BBC (British Broadcasting Company)

The BBC began life as the British Broadcasting Company in 1922. It was formed by the six largest companies manufacturing radios in the United Kingdom, but in 1926, it became the British Broadcasting Corporation, signifying its status as a state-owned public service broadcaster. Its first television (TV) broadcast took place in 1936, to a small audience, mainly in the London area, but this was suspended during World War II.

In the 1950s, TV grew rapidly, and the BBC had a state-sanctioned monopoly of both TV and radio broadcasting in the United Kingdom. The services were funded by a license fee, which today costs about £130 annually and is payable by any household owning a TV set. Failure to pay the license fee is a criminal offense, ...