalk TV | No | Yes | No | No |
| Top Up TV | No | Yes | No | No |
| Virgin [digital] | No | Yes | No | No |
| Vodafone | No | No | No | Yes |
| WightCable | No | Yes | No | No |
The first regular TV broadcasts started in 1936. Transmissions were originated by the BBC, using the Band I-VHF 405-line television system. In 1955, a second commercial service was created using the higher Band III VHF 405-line television system, administered by the Independent Television Authority. Both systems were superseded and finally closed in 1985.
A decision was made to introduce a nationally co-ordinated network of transmitters using the UHF 625-line television system. The first station to appear on this system was BBC Two in 1964. From 1969, the two VHF services also started to use this network, which took many years to complete. One reason for the long switchover period was the difficulty in matching the coverage level of the new UHF 625 line service with the very high level of geographic coverage achieved with the 405-line VHF service. Whereas the VHF system had less than 200 transmitters at approximately 100 locations at closure, the UHF systen numbered more than 4500 transmitters at over 1100 sites.
Over the next 30 years, whilst the network of transmitters expanded, two additional commercial services were offered (Channel 4 and Channel Five).
This system is currently being phased out, from 2008 to 2012.
Since 1998, a small number of local channels have operated under Restricted service licences. These will also cease by 2012.
| Common channel position | Channel name | Channel owner | Regions[nb 9] | Original launch date | UHF launch date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BBC One | BBC | 18 regional variations[12] | 2 Nov 1936 | 15 Nov 1969 |
| 2 | BBC Two | BBC | 4 regional variations[13][nb 10] | 20 Apr 1964 | 20 Apr 1964 |
| 3 | ITV (on-air brand ITV1, STV or UTV; legal name Channel 3) | ITV Network Ltd (ITV plc, STV Group plc, UTV Media, Channel Television) | 17 regional variations (14 ITV1,[14] 2 STV,[15] UTV); 24 advertising regions;[16] 13 Teletext regions[17] | From 22 Sep 1955 – 14 Sep 1962 | 15 Nov 1969 |
| 4 (England, Scotland and Northern Ireland) | Channel 4 | Channel Four Television Corporation | 6 advertising regions[18] | 2 Nov 1982 | 2 Nov 1982 |
| 4 (Wales) | S4C | Welsh Fourth Channel Authority | 1 region | 1 Nov 1982 | 1 Nov 1982 |
| 5 | Channel 5 | Northern & Shell | 4 advertising regions[19] | 30 Mar 1997 | 30 Mar 1997 |
| 6 | Restricted Service Licence channels | Various | 18 channels (approx) | From Oct 1998 | From Oct 1998 |
Analogue terrestrial transmissions are currently being switched off in phases as part of the Digital Switchover. The last region is due to be switched off in the second half of 2012. See Digital switchover dates in the United Kingdom for more information.
As of January 2009, BBC One, BBC Two, ITV and Channel 4 broadcast from a network of 1,134 transmitters. Channel Five broadcasts from 52 transmitters, and the Restricted Service Licence stations broadcast from 14 transmitters.[20] See Category:Transmitter sites in the United Kingdom for information on some of these. The transmitters are operated by Arqiva.
Without affecting the definition of the "PAL-I" system, the UK also uses a digital stereo companding system on analogue terrestrial television called NICAM. Standing for Near Instantaneous Companded Audio Multiplex and used for digital stereo TV broadcasts to the public, it used the NICAM digital audio system used since the early 1970s for transmitting the audio carrier signal of a broadcast between two or more regional broadcasters and sometimes to the transmitters, where it was converted back to an analogue FM audio carrier almost 6 MHz above the video carrier signal.
Reception of the NICAM signal provided the user had a VCR or a TV capable of decoding the NICAM signal, which was broadcast on a carrier 6.552 MHz above the video carrier, and thus just 0.552 MHz above the FM mono audio carrier. The first UK NICAM stereo broadcast was made in May 1986 on BBC2, NICAM slowly being rolled out across the UK and across the broadcaster's programme schedules over the next 5 years, culminating in the official launch of NICAM on the BBC in 1991, ITV and Channel 4 having begun broadcasting NICAM in 1989 and 1990 respectively.
The service is sometimes referred to by its full, official, name, NICAM-728 - the 728 denoting the datarate (728kps) of the digital stereo information. Adaptive DPCM.
As of 2012, and the close of the analogue service, the NICAM digital stereo system will be obsolete. It has been superseded by digital stereo and surround-sound audio systems on digital TV platforms.
Digital terrestrial television launched in 1998 as a subscription service named ONdigital. Since October 2002, the primary broadcaster is Freeview, with Top Up TV and ESPN (previously Setanta Sports before it went bust) providing additional subscription services.
Ofcom reports that, at the end of June 2009, there are
There are three providers of cable television, targeting different geographic areas within the UK. In all cases cable TV is a subscription service normally bundled with a phone line and broadband.
Smallworld Cable is available in south-west Scotland and north-west England. Pricing ranges from £10.50 (cost of phone line with 'free' TV) to £80 per month.[21]
WightCable is available in the Isle of Wight.
Virgin Media is available to 55% of UK households.[22] Pricing ranges from £11 a month (phone line with 'free' TV) to £30.50 a month,[23] with additional fees for premium services such as Sky Sports. Virgin also market V+, a digital video recorder and high-definition receiver.
Virgin Media is the only cable provider to supply high-definition television and video on demand, although these aren't available in areas provided with their analogue TV service.
Existing Virgin Media customers can end their ongoing subscriptions, and opt for their set-top box to be configured to receive digital 'freeview' channels, giving them a freeview service via Virgin Media.
There are three distinctly marketed direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) services (also known as direct-to-home (DTH), to be distinguished from satellite signals intended for non-consumer reception).
Sky TV is a subscription service owned by British Sky Broadcasting. It is the dominant satellite provider with the largest number of channels compared to other providers. As of September 2011, subscription starts at £20 per month and rises to £52 per month. Installation is from £0 to £180 depending on the chosen set-top-box.[24] Additional pay-per-view films, events and individual subscription channels are available. Sky TV markets Sky+ and Sky+HD, digital video recorders; the latter additionally provides high-definition television. Sky TV also provides video on demand branded as 'Sky Anytime'
Freesat from Sky, is a free satellite service owned by British Sky Broadcasting. Installation is priced at £75 or £150, which includes the receiver, dish, viewing card and access to all free-to-air and free-to-view channels in the UK.[25] Existing Sky TV customers can also end their ongoing subscriptions, and opt for the Free-To-View viewing card, giving them the Freesat from Sky service. Freesat from Sky does not provide high-definition television or video on demand.
Freesat is a free satellite service created jointly by the BBC and ITV. In contrast to Freesat from Sky, it does not need a viewing card. It is the UK's first provider of high definition television without a subscription; one HD channel was available at launch.[26] Freesat now provides five HD channels, BBC One HD, BBC HD, ITV1 HD, Channel 4 HD and NHK World HD. Freesat currently provides the BBC iPlayer in terms of video on demand, which has been rolled out to all compatible HD receivers, and ITV Player is currently testing, available only to Humax boxes at the present time. In order to access on-demand services, you must have a broadband connection of at least 1 Mbit/s, and an ethernet connection is required (using either a cable or Homeplug adaptors). Freesat does not give access to certain free-to-view channels which use BSkyB's encryption, including 5* and 5USA. These, however, are expected to be available on freesat by the end of 2011, due to a new narrow-beam satellite launching.
Freesat, Freesat from Sky and Sky TV transmit from SES Astra satellites at 28.2° east (Astra 2A/2B/2D) and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5° East. As the satellites are in geostationary orbit, they are positioned above the earth's equator() approximately 35,786 km above mean sea level; this places them above the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In contrast to Internet TV, IPTV refers to services operated and controlled by a single company, who may also control the 'Final Mile' to the consumers' premises. BT Vision, Freewire and TalkTalk TV are the UK's three providers of IPTV services.
BT Vision and TalkTalk TV offer a range of broadcast channels as well as additional on demand content. BT Vision also offers high-definition programmes for download and playback (near on-demand),
Freewire offers free and subscription channels to students at 40 universities. It is received on PCs and distributed via the academic computer network, JANET.[8][27][28]
Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone provide mobile television services for reception on third generation mobile phones. They consist of a mixture of regular channels (marketed as 'live TV') as well as made for mobile channels with looped content.
Orange provide 9 packages of TV channels, starting from £5/month.[29]
T-Mobile provide 4 packages of TV channels, marketed as T-Mobile TV or Sky Mobile TV. The cheapest package is £3.50/month.[30]
Vodafone provides 5 packages of TV channels collectively marketed as Sky Mobile TV, with the cheapest package at £3/month.[31]
Sky Mobile TV News and Sports is now available on the Apple iPhone on O2 and Orange. This service can be accessed over Wi-Fi and 3G networks. The service costs £6/Month and carries Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and Xtra, Sky Sports News, Sky News, At the Races and ESPN UK.
Television received via the Internet may be free, subscription or pay-per-view, and use a variety of distribution methods (e.g. multicast/unicast/peer-to-peer, streamed/downloaded). Playback is normally via a computer and broadband Internet connection, although digital media receivers, media centre computers or video game consoles can be used for playback on televisions, such as the Netgear Digital Entertainer, a computer equipped with Windows Media Center, or a PlayStation 3.
Sky Player is available on the xbox 360 providing both live and on demand catchup services.
Ofcom does not regulate Internet television, nor consider the use of Internet television in its quarterly reports of digital TV penetration.
Since 2006, UK channel owners and content producers have been creating Internet services to access their programmes. These services generally block users outside of the UK. TVCatchup is the only service not owned by a current UK broadcaster.
| Service name | Owner | Catch-up period | Streamed | Download | Free/Pay | Site | Technology | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 on Demand | Channel 4 Television Corp | 30 days | Yes | No | [32] | Flash | ||
| BBC iPlayer | BBC | varies | Yes | Yes | Free | English Cymraeg Gàidhlig | Flash | Also distributes radio programmes |
| Clic | S4C | 35 days | Yes | No | Free | English Cymraeg | Flash | |
| Demand Five | Northern & Shell | 30 days | Yes | No | Varies | [1] | Flash | Registration required for pay content |
| ITV Player | ITV Plc | 30 days | Yes | No | Free | [33] | Flash | |
| Sky Player | BSkyB | Unknown | Yes | Yes | Non-freeSubscription[nb 11] | [34] | Microsoft Silverlight | Registration and application download required |
| STV Player | STV | 30 days | Yes | No | Free | [2] | Flash | |
| uPlayer | UTV | 30 days | Yes | No | Free | [3] | Flash |
Other Internet TV services may consist of
In July 2009, comScore released research on the number of online video views in the UK during April 2009, showing the Google-owned YouTube as the dominant source.[35]
| Site / owner (top 10) | Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Google Sites | 2,415,292,000 | |
| BBC Sites | 79,416,000 | |
| ITV Sites | 34,723,000 | |
| Megavideo.com | 31,743,000 | |
| Microsoft Sites | 30,205,000 | |
| Channel4 | 20,434,000 | |
| Dailymotion | 20,155,000 | |
| AOL | 19,135,000 | |
| Fox Interactive Media | 18,919,000 | |
| 17,028,000 |
| Provider | Launch date | Free or pay TV | No. broadcast channels | VOD | HD | Red button | Transmission | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O2 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | IPTV | Awaiting launch date |
| Smallworld [IPTV] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | IPTV | Awaiting launch date |
| Virgin [IPTV] | 2009 | Non-freePay | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | IPTV and digital terrestrial | Awaiting launch date |
| YouView | 2012 | Non-freePay | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Internet TV | Awaiting launch date |
In December 2007, Telefónica O2 (branded O2) announced the roll out of IPTV services in 2008.[36]
In May 2007, Smallworld Cable stated their intention to roll out an IPTV solution across their unbundled network in early to mid 2008.[37]
In February 2007, Virgin Media announced a hybrid IPTV and digital terrestrial service to target the half of the country unable to receive their cable TV services. In November, they stated it will be at least 2009 before launch.[38][39]
The Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) measures television ratings in the UK. The following table shows viewing shares from 1992 to 2009 of channels which have once had, or still have, a viewing share of ≥ 1.0%. The figures for 2010 only account for the weeks up until 14 November.[40]
As of 2009, 15 channels have a viewing share of ≥ 1.0% together accounting for 67.4% of total viewing share. (4 additional channels had a viewing share ≥ 1.0% in 1992 but have since fallen below this). Of the 15 channels, 7 of these collectively had a viewing share of 79.3% in 1992, the largest of which was ITV with a share of 30.5%. As the number of channels rose and with the launch of digital television, the collective share of these channels had declined to 67.8% in 2002, and has remained at about that level ever since. ITV viewing share fell below BBC One in 2002; whist ITV viewing share declined, BBC One has remained stable at about 20% since 2001. Of these 15 channels, 4 are funded by the license fee; 2 are subscription; 7 of these channels launched after 1999. Comparing 1992 to 2009, only Channel4/S4C has seen an overall increase in viewing share.
| Channels | 1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBC One | 25.0 | 24.5 | 24.4 | 23.8 | 23.6 | 22.1 | 21.5 | 20.8 | 20.0 | 20.2 | 20.0 | 19.3 | 19.6 | 19.3 | 20.0 | 19.9 | 20.4 | 20.0 | 20.7 |
| ITV[nb 12] | 30.5 | 30.5 | 30.2 | 28.2 | 26.5 | 24.8 | 24.6 | 24.6 | 22.3 | 20.6 | 19.8 | 19.3 | 18.8 | 18.4 | 17.5 | 17.6 | 17.2 | 16.9 | 16.4 |
| BBC Two | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.9 |
| Channel 4/S4C | 6.4 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 8.2 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6.4 |
| Channel 5 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | |||||
| ITV2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.9 | ||||||||
| ITV3 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.0 | |||||||||||||
| Sky Sports 1 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| CBeebies | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | ||||||||||
| BBC Three | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | ||||||||||||
| Sky1 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 5.4 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| E4 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | |||||||||
| More4 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Dave | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | ||||||||||
| Film4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | ||||||
| BBC News | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.0 | ||||||||||
| Living | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | ||
| G.O.L.D. | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | |
| Disney Channel | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | ||||
| Sky News | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Sky Sports 2 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | |||||
| Cartoon Network | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | |||||
| Nickelodeon | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | |||||
| Eurosport | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | ||
| Sky Movies Comedy[nb 13] | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Sky Movies Action & Thriller[nb 14] | 6.0 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Home[nb 15] | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |||||||||
| MTV | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Since 1992, there are 11 channels which previously had a viewing share of ≥ 1.0%, but which have now fallen below. (These are depicted with grey titles in the table above). In 1992, these channels collectively had a viewing share of 12.8% via analogue satellite and cable television. This peaked in 1998 at 16.5%, coinciding with the launch of digital television. In 2009, the collective viewing share of these 11 channels is 3.5%. The largest individual loss is for a channel now known as Sky Movies Action & Thriller, from 6% in 1992 to 0.1% in 2009. With the exception of Sky News, these are all subscription channels.
| Position | Channel | Analogue terrestrial channel | Freeview channel | Sky TV channel | Virgin [digital] channel | Virgin [analogue] channel | TalkTalk TV channel | Freesat | Smallworld channel | Wightcable channel | Freewire channel | Internet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BBC One | 1 | 1 | 101 | 101 | ? | 1 | 101 | ? | ? | 101 | [4] |
| 2 | ITV1[nb 12] | 3 | 3 | 103 | 103 | ? | 3 | 103 | ? | ? | 103 | ITV1 - itv.com |
| 3 | BBC Two | 2 | 2 | 102 | 102 | ? | 2 | 102 | ? | ? | 102 | [5] |
| 4 | Channel 4 | Outside Wales - 4 Wales - N/A |
Outside Wales - 4 Wales - 8 |
Outside Wales - 104 Wales - 117 HD - 140 |
104 | ? | 4 | Outside Wales - 104 Wales - 120 |
? | ? | ? | [6] |
| 4 | S4C | Wales - 4 Outside Wales - N/A |
Wales - 4 Outside Wales - N/A |
Wales - 104 Outside Wales - 134 |
Wales - 194 Outside Wales - N/A |
? | N/A | Wales - 104 Outside Wales - 120 |
? | ? | ? | s4c.co.uk |
| 5 | Channel 5 | 5 | 5 | 105 | 105 | ? | 5 | 105 | ? | ? | ? | N/A |
| 6 | ITV3 | N/A | 10 | 119 | 116 | ? | 13 | 115 | ? | ? | ? | itv.com |
| 7 | ITV2 | N/A | 6 | 118 | 114 | ? | 12 | 113 | ? | ? | ? | itv.com |
| 8 | E4 | N/A | 29 | 136 | 144 | ? | 14 | 122 | ? | ? | ? | [7] |
| 9 | Sky Sports 1 | N/A | N/A | 401 | 511 | ? | 551 | N/A | ? | ? | ? | skysports.com |
| 10 | Sky1 | N/A | N/A | 106 | 121 | ? | 353 | N/A | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| = | CBeebies | N/A | 71 | 614 | 702 | ? | 305 | 601 | ? | ? | ? | N/A |
| 12 | ITV4 | N/A | 28 | 120 | 117 | ? | 29 | 117 | ? | ? | ? | itv.com |
| 13 | BBC Three | N/A | 7 | 115 | 106 | ? | 19 | 106 | ? | ? | ? | bbc.co.uk |
| 14 | Dave | N/A | 19 | 111 | 126 | ? | 40 | N/A | ? | ? | ? | dave.uktv.co.uk |
| Position | Channel | Freesat VOD | Virgin VOD | BT Vision VOD | TalkTalk TV VOD | Internet VOD | Orange | T-Mobile | Vodafone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BBC One | iPlayer | Yes | ? | ? | iPlayer | ? | ? | ? |
| 2 | ITV[nb 12] | ITV Player | No | ? | ? | itv.com, stv.tv | ? | ? | ? |
| 3 | BBC Two | iPlayer | Yes | ? | ? | iPlayer | ? | ? | ? |
| 4 | Channel 4 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4oD | ? | ? | ? |
| 4 | S4C | No | No | ? | ? | S4C Clic | ? | ? | ? |
| 5 | Channel 5 | No | No | ? | ? | Demand Five | ? | ? | ? |
| 6 | ITV3 | ITV Player | Yes | ? | ? | itv.com | ? | ? | ? |
| 7 | ITV2 | ITV Player | Yes | ? | ? | itv.com | ? | ? | ? |
| 8 | E4 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4oD | ? | ? | ? |
| 9 | Sky Sports 1 | No | No | ? | ? | Sky Anytime | ? | ? | ? |
| 10 | Sky1 | No | No | ? | ? | Sky Player | ? | ? | |
| = | CBeebies | iPlayer | Yes | ? | ? | iPlayer | ? | ? | ? |
| 12 | ITV4 | ITV Player | Yes | ? | ? | itv.com | ? | ? | ? |
| 13 | BBC Three | iPlayer | Yes | ? | ? | iPlayer | ? | ? | ? |
| 14 | Dave | No | No | ? | ? | N/A | ? | ? | ? |
The BBC is the world's oldest and biggest broadcaster, and is the country's first and largest public service broadcaster. The BBC is funded by a government grant; it does not carry advertising. The grant is financed by the payment of a television licence fee that all households with a television must pay. However, the funds do not go directly to the BBC but to the Treasury instead, via a government body known as TV Licensing. The government has no legal duty to hand all or any of this revenue to the BBC but traditionally has done.
Its analogue channels are BBC One and BBC Two. The BBC first began a television service, initially serving London only, in 1936. BBC Television was closed during World War II but reopened in 1946. The second station, BBC Two, was launched in 1964. As well as these two analogue services, the British Broadcasting Corporation now also offers digital services BBC Three, BBC Four, BBC News, BBC Parliament, CBBC Channel, CBeebies, BBC HD, BBC Alba and BBC Red Button.
ITV (Independent Television) is the network of fifteen regional commercial television franchises, originally founded in 1955 to provide competition to the BBC. ITV was the country's first commercial television provider funded by advertisements, and has been the most popular commercial channel through most of its existence. Through a series of mergers, takeovers and relaxation of regulation, twelve of these companies are now owned by ITV plc, two by STV Group plc while UTV remains independent. ITV plc, the operator of all English, Welsh, Southern Scotland and Channel Island franchises, has branded the channel as ITV1 since 2001, with regional names being used prior to regional programmes only since 2002. STV Group plc, which operates the two other Scottish franchises, has now unified the regions under the single name of STV. UTV, the Northern Ireland franchisee operated by UTV plc, uses its own name on air at all times, while the independent Channel Television uses the generic ITV1 stream and its own name prior to regional programmes. ITV has been officially known as Channel 3 since 1990, although this is seldom used to identify itself. The company also operates digital channels ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Men & Motors, CITV Channel, some with HDTV streams. ITN, a subsidiary, currently holds the national news franchise, ITV Breakfast operates the breakfast franchise and Teletext Ltd operates the national teletext franchise.
Launched in 1982, Channel 4 is a state-owned national broadcaster which is funded by its commercial activities (including advertising). Channel 4 has expanded greatly after gaining greater independence from the IBA, especially in the multi-channel digital world launching E4, Film4, More4, 4Music and various timeshift services. Since 2005, it has been a member of the Freeview consortium, and operates one of the six digital terrestrial multiplexes with ITV as Digital 3&4. Since the advent of digital television, Channel 4 is now also broadcast in Wales across all digital platforms. Channel 4 was the first British channel not to carry regional variations for programming, however it does have 6 set advertising regions.
Channel Five was the final analogue broadcaster to be launched, in March 1997. Its analogue terrestrial coverage was less than that of the other analogue broadcasters, and broadcast in re-assigned frequencies, often at a lower power from major transmitters only. The UHF analogue network was only designed for 4 channels, and so a small number of additional sites, already used for radio broadcasting, were used to boost coverage. It was also the first terrestrial broadcaster to broadcast on satellite and carry a permanent digital on-screen graphic (DOG). The channel was re-named "Five" in 2002, which saw an overhaul of the channel's identity and removal of the infamous DOG. RTL Group, Europe's largest television broadcaster and a subsidiary of Bertelsmann, took full control of the channel in August 2005. Five launched two new channels, Five US and Five Life (now known as Fiver/ 5*) in October 2006. All of these channels are also carried on satellite television, cable television and digital terrestrial television services. Channel Five also owns 20% of the digital terrestrial pay-TV provider, Top Up TV. In July 2010, Five was sold to Richard Desmond's Northern & Shell[42] which then decided to reinstate the channel's original name, "Channel Five".[43] Like Channel 4, Channel Five does not have programming regional variations, however it does so for advertising.
The current Secretary of State for Media, Culture, and Sport announced his intentions to set up a network of local television stations across the UK. The initial plan was to create a network of local television stations, connected through a national backbone. This plan would create a television network similar to that of the network-affiliate model in the United States and Canada.
The first stations will be licensed in 2012, and allowed to start broadcasting that year too.
Richard Horwood, a former Trinity Mirror executive announced that when the local television stations are first licensed he intends to create a television network called Channel 6; this will be a network of local television stations, with Channel 6 supplying the prime time schedule (similar to the American network-affiliate model).
Another operator which has announced its intentions to set up a network of local television stations with a television network connecting them is City TV Broadcasting. That company says it is basing its operations on the Citytv television system in Canada, but there does not appear to be any official affiliation with the latter's owner, Rogers Communications. City TV is initially bidding on a station to be based in Birmingham.[44]
In June 2011 it was announced that the national spine plan would be scrapped, and a 'bottom-up' approach would be followed instead, were stations are individually licensed.
British Sky Broadcasting operates a satellite television service and numerous television channels including Sky1, Sky2, Sky3, Sky Movies and Sky Sports.
UKTV is a joint venture between the BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, and Virgin Media. Both companies additionally wholly own a number of other channels, broadcast domestically or internationally.
Channels under the joint venture are Alibi, Blighty, Dave, Eden, G.O.L.D., Good Food, Really, Home, Watch, Yesterday plus a number of timeshift services.
The most watched digital channels are owned by the six broadcasters above. Other broadcasters who have secured a notable place on British television include Virgin Media, Viacom, Discovery Networks, Disney & Turner.
British television differs from other countries, such as the United States, in as much that programmes produced in the United Kingdom do not generally have a long 'season' run of around 20 weeks. Instead, they are produced in a series, a set of episodes varying in length, usually aired over a period of a few months. See List of British television series.
100 Greatest British Television Programmes was a list compiled in 2000 by the British Film Institute (BFI), chosen by a poll of industry professionals, to determine what were the greatest British television programmes of any genre ever to have been screened. Although not including any programmes made in 2000 or later, the list is useful as an indication of what were generally regarded as the most successful British programmes of the 20th century. The top 10 programmes are:
100 Greatest TV Moments was a list compiled by Channel 4 in 1999. The top 10 entries are:
| # | Programme | Channel | Year | Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (Various) | BBC One / BBC Two / ITV | 1969 | The Apollo 11 moon landing |
| 2 | News | 1990 | The release of Nelson Mandela | |
| 3 | News | 1997 | Michael Portillo loses his seat in the general election, which came to symbolise the end of the period of Conservative government which had begun in 1979 with Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister | |
| 4 | News | 1997 | The death of Diana, Princess of Wales | |
| 5 | News | 1989 | The fall of the Berlin Wall | |
| 6 | 1966 FIFA World Cup | BBC One / ITV | 1966 | Final: England beats Germany 4-2; commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme's quotation "They think it's all over" |
| 7 | Only Fools and Horses | BBC One | 1989 | Yuppy Love: Del Boy falls through a bar flap |
| 8 | Live Aid | BBC One | 1985 | The multi-venue rock concert to raise funds for the famine of Ethiopia |
| 9 | Blackadder Goes Forth | BBC One | 1989 | Goodbyeee: The protagonists go over the top |
| 10 | News | 1963 | John F. Kennedy assassination |
In 2005, the British Film Institute compiled a list of programmes with the biggest audience since 1955. The top 10 are:
| Rank | Show | Episode | Number of Viewers | Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1966 World Cup Final | 32.30 million | 30 July 1966 | BBC/ITV | |
| 2 | Funeral of Princess Diana | 32.10 million | 6 September 1997 | BBC1/ITV | |
| 3 | British Royal Family documentary | 30.69 million | 1969 | BBC1/ITV | |
| 4 | EastEnders | Den divorces Angie | 30.15 million | 25 December 1986 | BBC1 |
| 5 | Apollo 13 splashdown | 28.60 million | 17 April 1970 | BBC1/ITV | |
| 6 | FA Cup replay: Chelsea vs. Leeds | 28.49 million | 29 April 1970 | BBC1/ITV | |
| 7 | Royal Wedding of Charles & Diana | 28.40 million | 29 July 1981 | BBC1/ITV | |
| 8 | Wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips | 27.60 million | 14 November 1973 | BBC1 | |
| 9 | Coronation Street | Alan Bradley killed by tram | 26.93 million | 8 December 1989 | ITV |
| 10 | Coronation Street | Hilda Ogden leaves | 26.00+ million[45] | 25 December 1987 | ITV |
Top 20 Most Controversial TV Moments was an E4 programme from 2005. The top 4 programmes were:
The 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows was a poll conducted by the British television channel Channel 4 in 2001. The top 5 UK-produced programmes are:
Britain's Best Sitcom was a poll conducted in 2004 by the BBC to identify the United Kingdom's best situation comedy. The top 5 programmes were:
The British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series is one of the major categories of the British Academy Television Awards. The last 5 winners are:
Weekday programming on terrestrial channels begins with breakfast national news programmes (along with regional news updates) on BBC One and ITV1, with children's programming on BBC Two and Channel Five. Channel 4 predominately broadcasts comedy and music programmes such as "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Freshly Squeezed" in its morning slot. The weekday breakfast news programme ends at 9:15 am on BBC One and 9:25 am on Daybreak.
Following this on BBC One, lifestyle programming is generally shown, including property, auction and home/garden makeover. BBC One continues this genre until after the lunchtime news, whereby afternoon has a soap called Doctors followed by dramas currently occupy the schedule. ITV on the other hand takes over from Daybreak at 9:25 am, and generally broadcasts more human-interest chat-style shows, including The Jeremy Kyle Show, This Morning and Loose Women, in the morning to mid-afternoon slots, with the ITV Lunchtime News (including a regional bulletin) at 1:30 pm. Channel 4 often shows home-project and archaeology lifestyle programming in the early afternoon after a Channel 4 News summary. Channel Five broadcasts chatshow programmes in the morning including The Wright Stuff with regular news bulletins followed by the last nights Big Brother (During Aus-Dec, Jan). In the afternoon it shows a drama followed by an hour of Australian soaps such as Home and Away and Neighbours and a film.
At around 3:05 pm, BBC One switches to its CBBC children's output, before the game show Pointless at 5:15 pm. BBC Two often carries lifestyle programming such as Animal Park and occasionally many sporting events. ITV shows a lifestyle programme followed by a chat show such as The Alan Titchmarsh Show before repeats of classic ITV shows, such as Heartbeat, Poirot and Midsomer Murders in late-afternoon, before a gameshow-style programme at 5:00 pm, which have included Golden Balls and The Price Is Right.
News bulletins are broadcast between 6 pm and 7 pm on both BBC One and ITV, with BBC One beginning with the national 6 O'Clock news and ITV with the flagship regional news programme. At around 6.30, BBC One broadcasts the regional news programmes whilst ITV broadcasts the national news. Both Channel 4 and Channel Five have news programmes at around 7 pm.
Primetime programming is usually dominated by further soaps—including "Doctors", "EastEnders on BBC One, Coronation Street and Emmerdale on ITV, and Hollyoaks on Channel 4. These soap operas or 'continuing dramas' as they are now called can vary throughout the year, however weekly dramas, such as Holby City, are also fixed to scheduling. Because of this, the UK can often rely more heavily on TV guides, be it with the newspaper, online on as available on information services on the television: Ceefax/Teletext/BBC Red Button as well as built in Electronic Programme Guides.
Weekend programming traditionally contains further children's, lifestyle programming, as well as sporting events and the occasional afternoon film. There are further battles for viewers in the weekend primetime slot, often featuring reality or talent game shows in the evening. Morning and late evening news programmes still continue on BBC One and ITV, yet even these can be shifted about due to delays in sporting events.
After midnight, when late evening films are shown, many channels cease broadcasting "normal" programming or simulcast with another channel. Before 2000, the channels simply closed down, displaying news in the form of Ceefax or a test card. However, recently programming has been shown continuously. BBC channels will join BBC News in a multichannel simulcast. Since 2005, ITV has broadcast the ITV Play strand of phone-in participation TV programmes. Depending on the time of year, Channel 4 will close down to show live feeds of Big Brother (in the summer) and its spin-off, Celebrity Big Brother (in January). On weeknights, Channel Five generally shows various sports from around the world, including boxing and football from European leagues, with phone-in participation-TV Quiz Call on weekends.
In 1963, Mary Whitehouse claimed Sir Hugh Greene, then director of the BBC, was "more than anybody else [...] responsible for the moral collapse in this country". She subsequently launched the Clean Up TV Campaign, and founded the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association in 1965, now known as Mediawatch-uk.
In 2005, the BBC's broadcast of Jerry Springer: The Opera elicited 55,000 complaints,[46] and provoked protests from Christian organisation Christian Voice,[47] and a private prosecution against the BBC by the Christian Institute.[48] A summons was not issued,[49] however as a reaction against the campaigns, the website MediaWatchWatch.org.uk was formed, claiming to "keep an eye on those groups and individuals who, in order to protect their beliefs from offence, seek to limit freedom of expression."[50]
In 2007, the General Synod of the Church of England claimed that programmes such as Celebrity Big Brother and Little Britain were eroding moral standards. The Synod criticised broadcasting trends that "exploit the humiliation of human beings for public entertainment", and called for research to determine the behavioural impact of sexual or violent images.[51]
In 2008, the BBC broadcast a docudrama entitled Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story. In a commentary of this, a journalist of The Independent speculated at the time that Whitehouse had been right in the sense that "allowing channels to broadcast [...] what they like after the 9 pm watershed [has led to] a dramatic decline across the board [in programming quality]". He concluded "On the wider question of whether sex and violence on TV has led to a general moral collapse in society at large, the jury is still out. No one doubts that Western civilization is teetering on the brink – scarcely a day passes without a teenager being stabbed to death in broad daylight – but it is unfair to lay the blame entirely at the feet of BBC2 and Channel 4."[52]
The British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs) are the most prestigious awards given in the British television industry, analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States. They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are only open to British programmes. After all the entries have been received, they are voted for online by all eligible members of the Academy. The winner is chosen from the four nominees by a special jury of nine academy members for each award, the members of each jury selected by the Academy's Television Committee.
The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, sponsored by ITV and initiated in 1995. Although not widely held to be as prestigious as the BAFTAs, the National Television Awards are probably the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Unlike the BAFTAs, the National Television Awards allow foreign programmes to be nominated, providing they have been screened on a British channel during the eligible time period.
Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the communication industries in the United Kingdom, including television. As the regulatory body for media broadcasts, Ofcom's duties include:
In 2008, Ofcom issued fines to the total of £7.7m. This included £5.67m of fines to ITV companies, including a £3m fine to LWT over voting irregularities on Saturday Night Takeaway, and fines totalling £495,000 to the BBC. Ofcom said phone-in scandals had contributed significantly to the fine totals.[58]
The Committee for Advertising Practice (CAP, or BCAP) is the body contracted by Ofcom to create and maintain the codes of practice governing television advertising. The Broadcast Advertising Codes (or the TV codes) are accessible on CAP's web site. The Codes cover advertising standards (the TV Code), guidance notes, scheduling rules, text services (the Teletext Code) and interactive television guidance. The main sections of the TV Code concern compliance, progammes and advertising, unnacceptable products, political and controversial issues, misleading advertising, harm and offence, children, medicines, treatments, health claims and nutrition, finance and investments, and religion.[59]
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is an independent body responsible for resolving complaints relating to the advertising industry within the UK. It is not government funded, but funded by a levy on the advertising industry. It ensures compliance with the Codes created by CAP. The ASA covers all forms of advertising, not just television advertisements. The ASA can refer problematic adverts to Ofcom, since the channels carrying the adverts are ultimately responsible for the advertising content, and are answerable to Ofcom. Ofcom can issue fines or revoke broadcast licenses if necessary.
In the United Kingdom and the Crown dependencies, a television licence is required to receive any publicly broadcast television service, from any source. This includes the commercial channels, cable and satellite transmissions. The money from the licence fee is used to provide radio, television and Internet content for the British Broadcasting Corporation, and Welsh-language television programmes for S4C. The BBC[60] gives the following figures for expenditure of licence fee income:
Digital television has been available in the UK since 1998 via satellite, cable or terrestrial, and since 1999 via IPTV. It introduced interactive television, 16:9 widescreen, electronic programme guides and audio description.
| Type | Percentage | Households | Providers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analogue | 10.2% | 2,637,720 | Analogue terrestrial | |
| Digital | 89.8% | 23,222,280 | Freesat, Freesat from Sky, Freeview, Sky TV, Smallworld Cable, TalkTalk TV, Top Up TV, Virgin Media, Wightcable |
| Type | Percentage | TV sets | Providers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analogue terrestrial | 19.5% | 11,700,000 | Analogue terrestrial | |
| Multichannel | 80.5% | 48,300,000 | Freesat, Freesat from Sky, Freeview, Sky TV, Smallworld Cable, TalkTalk TV, Top Up TV, Virgin Media, Wightcable |
Ofcom is tracking digital television penetration as part of the digital switchover, and releases quarterly reports. The report for Q2 2009 states:[1]
Ofcom does not consider households which use Internet television as their primary source, whether connected to a TV set or not, nor television from the mobile TV providers or Freewire.
Broadcast digital television uses the MPEG-2 and H.264/MPEG-4 AVC technical standards, encapsulated as MPEG transport streams, which are themselves packaged/multiplexed using the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) suite of technical standards.
Video on demand (VOD) offers the viewer a choice of programmes in an on-screen programme guide. When the viewer selects a programme to watch, it starts playing immediately. The programmes may be free, pay-per-view or subscription.
Freesat, BT Vision, TalkTalk TV and Virgin Media are the UK's four providers of video on demand delivered via IPTV or cable. They offer a combination of catch-up and archive content from programme makers and channel owners. Virgin is the UK's largest provider of on-demand content, with over 3,000,000 subscribers. Video on demand in the UK is also seeing overseas programme makers such as HBO launching VOD services.[61] Virgin also offers high-definition VOD.
BSkyB and Top Up TV market Sky Anytime and Top Up Anytime. Sky Anytime is available to subscribers of Sky+ or Sky+HD with a particular model of set-top-box. Both are 'push VOD' services which offer access to pre-selected programmes which are played back from the set-top-boxes hard disk drive.
In July 2009, BSkyB stated the intention to launch a full video on demand service in 2010, accessible to Sky+HD subscribers with a broadband Internet connection.[62]
Internet television also provides access to VOD, e.g. YouTube and other streamed video websites.
| Close-up view | |
|---|---|
| HDTV resolution | SDTV resolution |
High-definition television (HDTV) has four to five times as much picture information compared to standard-definition television, which results in sharper pictures. HDTV uses three resolutions, with equipment baring the HD ready or HD ready 1080p logos to signal their display capability and connectivity. The 1080p logo signifies reproduction of the three HD resolutions without distortion or overscan; however the 1080p resolution itself is not currently used for broadcasting. Unlike standard-definition television, all HD is widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio).
| Resolution | Aspect ratio | Standard definition | HD ready | HD ready 1080p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 576i (720 × 576 interlaced) | 4:3 or 16:9 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 720p (1280 × 720 progressively scanned) | 16:9 | No | Yes | Yes |
| 1080i (1920 × 1080 interlaced) | 16:9 | No | Yes | Yes |
| 1080p (1920 × 1080 progressively scanned) | 16:9 | No | No | Yes |
BT Vision, Freesat, Freeview, Sky TV and Virgin Media are the UK's providers of high-definition television. Freesat and Freeview are free, and also provide ITV1 HD without manual tuning. BT Vision and Virgin Media are the only providers of on-demand high-definition. Sky TV's and Virgin's services are marketed as Sky+ HD and V+ respectively. BT Vision does not offer channels, but pay-per-view programmes which are downloaded and then played back.[63]
77% of the UK can currently receive Freeview HD with the rest of the country expected to be able to receive Freeview HD by 2012. Reception requires purchase of a set-top-box, IDTV or TV tuner card capable of decoding MPEG-4 and DVB-T2.[64]
| Provider | Free/Pay | BBC HD | ITV1 HD | Channel 4 HD | Other HD channels | On-demand | Percentage | Households[1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT Vision | Pay-per-view | No | No | No | 0 | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Freesat | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2[nb 16] | No | 15.2% | 355,500 | |
| Freeview | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes[nb 17] | No | No | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Sky TV | Subscription/pay-per-view | Yes | Yes | Yes | 55 | No | 56.2% | 3,313,000 | |
| Virgin | Subscription/pay-per-view | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 | Yes | 28.6% | 668,500 | |
| Total households | 2,337,000 | ||||||||
As of June 2008, there are almost 10 million high-definition TVs in the UK.[65] Historically, the UK's first television service using the 405-line television system was also termed 'high definition' when it launched; for comparison, the screen resolution would be called 377i (377 visible interlaced rows) using the nomenclature of the table above.
Three-dimensional television (3D television) displays an image with an illusion of depth, the third dimension. In July 2009, BSkyB announced a plan to launch a 3D television channel in 2010, accessible to Sky+HD subscribers with a '3D Ready' television.[62]
3D television is also available via the Internet; video website YouTube launched online 3D videos in July 2009.[66]
3D television has occasionally been broadcast before, such as the Dimensions in Time crossover of EastEnders and Doctor Who in 1993, requiring special spectacles.
As of 2002, 27,000 hours of original programming are produced year in the UK television industry, excluding news, at a cost of £2.6bn. Ofcom has determined that 56% (£1.5bn) of production is in-house by the channel owners, and the remainder by independent production companies. Ofcom is enforcing a 25% independent production quota for the channel operators, as stipulated in the Broadcasting Act 1990.[67]
ITV plc, the company which owns 11 of the 15 regional ITV franchises, has set its production arm ITV Productions a target of producing 75% of the ITV1 schedule,[68] the maximum allowed by Ofcom. This would be a rise from 54% at present, as part of a strategy to make ITV1 content-led chiefly in order to double production revenues to £1.2bn by 2012.[69] ITV Productions currently produces programmes such as Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Heartbeat.[70]
In contrast, the BBC has implemented a Window of Creative Competition (WOCC), a 25% proportion over and above the 25% Ofcom quota in which the BBC's in-house production and independent producers can compete.[71] The BBC produces shows such as All Creatures Great and Small and F*** off I'm a Hairy Woman.[72]
Channel 4 commissions all programmes from independent producers.
As a consequence of the launch of Channel 4 in 1982, and the 25% independent quota from the Broadcasting Act 1990, an independent production sector has grown in the UK. Notable companies include Talkback Thames, Endemol UK, Hat Trick Productions, and Tiger Aspect Productions. A full list can be seen here: Category:Television production companies of the United Kingdom
| 1936 | Analogue terrestrial | Following mechanical television test transmissions starting in 1926, and the first official broadcast in 1929,[73] the BBC launches electronic television broadcasts, the BBC Television Service, from Alexandra Palace. The picture format is monochrome, 405-line, and the transmission analogue terrestrial VHF. The service rebrands to BBC TV in 1960. |
| 1938 | Analogue cable | Community Antenna TV launches in Bristol and Kingston upon Hull, the UK's first cable services, distributing the 405 line service |
| 1939 | Analogue TV | The BBC Television Service ceases from September 1939 to June 1946, during World War II |
| 1955 | Regulation | The Independent Television Authority (ITA) is appointed to oversee the creation of ITV by the Television Act 1954 |
| 1955 | Analogue terrestrial | ITV, the UK's second channel, begins when Associated-Rediffusion, the first ITV franchise, launches. ITV is initially arranged as 14 regional franchises, with three of these (London, Midlands and North) being further split into weekday and weekend franchises. The franchisees launch between September 1955 and September 1962, the franchise holders being Associated-Rediffusion, Associated TeleVision (holds two franchises, ATV London and ATV Midlands), Associated British Corporation, Granada Television, Scottish Television, Television Wales and the West, Southern Television, Tyne Tees Television, Anglia Television, Ulster Television, Westward Television, Border Television, Grampian Television, Channel Television and Wales (West and North) Television |
| 1964 | Analogue terrestrial | BBC Two launches, in a higher definition 625-line format (576i). As it is broadcast in UHF frequencies and a different format, owners of 405 line TVs are unable to receive it. Simultaneously, BBC tv rebrands to BBC One |
| 1960s | Analogue cable | Rediffusion Vision start a 625-line cable service |
| 1966 | Programming | The 1966 World Cup Final broadcasts on BBC One and ITV, with 32.3 million viewers in total making it the most watched broadcast |
| 1967 | Analogue terrestrial | Colour transmissions begin on BBC Two using the PAL format |
| 1968 | Analogue terrestrial | The ITA made changes to the ITV franchises: the weekday/weekend split for the Midlands and North franchises is removed, but the North was split into North West and Yorkshire. From 1968, Telefusion Yorkshire held the new Yorkshire franchise. Thames Television was created for the London weekday franchise, formed from ABC and Rediffusion. London Weekend Television replaced the London weekend franchise holder, ATV. |
| 1968 | Analogue terrestrial | The ITV Emergency National Service replaces the regional ITV network in August 1968 due to strike action as a consequence of the implementation of the franchise changes |
| 1969 | Analogue terrestrial | Colour transmissions begin on BBC One and ITV |
| 1969 | Programming | The Apollo 11 moon landing broadcasts on BBC One, BBC Two and ITV, listed as the Greatest TV Moment in a 1999 list compiled by Channel 4 |
| 1972 | Regulation | The Sound Broadcasting Act 1972 reconstitutes the ITA as the Independent Broadcasting Authority |
| 1974 | Analogue terrestrial | Ceefax and ORACLE, the UK's first teletext services, launch |
| 1975 | Programming | Fawlty Towers firsts broadcasts, listed as the Greatest British Television Programme in a list compiled by the British Film Institute in 2000 |
| 1979 | Analogue terrestrial | Almost all ITV broadcasts and production ceased due to a 10-week industrial dispute. When programming resumed on 24 October, there was a lack of original programming, so ITV showed repeats of 3-2-1. Original programming resumes two and a half months later |
| 1982 | Analogue terrestrial | ITV franchise changes took effect: Central Independent Television was created from a restructured ATV. Television South (TVS) replaced Southern Television. Television South West (TSW) replaced Westward Television. A new national ITV franchise is created for breakfast television, and awarded to TV-am |
| 1982 | Analogue terrestrial | Launch of Channel 4 and S4C, the UK's second and third independent channels. S4C broadcast to Wales, and Channel 4 the remainder of the country. The ITV companies sold Channel 4's airtime until the end of 1992. ITV and Channel 4 cross-promoted each others programmes until 1998. |
| 1985 | Analogue terrestrial | The two-station analogue terrestrial VHF transmissions cease on 3 January[74] |
| Late 1980s | Analogue cable | Issue of franchises to local cable operators, which will eventually merge to become Virgin Media, Smallworld and WightCable |
| 1989 | Analogue satellite | Sky launches, a subscription satellite service, with pay-per-view movies and events |
| 1990 | Regulation | The Broadcasting Act 1990 abolishes the Independent Broadcasting Authority and Cable Authority and replaces them with the Independent Television Commission. The Act makes mergers between ITV franchises possible - the regional franchises will ultimately consolidate to ITV plc (holds 11 franchises), STV Group plc (2 franchises), UTV Media, and Channel Television (1 franchise each). Franchises that would ultimately be owned by ITV plc adopt the ITV1 brand in 2001, and drop regional identity in 2002. The two STV Group franchises standardise on the STV brand in 2006, with Channel Television taking on the ITV1 brand despite being independent of ITV Plc. |
| 1990 | Analogue satellite | BSB launches, a subscription 5-channel satellite service |
| 1991 | Analogue terrestrial | Two ITV regions and Channel 4 broadcast stereo sound transmissions using NICAM, with the rest of the ITV network following in the next couple of years. The BBC launches NICAM stereo broadcasting on 31 August, having started test transmissions in 1986 |
| 1992 | Analogue satellite | After merging with Sky, BSkyB ceases transmissions on BSB's old satellite |
| 1992 | Programming | Ghostwatch broadcasts on BBC One, listed as the Most Controversial TV Moment in a 2005 list compiled by Channel 4. The programme had 2,215 complaints following the broadcast |
| 1993 | Analogue terrestrial | ITV franchise changes took effect: Westcountry Television replaced Television South West; Carlton Television replaced Thames Television; Meridian Broadcasting replaced Television South; Good Morning Television replaced TV-am; Teletext Ltd replaced ORACLE, the national teletext franchise holder |
| 1997 | Analogue terrestrial | Channel 5 launches; it is the UK's first terrestrial broadcaster to also launch on Sky |
| 1998 | Digital satellite | BSkyB launches SkyDigital, now marketed as Sky TV, the UK's first digital satellite service. Unlike the analogue service, it includes an Electronic Programme Guide, interactive TV and text services, widescreen picture format from certain channels (16:9), audio description and near video-on-demand pay-per-view movie channels. This also sees the BBC, Channel 4 and S4C to broadcast via satellite for the first time; as such, Channel 4 becomes available in Wales, and a new Welsh-only version of S4C broadcasts nationally. The BBC is initially encrypted and non-regional; it will drop encryption and launch regional variations from May 2003.[75][76] ITV will not join SkyDigital until October 2001.[77] SkyDigital launches with around 200 TV or radio channels |
| 1998 | Digital terrestrial | Launch of OnDigital, a subscription digital terrestrial service |
| 1998 | Digital cable | NTL, Telewest and Cable and Wireless begin digital cable services with similar characteristics to SkyDigital. Unlike SkyDigital, cable remains a regional service, carrying all versions of BBC channels and ITV |
| 1999 | IPTV | Kingston Interactive Television (KIT), the UK's first IPTV service, launches in Hull. It is the UK's first video on demand service |
| 2001 | Analogue satellite | BSkyB ceases its analogue satellite service |
| 2002 | Digital terrestrial | Closure of ITV Digital (né OnDigital) |
| 2002 | Digital terrestrial | Launch of Freeview, a free digital terrestrial service to replace ITV Digital |
| 2003 | Regulation | The Communications Act 2003 abolishes the Independent Television Commission and replaces it with Ofcom |
| 2004 | Digital terrestrial | Launch of Top Up TV, a subscription service on digital terrestrial |
| 2006 | Cable | Merger of NTL and Telewest; they will later merge with Virgin Mobile and relaunch as Virgin Media |
| 2006 | Cable | The UK's first public high-definition broadcasts, as BBC and ITV show the 2006 FIFA World Cup in high-definition via NTL:Telewest |
| 2006 | IPTV | Kingston Communications cease KIT |
| 2006 | IPTV | Launch of BT Vision, a subscription video on demand service combined with a Freeview receiver |
| 2006 | Internet television | BSkyB launches Sky Anytime, a program to download television shows to PCs via the Internet, for subscribers to Sky TV |
| 2006 | Internet television | Channel 4 launches 4 on Demand, allowing free and paid-for downloads via the Internet of television shows |
| 2007 | Internet television | ITV relaunch itv.com as an on-demand portal |
| 2007 | Analogue terrestrial | The digital switchover begins as a consequence of switching off analogue terrestrial UHF transmissions |
| 2007 | Internet television | The BBC launches BBC iPlayer, a tool for watching BBC programmes online |
| 2008 | Digital satellite | Freesat launches, a free satellite television service |
| 2009 | Analogue cable | Virgin Media closes the last analogue cable areas |
| 2012 | Analogue terrestrial | Analogue terrestrial UHF transmissions cease in all regions. |
| Provider | Years | Free or pay | No. of channels | Colour | Digital | VOD | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Unbranded VHF collection) | 1936–1985 | Free | 2 | No | No | No | Analogue terrestrial |
| 405-line cable service | 1938-? | Unknown | 2 | No | No | No | Analogue cable |
| Virgin [analogue] | 1984–2009 | Non-freePay | 35[78] | Yes | No | No | Analogue cable |
| Sky [analogue] | 1989–2001 | Non-freePay | Unknown | Yes | No | No | Analogue satellite |
| BSB | 1990–1992 | Non-freePay | 5 | Yes | No | No | Analogue satellite |
| OnDigital / ITV Digital | 1998–2002 | Non-freePay | Unknown | Yes | Yes | No | Digital terrestrial |
| KIT | 1999–2006 | Non-freePay | Unknown | Yes | Yes | Yes | IPTV |
Orange had announced the desire for IPTV services to be launched in 2007. In November 2008, Orange stated there was 'no rollout imminent' as the service was too similar to BT Vision.[79][80]
Sky Picnic, a subscription digital terrestrial service proposed by BSkyB in October 2007, was aborted in September 2008. BSkyB claimed this was due to regulatory delays, whereas Ofcom claimed BSkyB 'dragged its feet' in providing the necessary information.[81][82]
'Project Kangaroo' was an on-demand Internet service announced by the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 in November 2007 to be launched in 2008.[83][84] After an inquiry, in February 2009 the Competition Commission blocked Project Kangaroo, stating that viewers would benefit from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 competing with each other rather than collaborating. During the inquiry, Sky and Virgin Media had claimed that Kangaroo would concentrate too much power over content.[85]
There are around 100 defunct British channels. For a list, see List of former TV channels in the UK or Category:Defunct British television channels.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was established in 1927 to develop radio broadcasting, and inevitably became involved in TV in 1936. The BBC is funded by income from a "Broadcast Receiving Licence" purchased by UK residents. The cost of this is set by agreement with the British Government.
Television caught on in the United Kingdom in 1947, but its expansion was slow. By 1951, with only 2 transmitters, near London and Birmingham, only 9 percent of British homes owned a TV. The United Kingdom was the first country to have a regular daily television schedule direct to homes and it was the first to have technical professions to work on TVs. (A. Smith, Television: An International Hero 1995)
The British government previously appointed people to the BBC's Board of Governors, a body responsible for the general direction of the organisation, and appointment of senior executives, but not its day to day management. From 2007, the BBC Trust replaced the Board of Governors. It is operationally independent of BBC management and external bodies, and aims to act in the best interests of licence fee payers
Commercial television was first introduced in the United Kingdom, in 1955. Unlike the US, there was a distinct split between advertisements and programming. Advertisers purely purchased spots within pre-defined breaks within programming, and had no connection to the programme content. The content and nature of adverts being strictly controlled by the ITA the body controlling commercial television.
The first commercial direct-broadcast satellite (DBS, also known as direct-to-home) service in the United Kingdom, Sky Television, was launched in 1989 and used the newly launched Astra satellite at 19.2° east, providing 4 analogue TV channels. The channels and subsequent VideoCrypt video encryption system used the existing PAL broadcast standard, unlike the winner of the UK state DBS licence, British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB).
In 1990, BSB launched, broadcasting five channels (Now, Galaxy, The Movie Channel, The Power Station and The Sports Channel) in D-MAC format and using the EuroCypher video encryption system which was derived from the General Instruments VideoCipher system used in the USA. One of the main selling points of the BSB offering was the Squarial, a flat plate antenna and low-noise block converter (LNB). Sky's system used conventional and cheaper dish and LNB technology.
The two companies competed over the UK rights to movies. Sky operated from an industrial park in Isleworth in West London, whereas BSB had newly built offices in London (Marco Polo House). The two services subsequently merged to form British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB). BSB's D-MAC/EuroCypher system was gradually replaced with Sky's VideoCrypt video encryption system.
In 1994 17% of the group was floated on the London Stock Exchange (with ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange), and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation owns a 35% stake.
By 1998, following the launch of several more satellites to Astra's 19.2° east position, the number of channels had increased to around 60 and BSkyB launched the first subscription-based digital television platform in the UK, offering a range of 300 channels broadcast from Astra's new satellite, at 28.2° east position under the brand name Sky Digital. BSkyB’s analogue service has now been discontinued, with all customers having been migrated to Sky Digital.
In May 2008, a free-to-air satellite service from the BBC and ITV was launched under the brand name Freesat, carrying a variety of channels from Astra 28.2°E, including some content in HD formats.