Broadcasting, radio and television

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.

Broadcasting, Radio and Television, are primary means by which information and entertainment are delivered to the public in virtually every nation around the world. The term broadcasting refers to the airborne transmission of electromagnetic audio signals (radio) or audiovisual signals (television) that are accessible to a wide population via standard, readily available receivers. The term has its origins in the medieval agricultural practice of “broadcasting”, which refers to planting seeds by scattering them across a field.

Broadcasting is a crucial instrument of modern social and political organization. At its peak of influence in the mid-20th century, radio and television broadcasting was employed by political leaders to address entire nations. Because of radio and television’s capacity to reach and influence large numbers of people and owing to the limited spectrum of frequencies available, governments have commonly regulated broadcasting wherever it has been practiced.

In the early 1980s, new technologies – such as cable television and videocassette players – began eroding the dominance of broadcasting in mass communication, splitting audience into smaller, culturally distinct segments. Previously the only means of delivering radio and television to home receivers, broadcasting is now just one of several delivery systems available to listeners and viewers. Sometimes broadcasting is used in a broader sense to include delivery methods such as wire-borne (cable) transmission, but these are more accurately called “narrowcasting” because they are generally limited to paying subscribers.

Exercise 2. Make up 6 questions to the contents of the text and ask your fellow-students to answer them.

Exercise 3. Give the summary of each passage.

Exercise 4. 1. Say what new facts have you learned from the text.

2. Say if you agree with the main idea of the text?

Text 3

Exercise 1. Read the text

Three public bodies are responsible for television and radio throughout Britain. They are: The BritishBroadcasting Corporation (BBC), which broadcasts television and radio programmes; The Independent TelevisionCommission(ITC), which licenses and regulates commercial television service including cable, satellite and independent teletext services; The Radio Authority, which licenses and regulates commercial radio services, including cable and satellite Television (Telly)

People in Britain watch on the average 25 hours of TV every week. Television viewing is Britain's most popular leisure time. About 96 per cent of the population of Britain has television in their homes. In 1999, 13% of households had satellite television and 9% cable television. It is estimated that about 10 per cent of household have two or more sets.

The average viewing time per person is over 25 hours a week. There are five main channels in Britain:

two national commercial-free BBC networks, BBC1 and BBC2, and the commercial ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 services. The BBC channels are commercial free while the other three have commercials. All the channels offer a mixture of drama, light entertainment, films, sport, educational, children’s and religious programs, news and current affairs, and documentaries.

The BBC has been providing regular television broadcasts since 1936. BBC television productions come from main studios at the Television Centre in west London and other studios in various parts of London.

ITV1 is the most popular commercial television channel in Britain, watched on average by 45 million people every week.

Exercise 2. Choose the right answer.

One of the five main channels has been providing regular television broadcast since the second half of the 1930^th

A. The BBC channels (BBC1and BBC2)

B. the commercial ITV1,

C. Channel 4 and Channel 5 services

Exercise 3. Complete the sentences according to the text

1. … licenses and regulates commercial radio services, including cable and satellite.

2. … licenses and regulates commercial television service including cable, satellite services;

3. … broadcasts television and radio programmes;

A. The Radio Authority B. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

C. The Independent Television Commission (ITC)

Exercise 4. Answer the question

What channels are commercial free?

A. Channel 4 B. Channel 5 C. ITV1 D. The BBC channels

Exercise 5. Determine the main idea of the text

1. Television is very important in our life.

2. There are some public bodies in the UK responsible for television and radio.

3. ITV1 is the most popular commercial television channel in Britain.

4. Britain's most popular leisure time is television viewing provided by five main channels.

Exercise 6. Answer questions.

1. What radio and TV channels do you know in our country?
2. What do they broadcast?
3. What channels do you like and why?

Text 4

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