Средства массовой информации в Великобритании и США

3.3. Radio and Television
Broadcasting in Britain has traditionally been based on the principle that it is a public service accountable to the people through Parliament. While retaining the essential public service element, it now embraces the principles of competition and choice.
Three public bodies have the main responsibility for television and radio services to which nearly everyone has access throughout Britain:
- the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) broadcasts television and radio programs;
- the ITC (Independent Television Commission) licenses and regulates non-BBC television services, including cable and satellite services;
- the Radio Authority licenses and regulates all non-BBC radio services, including cable and satellite.
The BBC was established in 1936 by the government. It has five national networks (radio stations), which transmit all types of music, news, current affairs, drama, education, sport and a range of feature programs. The Radio Authority regulates two national commercial radio stations.
There are 39 BBC local radio stations serving England and the Channel Islands, the regional and community radio services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some 150 independent local radio (ILR) services are also in operation. Stations supply a comprehensive service of local news and information, sport, music and other entertainment, education and consumer advice. “Phone-in” programs allowing listeners to express their views on air are popular. About 90 per cent of the population can receive BBC or ILR stations.
The largest satellite programmer is BSkyB (British Sky Broadcasting), which provides 15 channels devoted to light entertainment, news, feature films, sport and home shopping transmitted from the Astra satellite.
Other satellite channels available to British viewers include Eurosport (sport), CNN (news), MTV (pop videos) and TV Asia (for Asian viewers). The choice available to viewers is expanding steadily.
Both the BBC and Channel 4 broadcast educational programs for schools and continuing educational programs for adults. Broadcasts