What's in a name? Across its broadcasting years, the BBC World Service has been called three things. It initially launched in 1932 as the Andor-centric The Empire Service, broadcasting on shortwave radio from Daventry's Borough Hill and aimed at English-speaking audiences across the world. Given that the
Balfour Declaration at the 1926 Imperial Conference had agreed that countries should become
"autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations"
choosing to still enshrine the word "Empire" in the channel's name seems backward-looking, especially since this had been formalized by the UK through a Statute of Westminster in 1931. However, the "British Empire" was still technically in place, and it wasn't until 1949 that the current Commonwealth of Nations was formally constituted by the London Declaration.
By 1938, the service had begun launching services for non-English-speaking people in Arabic, German, Italian, and French. Near the outbreak of World War II, it was renamed BBC Overseas Service, at which point the channel was funded through a grant-in-aid from the Foreign Office budget. However, the name still implies an "over there" attitude, referring perhaps to the British overseas.
It wasn't until 1965 that the much more inclusive current title, BBC World Service, replaced it. The new name suggests more clearly that the BBC is offering its service to the entire world and not just British people abroad. It's notable that the service continued after 2014, when its costs reverted back to the license fee, which is the definition of public service.
The War Game
"Michael Apted presents previously secret Cabinet Office files that reveal how the BBC director general and its chairman consulted with Whitehall to ban 1965 film The War Game."
[BBC Sounds]
"On the front of a folder of declassified 1965 Cabinet Office papers from the national archives, scribbled in pencil by an unknown hand, is a legend that reads: “HMG censorship of BBC film The War Game”. It is enough to make anyone familiar with the troubled history of this film draw a sharp intake of breath."
[The Conversation]
"By late 1964 Harold Wilson’s newly elected Labour Government had already broken its election manifesto to unilaterally disarm Britain, and was in fact developing a full-scale nuclear weapons programme, in spite of wide-spread public protest."
[Peter Watkins]
"Parliamentary question asked in the House of Commons by William Hamilton MP about the TV film ‘The War Game’, December 1965 (CAB 21/5808)"
[The National Archive]
"The BBC has a duty in law and within its own charter to be, as far as possible and at all times, neutral and independent. How well it manages this is up to the viewer and listener’s individual views: as a rule, complaints are usually 50-50 in accusing the BBC of taking the other side in an argument."
[Transdiffusion]
Tomorrow's World
"Many of us watched the iconic BBC TV series Tomorrow's World, as it made predictions about the future in which we now live. Was it correct in its assumptions and predictions? Former presenter James Burke takes a journey through the archive, and explores how the series fared."
[BBC Sounds]
"This inaugural edition of 'Tomorrow's World' includes three very different features. Derek Cooper, with help from consultant physician Dr Charles Fletcher, investigates new advances in kidney dialysis machines designed to work in the home. A second report looks at a Dutch flood defence system that has inspired plans in the UK to help ease a shortage of fresh water, while Professor Philip Morrison discusses the likelihood of the Mariner 4 space probe discovering evidence of life on Mars."
Presented by Raymond Baxter (pictured).
The BBC Archive pages have numerous whole episodes and clips from Tomorrow's World across the years. There are some other bits and bobs on this clips page. [BBC Archive]
Archive
"This BBC Schools programme looks at the job of the Post Office Telephonist. It covers the recruitment and training process and the work involved in the exchange including handling 999 emergency calls. Includes shots of the Continental Exchange at Faraday."
"Examines the nature of mechanical waves and how they travel."
"In the first of two programmes, male homosexuals talk about their condition. Comment by Michael Schofield, Research Director, Central Council for Health Education."
A topical programme of sounds and voices to provoke midday listeners with minds of their own. Presented by the Radio Newsreel production team.
"The news of Winston Churchill's death brought the UK to a standstill. BBC Television presented an obituary to a beloved war hero and a much-respected statesman. Archive footage, stills and contributions from old friends and colleagues told the colourful history spanning 90 years."
[BBC Clips][
"Presenting the world's greatest jazz singer accompanied by The Tommy Flanagan Trio and featuring her special guests The Oscar Peterson Trio with Ray Brown (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums)."
"Sometimes, this site indulges in a complicated analysis of TV shows. And sometimes someone just sends me in some scans that are interesting, and I immediately bung them up. Both approaches are valid. After all, how else would you know how much the rhubarb crumble cost at Wood Norton in 1971?"
[Dirty Feed]
Places
"Jack Weir reports on the new Melvaig transmitter which opened today, which will relay television across parts of Northern Scotland."
[BBC Rewind]
"Did they have ice-cubes in India in 1880?’ is the sort of question to which the Library constantly has to find an answer. Demand of one kind or another — for information, books, maps, periodicals, newspapers, booklists, or advice on any of them — is what makes the Library tick."
[Transdiffusion]
Programmes
"From an anonymous donor, then, here is a bunch of studio schedules detailing what was recorded in various BBC studios at the tail end of 1965, and the start of 1966."
[Dirty Feed]
"The start of Doctor Who in November 1963 did not mark some grand turning point in the history of British television."
[Off The Telly]
"Very few things change overnight in television. Sometimes, it takes decades."
[Dirty Feed]
Politics
"For broadcasting, the outstanding event of the year was the death of Sir Winston Churchill. The BBC is proud to have played its part in enabling millions of people, in Britain and throughout the world, to join in the nation's homage."
[hathitrust]
"The only thing that really matters in broadcasting is programme content; all the rest is house-keeping." These words which introduce the report of the Canadian Committee on Broadcasting 1965, sum up the universal truth about broadcasting wherever it is taking place."
[World Radio History]
