The BBC In WWII U3A Social & Political History
Author : tatiana-dople | Published Date : 2025-08-04
Description: The BBC In WWII U3A Social Political History Group 17 January 2022 Stephen Gill PreWar BBC 1922 British Broadcasting Company created 1927 Royal Charter British Broadcasting Corporation Lord Reith Director General from 1927 and in
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Transcript:The BBC In WWII U3A Social & Political History:
The BBC In WWII U3A Social & Political History Group 17 January 2022 Stephen Gill Pre-War BBC 1922 British Broadcasting Company created 1927 Royal Charter – British Broadcasting Corporation Lord Reith – Director General from 1927 and in charge 1922-38 Pre-War BBC (2) By 1939, 9 million licence holders (73% of households) and estimated max. audience of 40 million One national service plus regional services Programmes included news, music, variety, drama and speech Development of Outside Broadcasts – from “A Cellist with Nightingale in Garden” 1924 Competition from Radio Luxembourg and Radio Normandie Television – by 1939, London area only and about 20,000 sets Pre-War BBC (2) - News No BBC journalists – all news was taken from press agencies and edited for broadcast. News dept formed in 1934 No news bulletins before 6 p.m. – to protect Newspaper interests From early 30s use of ‘Correspondents’ – specialists who provide commentary/opinion pieces after news bulletins Munich 1938 – broadcasting of Chamberlain’s speeches in French, German & Italian – led to BBC European Services Pre-War BBC (3) - News Richard Dimbleby appointed 1936 & proposed mobile units able to report ‘live’ on events via first mobile recording unit. First such broadcast from Fen floods 1936 Outbreak of War TV station was closed immediately for the duration BBC closed all regional services & provided a single service of regular news bulletins and announcements. Note: fear of using radio transmitters as navigational aids to enemy aircraft Outbreak of War (2) All drama, speech & entertainment ceased save some music – Sandy MacPherson on the organ - & daily service & Children’s hour Outbreak of War (3) BBC as ‘Auntie’ – dispensing ‘nannying’ government advice Dispersal of services and departments Wood Norton nr Evesham Bristol including underground studios at Clifton Rocks Tunnel Under pressure from public, light entertainment was restored from late Sept; drama & serious music from Oct 1939 Jan 1940 creation of Forces Programme for BEF in France – eventually became the Light Programme after the War. Relationship with Government Pre-war plan was to place BBC under Ministry of Information & take off air because of use of transmitters as navigational aids Ullswater Report 1936 – envisaged full government control Appointment of Frederick Ogilvie as DG 1938 Ministers of Information 1939 Lord MacMillan – ‘vague instructions’ to BBC re content: Removed 5/7 Directors but lost nerve re taking over the Corporation Replaced
