ABSTRACT
The charter granted to the BBC in 1952 as a result of the Beveridge Report indicated that 'provision should be made to permit some element of competition'. This suggestion was the outcome of much political pressure, and was said to have been reluctantly approved by the Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. Its inclusion altered the whole course and character of broadcasting in Britain. Some safeguards were inserted in the final draft of the bill to prevent cut-throat competition, which was contrary to the established practice of radio and television in this country. It applied only to television and was intended to be organised in such a way that advertisers had no power to select the items adjacent to which their advertisements might appear - very different from the American method.
