Broadcasting Collections

HAT Library has compiled a large collection relating to the governance and organisation of the UK independent broadcasting industry. (There is also some material relating to the BBC.)

It comprises four main sections:
  • Broadcasting organisations and statutory authorities (HAT 31/1/1-25)
  • Independent TV companies, organised in individual boxes alphabetically ABC TV Yorkshire TV (HAT 31/2/1-26)
  • The Brian Henry Collection comprising detailed research papers for his book British TV Advertising: The First 30 Years (HAT 31/3/1-7)
  • Press cuttings 1980s-1990s. (HAT 31/5/1-6)
The Radio Advertising Authority is represented here with a collection of CD-ROMS of the Aerial Awards dating from 1997 with a number of booklets and brochures.

HAT Archive also contains 7 guardbooks for British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) 1988-1990 produced by Bartle Bogle Hegarty (HAT 21/186) and a collection of papers relating to Eastern England Television Ltd and the ITV franchise round 1980. (HAT 21/195). Some Advertising Agency collections contain guardbooks for television companies e.g. Rediffusion (Ogilvy & Mather Archive).

Statutory Authorities Responsible for Broadcasting

Independent Television Authority; ITA, 1954-1972

This body was responsible for the provision and regulation of independent television until it was superseded by the IBA in 1972. It oversaw the franchising of regional commercial TV companies and formulated broadcasting codes of practice.

Independent Broadcasting Authority; IBA, 1972-1990

This body took over from the ITA in 1972 and continued to formulate and maintain broadcasting codes of practice.
It encompassed commercial radio, Channel 4, cable and UK satellite broadcasting.

The Cable Authority; 1984-1990

This body was responsible for licensing and regulating cable TV, including drawing up programme standards. It was succeeded by the ITC.

Independent Television Commission; ITC, 1990-2004

This was set up to replace the IBA and the Cable Authority

OFCOM

Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries.

From 1st November 2004, complaints about advertising on television and radio have been dealt with by the Advertising Standards Authority, which up to this time handled only non-broadcast advertising. The intention was to create a '˜one stop shop' for consumers and advertising. Previously the Independent Television Commission (ITC) handled these complaints. The ITC archives are awaiting transfer to the National Archives at Kew and access is currently impractical.

Little Ofcom material is present at HAT Archive, although it is hoped that a collection can be compiled over the course of time.

A report called A One-stop shop for consumers and advertising:
Advertising Association Task Force proposal to Ofcom for a new self-regulatory system for broadcast advertising was published on 1st May 2003 and is in the HAT's ASA collection.

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