Introduction to UK television

The five national networks
Excluding satellite, cable and digital, there are five national networks in the UK.

The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) broadcast six national stations, the first two of which are carried on regular terrestrial broadcasts - BBC ONE, BBC TWO, BBC CHOICE, BBC FOUR, BBC NEWS24, and BBC PARLIAMENT. BBC ONE and TWO occasionally broadcast regional programming, like news and the occasional local special-interest programme (although BBC1 in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has more local programming). All others are carried on cable networks, digital satellite and digital terrestrial. These television channels, and the BBC's many radio services, are funded by the television licence, which, in May 1999, costs around £100 (€142) per year. The channels carry no advertising.

The BBC also broadcasts two worldwide television services, BBC World and BBC Prime, which are not for UK viewers (although BBC World is available on some satellite systems) and which are funded by advertising. The BBC also has an interest in UKTV, which broacasts a range of channels on satellite and cable. Programme content is heavily influenced by the BBC's programme library.

There are three commercial television national stations - ITV (officially 'Channel 3'), Channel 4, and Channel 5.

ITV stands for independent television, a throw-back to the days when there was only one 'independent' television channel. It's split into different regional companies, who take national programmes at peak times and broadcast their own programmes at other times. Each ITV company can also produce national programming. And if it wasn't confusing enough, ITV is completely national between 0600 and 0930 - GMTV produces ITV's breakfast programmes. Technically speaking ITV "networks" and does not broadcast nationally - each regional company takes the same programmes, but not all are from the same source. Until recently, each ITV channel was idented as the regional company: so, in Yorkshire, it would be called "Yorkshire TV". In 2002, the decision was made to brand ITV services in England and Wales as "ITV1": Scottish TV, Grampian TV, and UTV continue being a part of the ITV network but retain their own brand.

In Wales, Channel 4 is replaced by a Welsh-speaking channel, S4C, which carries occasional Channel 4 programmes at usually off-peak times.

Channel 5 is the latest terrestrial service. Due to lack of available frequencies, not all the country can receive the station, and some viewers need a different television aerial. Channel 5 is also carried on satellite. There are no more terrestrial frequencies available for analogue broadcasting.

Cable
Cable television has yet to expand into many homes in the UK - franchises are awarded on a local basis to cable companies, who usually provide both television and telephone services. There are consequently few cable-specific stations - around five or six outside London, and a further ten or so London-specific channels. Digital Cable promises widescreen and interactivity; although the major cable companies are committed to it, it's currently available in precious few places.

Digital
Digital satellite television was launched in October 1998, on a platform provided by Sky Digital, part of B Sky B. It is estimated that 1,500,000 people had access to Sky Digital a year later, in October 1999; in May 2000 the figure is estimated at around three million. Pricing for digital satellite television rises to a maximum of £34.99 a month (€48). Digital satellite receivers are now available free, subject to a small installation charge and to keeping the box connected to your telephone line for the interactive Sky Active service.

Digital terrestrial television launched in mid-November 1998 as a part free, part subscription model, under the name of "On Digital". Unfortunately, the lack of channels, combined with losses due to piracy and a slightly unwise investment into league football, meant that the service went into liquidation in early 2002. It was replaced by Freeview, a consortium including the BBC and broadcast tranmission specialists Castle Communications, and offers around 30 entirely free channels. Terrestrial receivers cost a one-off fee of around £99. The frequencies used are the same band as for analogue television; this means that digital television is currently not available in certain areas, and that aerials sometimes need to be changed.

Teletext and interactive services
Most televisions sold in the UK have teletext, an information service broadcast with an analogue television picture signal, consisting of around 3,000 pages and close-caption subtitling. All analogue stations carry some information on teletext; the larger stations also carry live news, weather, travel and a variety of other information and programming sources. Teletext adds about £30 (€42) to the cost of buying a television.

Digital television brings more interactive services: digital teletext (the successor to the analogue service above), and interactive shopping services. SkyDigital's platform offers "Sky Active", a feature-rich service offering shopping, e-mail, games and information, using the bandwidth available to it - limited interactivity is also available on digital terrestrial. Cable has the capability of the best interactive programming and services.

Regulation
All non-BBC television stations follow guidelines laid down by the Independent Television Commission (ITC), who oversee programme content and quality, and make sure that advertisers follow a specific and stringent code of conduct. The BBC is currently self-regulating: this is expected to change to a degree with the formation of a successor to the ITC called OFCOM.

Credits: Media UK; Brian N Butterworth
Pricing is given in both £ (UK sterling) and € (Euro). For American readers, a Euro is roughly similar to the US$.