History of the Bbc
HISTORY OF THE BBC
The British Broadcasting Company started life in 1922, when the government licensed the UK\'s six major radio manufacturers to form the new outfit. It had a staff of four, and was financed by a Post Office licence fee of 10 shillings, payable by anyone owning a receiver, and supplemented by royalties on radio sales.
The first broadcast came from London on 14 November, and "listening-in" quickly became a popular pastime.
John Reith became general manager a month later, and after the baptism of fire of covering the 1926 General Strike - the company was dissolved and the British Broadcasting Corporation formed with a royal charter.
Radio listening spread widely during the 1930s, with people gathering together to listen to national and sporting events, while the BBC also became a major patron of the arts, commissioning music and drama.
It also took up home at Broadcasting House in London in 1932, the same year as the Empire Service - precursor of the World Service, began broadcasting.
The BBC Television Service arrived on 2 November 1936 - but was suspended at the outbreak of war in 1939.
Wartime brought huge challenges for the corporation - having to deal with the government\'s Ministry of Information while finding itself a target for German bombs.
Newsreader Bruce Belfrage was on air when 500lbs of explosives hit Broadcasting House in October 1940. He paused as he heard the bomb go off during his nine o\'clock bulletin - but continued as normal, as he was not allowed to react on air because of security reasons. Seven people were killed.
Entertainment and drama on the Home Service kept up morale - particularly It\'s That Man Again, featuring comedian Tommy Handley. Meanwhile, the Empire Service - settling into new headquarters at Bush House - broadcast to occupied Europe.
Peacetime saw the resumption of the television service and a reorganisation of radio - which now boasted the Home Service, the Light Programme and from 1946, the Third
The British Broadcasting Company started life in 1922, when the government licensed the UK\'s six major radio manufacturers to form the new outfit. It had a staff of four, and was financed by a Post Office licence fee of 10 shillings, payable by anyone owning a receiver, and supplemented by royalties on radio sales.
The first broadcast came from London on 14 November, and "listening-in" quickly became a popular pastime.
John Reith became general manager a month later, and after the baptism of fire of covering the 1926 General Strike - the company was dissolved and the British Broadcasting Corporation formed with a royal charter.
Radio listening spread widely during the 1930s, with people gathering together to listen to national and sporting events, while the BBC also became a major patron of the arts, commissioning music and drama.
It also took up home at Broadcasting House in London in 1932, the same year as the Empire Service - precursor of the World Service, began broadcasting.
The BBC Television Service arrived on 2 November 1936 - but was suspended at the outbreak of war in 1939.
Wartime brought huge challenges for the corporation - having to deal with the government\'s Ministry of Information while finding itself a target for German bombs.
Newsreader Bruce Belfrage was on air when 500lbs of explosives hit Broadcasting House in October 1940. He paused as he heard the bomb go off during his nine o\'clock bulletin - but continued as normal, as he was not allowed to react on air because of security reasons. Seven people were killed.
Entertainment and drama on the Home Service kept up morale - particularly It\'s That Man Again, featuring comedian Tommy Handley. Meanwhile, the Empire Service - settling into new headquarters at Bush House - broadcast to occupied Europe.
Peacetime saw the resumption of the television service and a reorganisation of radio - which now boasted the Home Service, the Light Programme and from 1946, the Third