Independent television in Britain. Volume 6, New developments in independent television 1981-92 : Channel 4, TV-am, cable and satellite

credit for help with the Channel 4 section of the book is also a form of dedication. The late Chris Griffin-Beale, Channel 4's first Press Officer and later its Head of Press Relations, died in 1998 at the tragically early age of 50. His wonderfully accurate, and perceptive, C4 press releases have been a prime source for the C4 section of this book. Chris was a figure liked and respected by all who worked with him. Above that he was loved by his many friends, as well as by his family. We miss him still. His work will be a valuable source for media historians of the future. That is a most suitable memorial. Also to be thanked at Channel 4 is the person responsible for our access to the channel's resources, Martin Stott, Deputy Head of Corporate Relations, and the equally helpful and wonderfully diligent archivists at the channel, Rosie Gleeson and Pamela Dear. At the ITC, we have been helped successively by that organisation's archivists, Paul Troake (who later moved to C4), Simon McKeon and Andrew Ledgard. We also thank all the staff of the ITC Library service, and in particular the Commission's ex-Head of Library and Archives, Barrie MacDonald, whose excellent bibliography and index enhance this volume -as his work has done for all the preceding volumes of Independent Television in Britain. It was through him also that we made contact with Dr Windsor Holden, whose research was a valuable source for some aspects of the Cable and Satellite chapter of this book. Most particularly I thank Sara Winter, who was kindly prepared to help the authors in the final organisation of this volume -a role she had performed for Volume 5. Other individuals who kindly gave their time and reached back in their memory to help this project, either in person or on the phone, are acknowledged in the List of Interviewees. Our thanks go to all of them. We are also grateful to ITN for access to their archive and to the sponsor/underwriters of this volume, the Independent Television Commission, the ITV Network Ltd and the Channel Four Corporation, for their support of a published record of their past achievements. This is particularly praiseworthy at a time when such initiatives appear to be diminishing in importance in the priorities of other organisations, to the detriment of public access and the knowledge of future generations. Finally, on a personal note, gratitude on a massive scale goes to my wife, Jenifer, for her patient support and practical help in so many ways during the writing of volumes 5 and 6. In particular her proofreading of, and valuable comments on, the drafts of both volumes were invaluable. ## Paul Bonner Preface and Acknowledgements ix The Fourth Channel -Conception to Birth 13 The Fourth Channel -Conception to Birth 25 and she was unusually well equipped to advise on the setting up of the new venture. At BBC Television, between 1962 and 1967 Whitby had been instrumental in originating children's programming for the fledgling BBC2 -including the innovative Playschool. She had then become one of the founding team at LWT in 1967. When the Managing Director, Michael Peacock, was dismissed by the Board in 1969, Whitby, along with six others, had resigned in protest (see Independent Television in Britain, Volume 3, Chapter 3). She had then worked as a freelance producer and writer for six years before joining YTV. These ITV consultants were to sit alongside a single independent producer, Roger Graef, a specialist in what were then known as ciné-vérité documentaries. Also chosen were Anthony Smith, the originator of the National Television Foundation idea, and the Hon. Mrs Sara Morrison, who had been a member of the Annan Committee as well as Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party Organisation at the time of Edward Heath's leadership. Finally there were two educationalists. One of those, Dr Glyn Tegai Hughes, had been a Governor of the BBC (and was to be a member of the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority simultaneously with his Channel Four role). The other, Anne Sofer, was Chairman of the Inner London Education Authority's Schools Committee. An Annex to the Authority Minutes, by the Authority's Secretary, Bryan Rook, records that at this stage Graef and Sofer had not finally accepted. If Graef was unable to do so, Christopher Nupen, an independent producer specialising in music documentaries, would be asked to join. If Anne Sofer could not accept, 'the matter was to be reconsidered'. In fact both were willing and able to join. The names of the nine Consultants were finally released to the press at noon on Front Matter....Pages i-x Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Fourth Channel: Conception to Birth....Pages 3-35 Countdown to Countdown: Setting Up the Channel and Getting on the Air....Pages 36-108 Programmes, Reactions and Progress 1982–87: ‘The Isaacs Years’....Pages 109-219 Politics, Scheduling and Selling 1988–92: ‘The Grade Years’....Pages 220-296 Front Matter....Pages 297-297 Breakfast-Time Contract: TV-am....Pages 299-320 Financing, Ratings and Resignation: 1980–83 (March)....Pages 321-334 Dyke to the Rescue: April 1983–May 1984....Pages 335-350 The Wizard of Oz: May 1984–1992....Pages 351-364 From Packer to Bond: 1987–88....Pages 365-375 Exit TV-am....Pages 376-383 Front Matter....Pages 385-385 Cable and Satellite....Pages 387-434 Back Matter....Pages 435-483 This history of the new developments in commercial television between 1981 and 1992 uses first hand accounts and hitherto unpublished official documents to cover the dramatic broadcast media events of the period. It tells the story of the start of Channel 4, its subsequent battle to gain acceptance, the work that went into ultimately winning a widely lauded role within broadcasting and a place in the public's affections. It also deals with the high drama of the start of TV-am and its fight to stay on the air in the face of financial difficulties and initial reviewer rejection. Finally, the book tells the hitherto untold story of the development of the hidden world of cable television development during the period and outlines early setbacks of satellite TV Success out of near disaster, finances taken to the edge of bankruptcy, resignations - this volume tells the dramatic stories of the major new commercial television developments in Britain between 1981-92. This is an authoritative account, from the people involved and from official documents, of the launches and first ten years of Channel 4 and TV-am, the expansion of cable television and early difficulties of satellite broadcasting.