Independent Television Authority

The Independent Television Authority is a public corporation responsible for the provision of television services. It owns and operates television stations but the programmes they transmit are provided by programme companies. Formally, these companies are contractors to the Authority: in practice, they are partners in the independent television enterprise. Under the Television Act, the Authority is responsible for shaping, guiding and extending independent television. Its policy is to go forward from the establishment of independent television in selected areas of dense population to the provision of a full national service.

Independent television is financed entirely from advertising income. It is drawing no income from the licence fees or from other public funds.

The Authority regulates the system under which the programme companies sell time for advertisements. It also has wide responsibilities under the Television Act for securing proper standards in the programmes: and it is particularly concerned with such matters as accuracy in news, impartiality in matters of controversy, balance in subject matter and the maintenance of good taste. In these, and in all other matters, it maintains close and continuous contact with the programme companies it has appointed.

The ITA

Head Office14 Princes Gate, London, S.W.7.Knightsbridge 5341
Regional Offices
Scotland147 West Regent Street, Glasgow C.2.Glasgow City 3130
Wales & the West of England18 The Park Chambers, Park Place, Cardiff.Cardiff 31152
North507 Royal Exchange, Manchester, 2.BLAckfriars 7590
North East32-4 Mosley Street, Newscastle-upon-TyneNewcastle 61-0148
Midlands56 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham 15.EDGbaston 5652
South30 Portland Street, Southampton.Southampton 29115
Northern Ireland5 Donegall Square South, Belfast
AngliaCentury Building, Castle Meadow, Norwich

A.B.C. Television Ltd.

Broom Road, Teddington, Middx.Kingston 2181
1 Hanover Square, London, W.1.Hyde Park 7222 and 7808.
Television House, Mount Street, Manchester, 2.DEAnsgate 4597.
Regal Cinema, Soho Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, 21.Birmingham North 9361.
17 Wellington Street, Leeds, 1.Leeds 23091.

Provides programmes in the Midlands and North on Saturdays and Sundays.

Associated TeleVision Ltd.,

17 Gt. Cumberland Place, London, W.1.AMBassador 8040
Television House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2.CHAncery 4488
Herbert House, 71 Cornwall Street, Birmingham.Birmingham Central 5191

Provides programmes in London on Saturdays and Sundays, and in the Midlands from Mondays to Fridays.

Southern Television Ltd.

Southern Television Centre, Northam, Southampton.Southampton 28582
Brettenham House, Lancaster Place, Strand, London, W.C.2.Covent Garden 0941

Provides programmes in Central Southern England during the whole week. Will also provide programmes in the South Eastern region when the Authority’s new transmitter at Dover opens at the end of 1959.

Transmitting Stations

CHANNELPOLARISATIONVISION FREQUENCYSOUND FREQUENCYOPENING DATE
London Region
Croydon9V194.75675191.2722nd Sept., 1955.
Midland Region
Lichfield8V189.75186.2517th Feb., 1956.
Northern Region
Winter Hill9V194.75191.253rd May, 1956.
Emley Moor10V199.7372196.26053rd Nov., 1956.
South Wales and West of England Region
St. Hilary10V199.7305196.239514th Jan 1958
Central Southern Region
Chillerton Down, Isle of Wight11V204.75201.2530th Aug., 1958
North East Region
Burnhope8H189.75675186.27015th January 1959
East Anglian Region
Mendlesham11H204.75675201.27Autumn 1959
Northern Ireland Region
Black Mountain9H194.74325191.230Autumn 1959
South Eastern Region
Dover10V199.7135196.1985late 1959

Hints for good reception

These notes should help you to enjoy good reception of independent television programmes, but for detailed advice on your own installation your local dealer is in the best position to assist you.

Three things are involved in bringing a good picture into your home. The first is the set, which must be capable of receiving signals transmitted by the I.T.A. and which also must be properly tuned. The second is the feeder cable running from the set to the aerial: these cables vary in efficiency and the use of a good quality type can be an immense advantage. The third is the aerial which must be of the proper type and correctly fitted.

The majority of reception problems are attributable to the wrong selection or fitting of Band III aerials. As signals transmitted on the frequencies used by the I.T.A. are liable to be affected by hills, tall buildings and trees the aerial must be carefully selected and positioned so that the maximum signal is received: an alteration of a degree or two in its direction can sometimes make a considerable difference in the quality of reception.

The TVTimes in 1959