The document discusses television broadcasting in the UK. It notes that the industry is dominated by major broadcasters like the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Five. There are also many smaller independent production companies. The largest production companies have annual turnovers of £100-200 million. In 2008, the combined radio and TV industry contributed £3.2 billion to the UK economy, about 0.3% of total GDP. The BBC operates several international TV channels under its brand name through its commercial subsidiary BBC Worldwide. Domestically, the BBC operates 8 TV channels and over a dozen radio stations in the UK.

1. By Munira Mohamed

2. Television broadcasting

 The UK industry is dominated by the major
broadcasters, plus a much larger number of less
well-known broadcasters and production companies.
There are nine so-called terrestrial broadcasters,
whose output is broadcast through land-based
transmitters. They include the BBC, ITV, Channel 4,
Five, S4C, SMG and UTV. These companies are also
called Public Service Broadcasters, with a range of
obligations set out in their licences, and in the case
of the BBC in its Charter.

3. Public service
broadcasting

 S4C
 Although this Welsh language channel is not operated by the
Corporation, the BBC contributes programmes funded by the
license fee as part of its public service obligation. The BBC used to
broadcast Welsh-language programmes on its own channels in
Wales, but these were transferred to S4C when it started
broadcasting in 1982.
 BBC Alba
 A part-time Scottish Gaelic digital-only channel. Although it carries
the BBC name, it is a partnership between the BBC and MG Alba,
with the majority of funding coming from the Scottish Government
via MG Alba. Scottish Gaelic programmes are also shown on BBC
Two in Scotland – subject to approval from the BBC Trust, they
will move to BBC Alba after digital switchover.

4. Size, shape, structure

 By far the largest part of the industry is comprised of around
850 independent production companies (often referred to as the
‘indies'). They make many of the best-known programmes on
television - programmes like the X Factor, Big Brother and Life
on Mars. The biggest companies (the so-called super-indies)
have turnovers of between £100-200m per year and employ
thousands of people in the course of a year. But the typical
independent production company is much smaller than this.
 In 2008, GVA (Gross Value Added) for radio and TV combined
totalled £3.2 billion which equates to 0.3% of UK GVA. This
follows a growth of 11% since 2004 and represents an average
year on year growth of 8% since 1997.

5. BBC WORDWIDE
 The BBC's wholly owned commercial subsidiary, BBC Worldwide, also
operates several international television channels under BBC branding:

 BBC America
 A US general entertainment channel, co-owned with Discovery Networks,
showcasing British television programming.
 BBC Canada
 A Canadian general entertainment channel, co-owned with Shaw Media.
 BBC HD
 A high-definition channel, currently available in Belgium, Brazil, Mexico,
the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and Turkey.
 BBC Kids
 A Canadian children's programming channel co-owned with Shaw Media.

6. BBC Free-Air-In The UK
which is also regional

 BBC One
 The Corporation's primary network, broadcasting mainstream comedy, drama,
documentaries, films, news, sport, and some children's programmes.
 BBC Two
 Home to more specialist programming, including comedy, documentaries, dramas,
children's programming and minority interest programmes, as well as imported
programmes from other countries, particularly the United States.
 BBC Three
 Home to mainly youth-oriented programming, particularly new comedy sketch
shows and sitcoms.
 BBC Four
 Niche programming for an intellectual audience, including specialist documentaries,
occasional 'serious' dramas, live theatre, foreign language films and television
programmes and 'prestige' archive television repeats.

7. BBC Free-Air-In The UK
which is also regional

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BBC One HD
A high definition simulcast of BBC One launched on 3 November 2010.
BBC Two HD
A high definition simulcast of BBC Two launched on 26 March 2013.
BBC News
A dedicated news channel.
BBC Parliament
The Corporation's dedicated politics channel, covering both the UK Parliament,
Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly and international
politics.
CBBC
For children aged six and above.
CBeebies
For children under six.
BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD, BBC News HD, CBBC HD and CBeebies HD
launching in 2014.

8. What are the other thing
the BBC owns ?

 They have their own television channels
 They have their own radio
 They have their on social sites
 They have BBC IPLAYER (CATCH UP TV)

9. Advantages of being
funded by the licence fee

 We believe that licence fee funding will be a benefit to the World Service, the wider
BBC,
 and the British people. The BBC’s licence fee funding is based on multi-year
settlements,
 with the current funding arrangement lasting until 2017. Although the BBC’s income
is
 itself constrained over this period, this level of certainty in funding provides a
relatively
 stable environment in which to make decisions about existing and future services. A
 combination of a secure funding source, and the clarity of purpose set out in the
Operating Licence, will give the World Service a strong footing to plan its activities
for the
 coming years.
 We believe that the rest of the BBC also benefits from funding the World Service
through
 the licence fee.