The Price of Television

From the collection of

The Box
Established in 1992, the South West Film & Television Archive collection spans from 1893 to the present day containing more than 250,000 items. Formed from a variety of depositors, including broadcast news and programmes material from the Westward and TSW archive. In 2018 the archive collection transferred to The Box in Plymouth.

The Price of Television


The Committee on Broadcasting launched in 1960 came to its conclusions in a published report by Sir Harry Pilkington and pitted public sector broadcasting against commercial broadcasting. BBC’s Royal Charter and Licence and the Television Act were due to expire in July 1964 but as it turned out both were extended. Commercial television was governed by the Independent Television Authority or ITA and television was growing in the regions under the award of franchises.


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