The Mass Media Landscape of Great Britain Thursday, November 5, 2009

IntroductionWho are we?

Where is Great Britain?

Quick OverviewFull name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandPopulation: 61 million (UN, 2008)Capital: LondonArea: 242,514 sq km (93,638 sq miles)Major language: EnglishMajor religion: ChristianityLife expectancy: 77 years (men), 82 years (women) (UN)Monetary unit: 1 pound sterling = 100 penceMain exports: Manufactured goods, chemicals, foodstuffsGNI per capita: US $42,740 (World Bank, 2007)Internet domain: .ukInternational dialing code: +44More media specific stats to come up later

History:Transition from major world imperialist power at the start of the century to a 2nd degree power of considerable economic and military strength

PoliticsConstitutional Monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II, as the symbolic head of state and Gordon Brown, as the Prime Minister

British CultureEthnically diverse and multicultural; prominent exporter of youth culture; rich literary and music heritageWelsh flag

British Popular Culture

British Mass Media:Large, complex, diverse, mature Open in structure, participants from many countries active in almost all aspectsBritish media largely a single entity but distinctive regional dimensions exist too

The British Print Media99% of the adult (male and female) population is literate (2008, CIA WFB)The British press is amongst the largest and oldest in the world

99% of the adult (male and female) population is literate (2008, CIA WFB)

The British press is amongst the largest and oldest in the world

British NewspapersEarliest known newspaper of British origin: The Oxford Gazette, 16653 sectors: Broadsheets (Quality Press), Middle Market and Red-Top Tabloids (Popular Press)Formats: Broadsheet, Berliner & CompactTotal sales: 11.25 m for weekly newspapers & 12 m for Sunday titles Regional and local newspapers comprise 98% of the total circulationOwnership concentrated amongst 8 major media conglomeratesNewspaper sales generally on the decline since past 40 years

Earliest known newspaper of British origin: The Oxford Gazette, 1665

3 sectors: Broadsheets (Quality Press), Middle Market and Red-Top Tabloids (Popular Press)

Formats: Broadsheet, Berliner & Compact

Total sales: 11.25 m for weekly newspapers & 12 m for Sunday titles

Regional and local newspapers comprise 98% of the total circulation

Ownership concentrated amongst 8 major media conglomerates

Newspaper sales generally on the decline since past 40 years

British MagazinesLarge and expanding sector8,800-10,000 titles covering most topicsTwo-third of are ‘business and professional’ titles, the rest are ‘consumer’ magazinesFamous examples include Private Eye, Hello!, The Spectator, the Radio Times and NME

According to the National Readership Survey, these are the most-read magazines in the UK. This shows readership, and not sales, and these figures represent the twelve months to June 2009.

Publishing/Book IndustryOldest yet most dynamic and considerably influential mass media in the UKOrigins: William Caxton,1476, owner of earliest known British mechanical pressTwo kinds of markets : mass and literaryDevise distinction between the two is the centre of an ideological debate about the role of booksIndustry has survived and strengthened despite gloomy predictions on the arrival of every subsequent new mass mediaBritish publishing houses: Long, illustrious history, 100s in total number, publishing approx. 100,000 books per year

Electronic Media In The UKThe UK has a strong tradition of public-service broadcasting and an international reputation for creative programme-makingWide reach:60 m households (or 70% of all UK homes) have multichannel TV sets 40.2 m Internet users

60 m households (or 70% of all UK homes) have multichannel TV sets

40.2 m Internet users

British TelevisionCommercial TV begun in the UK in 1955, with thelaunchof IPTVToday, out of a total of 60 m TV sets, 40.8 m households (68%) have digitally linked TV setsCable: 3.5 m households (Virgin Media Subscribers)Satellite : 8.3 m households (Sky Subscribers)Digital Terrestrial Television (DDT) : 9.6 m households (Free view services)940 television broadcasts stations; 400 different TV channels on offer – audience fragmentation hence a common feature

Commercial TV begun in the UK in 1955, with thelaunchof IPTV

Today, out of a total of 60 m TV sets, 40.8 m households (68%) have digitally linked TV sets

Cable: 3.5 m households (Virgin Media Subscribers)

Satellite : 8.3 m households (Sky Subscribers)

Digital Terrestrial Television (DDT) : 9.6 m households (Free view services)

940 television broadcasts stations; 400 different TV channels on offer – audience fragmentation hence a common feature

The Switch to DigitalOnce dominant Terrestrial TVV now face strong competition from digital satellite, cable and DDT Britain's media regulator, Ofcom, has set a timetable for a switchover from analogue to digital TV broadcasting, hoping to completely turn off the analogue TV signal by 2012.

Once dominant Terrestrial TVV now face strong competition from digital satellite, cable and DDT

Britain's media regulator, Ofcom, has set a timetable for a switchover from analogue to digital TV broadcasting, hoping to completely turn off the analogue TV signal by 2012.

Major British TV Channels: BBCBroadcasting dominated by a strong public service broadcaster which is supported by a universal compulsory television license free BBC operates 14 different television channels (including 8 digital channels and 6 nation-wide channels), an interactive TV set-up and a datacast operation (Ceefax) In all, attracts about a third of the total TV audience.

Major British TV Channels: ITVITV stand for “Independent TV’Split into three commercial television national stations – Channel 3 (digital), Channel 4 (analogue), and Channel 5 (digital)

Cable, Satellite and DTV in the UKCable TV:Cable companies usually provide both television and telephone services. Few cable-specific stations - around 5 or 6 outside London, and a further 10 or so London-specific channels. Biggest player: Virgin Media, 3.5 m subscribers, 2nd largest pay TV service providerDigital Satellite TVLaunched: October 1998, on a platform provided by Sky Digital, part of B Sky B. Pricing: maximum of £34.99 a monthBiggest player: British Sky Broadcasting, 8.3 million subscribers, Largest pay TV service provider, offers in access of 25 channels of its ownMore than a third of the BSkyB equity is owned by News Corporation

…continued…Cable, Satellite and DTV in the UKDigital Terrestrial TV:Launched: November 1998, as “On Digital” on a part free, part subscription modelRe-launched in 2002 after financial crisis as “Freeview” which is now available for a one-time subscription fee of £90 Freeview is consortium of Castle Communications and BBC, offers 30 free channels

Nature of Popular British TV ContentSoaps: Home-grown soap operas have long topped the TV ratings, two of the most popular British soaps are: Eastenders : Depicts the ups and downs of life in east London's Albert Square, produced by BBC, Coronation Street: Depicts northern-English working-class life, produced by ITV

…Continued…Nature of Popular British TV ContentReality TVProgrammes which catapult ordinary people into the public eye are enjoying a wave of popularity, popular reality TV shows include:Britain's Got Talent, Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing, X Factor

British RadioBroadcasted on AM, FM & digital platform, divided into public sector and commercial radioPublic Sector Radio: BBC: operates more than 40 stations that comprise 50% of all radio listening in the UKChannels include: 5 national radio stations; 5 digital-only stations; the BBC World Service; regional stations in Scotland, Wales, Northern and 30 other local stations

British Radio…Continued…Commercial Radio: Started in 1970s, now includes over 300 private stations3 national services - (Classic FM, Virgin Radio and Talk Sport), around 10 'regional' services (generally covering three major cities) and 170 local servicesThere are also over 100 temporary radio stations per year that are used for either special events (the Glastonbury Festival), football clubs (Radio Latics) or monthly stations (either used by licence-wannabies or student stations)

New Media: Internet in the UKThe Daily Telegraph was the first newspaper to go ‘online’ in 1994, today all significant media have online presencesBig names: Guardian Unlimited, 1 million unique users BBC Online, 10 million unique users13.9 million UK households (57%) have internet access, of which 69% are broadband. Government policy intends that every home in the UK will have access to online services by 2010.

Media Regulation in the UKVoluntary and statutory accountability systems co-exist. Ofcom, a media regulatory body, oversees commercial mediaBBC is jointly publically funded but editorially impartial and self-regulatingMore than 140 pieces of legislation have direct relevance to the media; litigation is a favored method of bringing the media to account. Privacy not recognized as such in UK law; however, cases are brought for breaches of confidentiality.

Media Freedom in the UKFreedom of expression is protected under:1998 Human Rights Act which enacted into UK law the European Convention on Human Rights, 2005 Freedom of Information Act, the 1998 Act also introduced privacy as a statutory right.British media considered free and able to report on all aspects of British lifeExternal ‘watchdog’ bodies seeking to explore media issues include:MediaWise Trust (ethics); Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom; Campaign for Freedom of Information; the Runnymede Trust (diversity), and the London International Research Exchange.

Future Trends/RecommendationsNational vs. Global Media?Public vs. Commercial Media?Serious vs. Tabloid Media?New vs. Old Media?

Webliography:European Journalism Centre, www.ejc.netMedia UK, www.mediauk.comCIA World Fact Book, www.ciafacts.comThe Broadcasters' Audience Research Board, www.barb.co.ukNational Readership Survey, www.nrs.co.ukWikipedia Enclyopedia, www.en.wikipedia.orgBBC News Online, www.bbcnews.comGuardian Unlimited Online, www.guardian.co.ukAnd a host of other websites, which we can’t possibly list here!

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