it took 20 years and a world war to develop technologies enabling signals to go to masses of people simultaneously
Systems of broadcasting reflect local geographic and social conditions
United States developed a competitive, entertainment-led arrangement
in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) a centralized, politically controlled system
Britain favoured a “public service”, financed mainly from a licence fee paid by owners of radio receivers.
Revenue from the licence fees was supplemented by royalties on the sale of receivers.
Independence from political and business control, provision for minorities and respect for broadcasting as a serious cultural force became its hallmarks.
Drama, music of all kinds, news and current affairs were soon all obtainable by the great mass of the British public
In 1939 World War, under necessary censorship conditions, BBC Radio sought to provide as accurate a picture as possible of the war's progress
Doctor giving advice on health and fitness
Mr Middleton dispensing advice on gardening
The Empire Service underwent huge change, and expanded foreign language broadcasts
A hope to many European resistance movements
The BBC had expanded greatly during the war and the problems of reconstruction were formidable
live coverage of the 1953 Coronation of Elizabeth II being a major turning point.
The age of competition began and the BBC had to fight for survival.
Radio continued to excel in many fields, with The Goon Show attracting big audiences
On television an adaptation of 1984 by George Orwell created a stir
The late 1950s and 1960s saw the BBC introducing a remarkable number of technical innovations, including stereo radio, efficient video recording, satellite transmissions
teletext system Ceefax went public in 1972
These all enhanced the quality and range of programmes
but troubles began to loom with a worsening economic climate, partly caused by the oil crisis of 1973
Broadcasting and its effects on vulnerable groups such as children became a subject of heated debate.
BBC broadcasters were taking their social responsibilities seriously with programmes for deaf and disabled people
The late 1970s was dominated by economics
While ITV could control its income partially, the BBC could do little, apart from increasing the relatively small amounts obtained through sales of programmes and books.
the creation of the advertising-financed Channel 4 thus completing the television duopoly with the BBC
The 1980s and 1990s have seen an ideological shift in government attitudes  for the BBC
The plan fell through after the expenditure of much effort and money
BBC's headquarters in Glasgow was raided by the police concerning another contentious series
Targets have been set, the staff radically slimmed down, and new procedures for programme-making put in place
In this climate of external competition, BBC programme-makers have striven successfully to survive and prosper
global communication and the interaction of broadcasting and telecommunications become ever more important
BBC is setting up a number of projects, while BBC engineers steer the corporation into digital broadcasting.