Unit 9 The British Media Objectives: At the end of this unit you should know: 1.British newspapers 2. The Broadcast Media

1.Introduction 1) What are they? Media TelevisionRadio Newspaper Magzine

2)What’s the function? a. entertainment b. provide information (weather reports, news, education, etc.) 3) help form a national culture

2. British newspape 1). On an average day, the majority of Britons over the age of 15 read a national or local paper. 2). Class and educational differences are reflected in the newspapers people read. 3). In Britain, most advertising is carried in newspaers. 4). world’s oldest national paper The Observer 5). ) UK’s oldest daily paper: The Times 6). “The quality press” or “the broadsheets” carry more serious and in-depth articles of particular political and social importance. 7). “The tabloids” or “the gutter press” often carry crime, sports and sensational human interest stories.

3. The broadcast media 1) the BBC BBC Stand For British Broadcasting Corporation 2) the Broadcasting Act

Overview □ The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the United Kingdom's public sector broadcaster, operating on a not-for-profit basis. □It is active in radio and television broadcasting and associated audio-video and 'new media' production. □The Corporation is formally an independent public sector (and state funded) body under the control of a board of Governors. The Governors have typically been appointed by the Queen on the Prime Minister's nomination for a term of four years (formerly five years).

History The BBC traces its origins to the British Broadcasting Company, a commercial entity established in 1922 by a UK electro-technical industry consortium that included Marconi, Metropolitan Vickers, GEC, British Thomson Houston, Western Electric and the Radio Communication Company. The BBC was founded in 1927 as a public service radio station and later moved into TV.

BBC television service commenced in 1936 following experimental transmissions from 1932 onwards. Receivers at that time cost the equivalent of a small car, in an era of considerable unemployment Transmissions ceased in 1939 and resumed in The BBC Television Service was renamed BBC ONE in 1964 ， with the launch of BBC TWO (offering more niche programming).

The organization faced competition from 1955 ， with introduction of commercial television in that year (the Independent Television Network (ITN)) followed by introduction of independent radio in 1973 after abandonment of the radio receiver licencing fee.

Television viewing in Britain The most popular leisure pastime Average viewing time is 4 hours a day The BBC is funded by license fees and viewers must buy a license each year for their TV set.

British favourate TV shows “Coronation Street” 加冕典礼街 “East Enders” 东区人 “National Lottery” live broadcast

Summary > From this unit we learned about the British media: we observed British newspapers ， television and radio and also found out the most popular radio and TV stations, shows, newspapers and periodicals. We paid attention to media organisations, the brief history of British radio and BBC.