The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) launched its first radio bulletin from station 2LO on November 1922. Wishing to avoid competition, newspaper publishers persuaded the government to ban the BBC from broadcasting news before 7 PM, but it gradually gained more autonomy and, in 1934, created its own news operation. However, it could not broadcast news before 6 PM until World War II. The BBC kept growing entering the 1950s, and with the introduction of television, the public's interest in television and live events was stimulated, initially by Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. It is estimated that up to 27 million people viewed the programme in the UK, overtaking radio's audience of 12 million for the first time. During the 50s and 60s, BBC news became the prominent news name of the UK, and by 1975, it had its first female reporters. During the 80's, BBC news entered field journalism, having reporters present during the Iranian Embassy siege in 1980 and the Falklands War in 1982. BBC News continued its ascendance through the 1990s, the 2000s, and by 2013, it was one of the biggest news names in the world, moving headquarters to Broadcasting House.
Key People of BBC News.
BBC News Key Events Timeline.
1922: First radio bulletin in London. 1934: BBC separates from 2LO Radio. 1948: First Television Newsreel aired. 1953: Elizabeth II's Coronation transmitted through BBC News. 1968: BBC News start airing programmes in color. 1975: Angela Rippon becomes first female news presenter. 1982: BBC News wins British Academy Film Award for reporting of Falklands War. 1997: BBC News 24 (UK-related news) launched for television. 2004: BBC Television News 50th Anniversary. 2013: BBC News moves Headquarters to London Broadcasting house. |