Broadcasting TV In The UK and Abroad

Broadcasting over the years has changed, and continues to do so. Here in the UK we have 5 free analogue channels, carried on regular terrestrial broadcasts. These are BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV 1, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Currently these channels are available, but as the digital switchover takes place this year, the channel and its programmes will have to be taken on board by satellite broadcasters (such as SKY) or cable (such as Virgin Media) if they want to continue.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) does not use commercial breaks in-between shows to produce revenue. They solely rely on money from television licences, unlike the other 3 terrestrial channels and satellite that carry advertising to make their money. Each of these channels also now has Video on Demand (VOD) on the Internet, allowing viewers to watch their programmes online once they have been aired on TV. Broadcasting is changing rapidly due to this new way of watching TV online.

Where PAL, NTSC and SECAM are used across the world

In the UK we use Phase Alternate Line (PAL) technology to broadcast our analogue television. The advantages of PAL include more scan lines that give greater picture detail but the disadvantages include more flickers due to a lower frame rate. In countries abroad such as Japan and America they use NTSC (National Television System Committee). The advantages and disadvantages of NTSC are almost the opposite of PAL with less scan lines but a higher frame rate. SECAM (Sequential Colour with Memory) was first used in France and was the first European colour television standard. SECAM ensures a constant saturation of colour and a higher number of scan lines but it also carries a greater flicker amongst other disadvantages. PAL and SECAM (created in the 1950s) were supposedly meant to overcome the problems that NTSC produced (created originally in 1941, then in 1953 in colour).

As television broadcasting has developed, it has changed the way in which we consume it. Once there were just 5 channels to watch whereas now we have hundreds to choose from at one time on TV and many more on the internet. VOD and ‘SKY PLUS’ have allowed us to fit television into our lives where we want rather than when it was available. We therefore watch alot more TV now than we used to.