‘Troper Proportions’ of British Material

Abstract

Despite the rush of developments during the year following its appointment, the Authority was mulling over in its mind the responsibilities it would in due course have to exercise as regards the programmes themselves under the terms of Section 3(1) of the Act. There were two particular provisions which could not be left until transmissions began; first the presentation of any news with ‘due accuracy and impartiality’ and secondly the presence in the output of ‘proper proportions’ of the recorded and other matter that were of ‘British origin and British performance’. The first was one of the reasons for establishing Independent Television News and the second called for negotiation and agreement with the programme contractors and no less than fourteen different organisations¹ concerned with the employment of British citizens in one or other capacity in Independent Telivision.