TEXT 3 

BRITISH RADIO

 

When the spread of radio began, the British were quick to agree on certain principles. Unlike the press, it should not be financed  through  commercial   advertising;   but  its  programmes should  be  free  from  state  control,   and  should  have  no  state subsidy. The British Broadcasting Corporation (B.B.C.) was set up, given   the   monopoly   of   radio   broadcasting,   and   financed   by compulsory annual payments. Until recently radio in Britain was a monopoly of the B.B.C. However, in the past few years commercial radio stations have been opened in many large cities.

The B.B.C. operates four national services.  The domestic channels are Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4. Each of these has a distinctive style and content. Radio I specialises in pop-music and broadcasts mainly during the day. Disc-jockeys introduce their own programmes of records, most of which are taken from the top 40. Radio 2 is also a music station, but oncentrates on so-called «light» music, i.e. non-classical, but non-pop. Radio 3 is a culture station. During the day it, broadcasts classic music, usually on records, and in the evening it has broadcasts of concerts, plays and talks. Radio 4 is basically a spoken-word service. There are news programmes, quizers, serials and current affairs programmes. The B.B.C. has a powerful external service, known as the World Service, providing programmes in about forty different languages and broadcasts to all parts of the world. The activity of this service is based on wide experience and age-old traditions of the British propaganda both at home and in foreign policy. The radio and television service of the B.B.C. is a most influential branch of the ideological industry.

In addition to these services, the B.B.C. also operates  a number of local radio stations in different parts of the country. These report local news and stories and also carry programmes from the B.B.C. national network.

All B.B.C. stations are non-commercial. They do not carry advertisements and are financed by money, paid for TV licences. You do not have to buy a licence if you have only a radio and not a TV. Commercial stations, on the other hand, are financed by the advertisements, which they broadcast.

Commercial stations are now found in many large cities and most of them broadcast a variety of programmes to suit the needs and   the   tastes   of  local   audiences.   In   London   there   are   two commercial stations which broadcast twenty-four hours per day.

The B.B.C. broadcasts television and radio programmes made specially for students of the Open University, most of whose 130 or so undergraduate courses contain video and audio components, some of them available on cassettes for use with correspondence texts.

 

EXERCISES

 

Ex. 1. Use the proper tense.

1. Mr. Brown said that there (to be) 4 TV channels in Great Britain nowadays. 2. My friend told me that he (to drive) home last night before the rain started. 3. Nobody knew that he (to publish) his article in the next issue of the newspaper. 4. The editor thought that we (to collect) material; for the article at that moment.

 

Ex. 2. Choose the right word:

1. There is (somebody, anybody) in the room. 2. I can see (nobody, nowhere) here. 3. Has he bought (nothing, anything) for you? 4. (Something, somebody) is waiting for you. 5. Are you going (nowhere, anywhere) on Sunday?

 

Ex. 3. Translate the sentences.

1. This new magazine is more interesting than the old one. 2. He gave me his book to read. It was a detective story. 3. It is important to broadcast these news in. time. 4. One can easily understand why the articles of this journalist are so popular» 5. It was Mr Smith who became the editor of the magazine.

 

Ex. 4.  Translate the sentences. Pay attention to modal verbs.

1. At the beginning of the next century people will be able to carry out projects which seemed fantastic yesterday. 2. These projects can affect the ecological situation in many countries, regions and even planet as a whole. 3. Some may think that this is a matter for the future. 4. But we must prepare ourselves today. We must draw lessons from Chernobyl. 5. Scientists believe that major enterprises should be regarded as potential «trouble spots». 6. People have to accept the recommendations of scientists.

 

Ex. 5. Answer the questions on the text.

1. How many national services does the B.B.C. operate?

2. When had commercial radio stations been opened in many large cities?

3. Does the World Service provide programmes in about forty languages?

4. Is there a number of local radio stations in Great Britain?

5. Do commercial stations broadcast a variety of programmes to suit the tastes of local audience?

6. Whom are the B.B.C. and commercial stations financed by?

 

Ex.6. Make a short summary of the text.