https://wiki.preterhuman.net/index.php?title=British_Television_in_1000_words&feed=atom&action=historyBritish Television in 1000 words - Revision history2024-03-29T04:37:52ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.35.0https://wiki.preterhuman.net/index.php?title=British_Television_in_1000_words&diff=13794&oldid=prevNetfreak: Created page with "<pre> British Television in 1000 words. Tuesday, 03 September 2002 AD - Christian calendar. Written by inkstersco@btinternet.com in note form. Best viewed with Internet Exp..."2020-07-09T18:29:47Z<p>Created page with "<pre> British Television in 1000 words. Tuesday, 03 September 2002 AD - Christian calendar. Written by inkstersco@btinternet.com in note form. Best viewed with Internet Exp..."</p>
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British Television in 1000 words.<br />
Tuesday, 03 September 2002 AD - Christian calendar. <br />
Written by inkstersco@btinternet.com in note form.<br />
<br />
Best viewed with Internet Explorer, Windows Notepad or web browser of some sort.<br />
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This essay is a personal exercise in conciseness, and sums up the rich tapestry of<br />
the whole of British television in just 1000 words exactly(excluding this paragraph),<br />
to a hypothetical person who had never seen a British TV screen in his or her life<br />
(so it may also be a useful reference for immigrants :).<br />
<br />
This summary is BBC-centric for two reasons: 1) The BBC is the most consistent of the<br />
stations(so valid generalisations can be made) 2) Trying my hardest not to be personally<br />
biased, the other stations seem to be comparatively vacuous so there isn't much to describe. <br />
<br />
There are 5 terrestrial channels. Two BBC channels, the other three commercial. <br />
These are commonly referred to as Channels "One", "Two", "Three", "Four", and "Five". <br />
Indeed, the last two stations are called "Channel Four" and "Channel Five". Traditionally,<br />
one is almost always expected to be able to press 2 on the remote control and get BBC 2,<br />
press 3 and get ITV, press 4 and get Channel Four, and so on. This has been the case for<br />
as long as television itself has been publicly available, the only difference being the number<br />
of stations available. Originally, just BBC was available, followed by ITV in the 1950s,<br />
Channel Four some wee while later and Channel Five in the mid-90s.<br />
<br />
BBC1/BBC2: Duty-driven publicly funded channels. No adverts. Originally designed to free the mind,<br />
uplift and inspire. A function recently eroded, in my opinion. Often very PC. Also described as the<br />
nation's most important cultural institution.<br />
<br />
ITV: General commercial channel with good and long reputation. Like the BBC but with more emphasis<br />
on ratings and game shows. Often considered inferior to BBC although with many notable exceptions.<br />
<br />
Channel 4: "Alternative". Has strong links with the British film industry, and has been involved <br />
in the production of several major Channel Four Films. Also produces a rare combination of insightful <br />
and inspiring documentaries and experimental, voyeuristic, sometimes amateurish, programmes. It is the<br />
nation's main source of American sitcoms. Despite all of this, it is mostly rubbish, in my opinion. Commercial.<br />
<br />
Channel 5: Trash. Commercial. Lot's of films. Softcore porn on some nights.<br />
<br />
A SINGLE DAY'S MINIMUM ROUTINE:<br />
<br />
In a single day one can expect perhaps children's television in the morning:, often long running<br />
kids programmes many decades old such as Postman Pat(animated series of rural postman) and Blue Peter(an ancient,<br />
excellent, wholesome, informative edutainment programme which spawned household terms such as<br />
"sticky-back plastic"[so as to avoid saying company name such as Sellotape] and "here's'one I made earlier").<br />
This is followed by a few "of the time" programs, including some which are linked to the national curriculum.<br />
Also there are the normal "Saturday morning cartoons." Daytime television often is gardening and cooking and<br />
interior design programmes. There is a long history of celebrity chefs in this slot. Afternoon also features<br />
a wildlife programme, often repeats of Wildlife on One or instead, the new Wildlife on Two. Nine times out of ten,<br />
narrated by explorer and naturalist David Attenbourgh. His familiar, gentle, explanatory voice is instantly<br />
recognisable and often mimicked or parodied. Then at about the time children return from school we have<br />
Children' BBC, Children's ITV and so on. Here we have more timeless TV mixed with new and short lived productions.<br />
Grange Hill, (high school drama for high school aged children; been running during my whole lifetime so<br />
far and longer), has always had a home at about this time. Basically, this is just more children's<br />
television at this time. Blue Peter is shown at this time also. During the evening we have a comedy(often sitcom)<br />
period. Also programmes such as Tomorrows World, the Ten O'clock News, the very insightful and intellectual<br />
Newsnight. You've Been Framed on ITV is a home video disaster show. All of this depends on what day of the week it is, etc.<br />
<br />
MUST MENTION<br />
Many other things constitute British televisual life. The Cricket on Channel 4. Darts in the afternoon. There are<br />
many icons and references: from Mr Bean to Terry Wogan. One ought also to acknowledge household names such as<br />
"Victor Meldrew"(refers to anyone as cantankerous as the old geezer from One Foot In The Grave). I must also<br />
mention the strong ties between BBC TV and BBC Radio.<br />
<br />
A QUICK SAMPLE?<br />
A sample of the main features on television about now(i.e. this week), at some point today or this week:<br />
Room 101(comedy show where celebrity guests talk about what should be eradicated from British society), <br />
a documentary about Hadrian's wall and the ancient Roman-British postal service, Big Brother(a group of<br />
ordinary people are locked in a house together for so and so weeks and filmed extensively while they go<br />
insane), Pole to Pole(Monty Python comedian Michael Palin travels from North Pole to South pole, exploring<br />
different cultures on the way), Child of Our Time(series of programmes about how humans think and mentally adapt),<br />
Eastenders Revealed(a documentary about the making of the soap opera EastEnders), and other such stuff.<br />
<br />
ONGOING GENRES, PROGRAMMES AND TRADITIONS<br />
<br />
University Challenge(pretty old game show between the UK's top universities), Tomorrows World(similar<br />
age, reviews the immediate future of technological development), Soap Operas such as EastEnders on BBC1, Coronation<br />
Street on ITV, etc. <br />
<br />
Top of the Pops is half a century old, and is a live weekly show of popular bands from the charts. The Holy Grail<br />
of television appearences for many UK musicians. There have been 2000 half-hour shows ever, at this very moment. <br />
<br />
There are many histories, which one ought to be aware of in order to appreciate the present.<br />
<br />
COMEDY<br />
I haven't touched on comedy much yet. This area is a point of pride in British television. Even the adverts<br />
are hilarious. There is a modern history of "alternative comedy", which rose in popularity during the 80s.<br />
There is an absence of team written comedy, and more inclination towards single or few comedians/writers/performers<br />
bringing their own soul and spirit into each show(Britain's unique comic strength in the opinions of many). Recent<br />
comedies include Only Fools and Horses, Blackadder, Yes, Prime minister, The Royal Family(nothing to do with<br />
monarchy), The Office, Red Dwarf, there is a seemingly endless list of good stuff. Acknowledge also past shows<br />
such as Fawlty Towers, Hancock's Half Hour, and The Young Ones. <br />
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[[Category:TV and Radio]]</div>Netfreak