On this day...........

[Guest]

On this day in 1922, the BBC started general transmissions from London.
when were the BBC's greatest days?
WW2 would probably be one peak, and from 1947 with the beginning of our predecessor The Third Programme would be another.
When else was BBC Radio and particularly Radio 3 at it's absolute greatest?

[Serial_Apologist]

On this day in 1922, the BBC started general transmissions from London.
when were the BBC's greatest days?
WW2 would probably be one peak

"This is Alvar Liddell of the BBC, bringing you news of fresh disasters"

[Stillhomewardbound]

On the lighter side of things, Radio 2 in its heyday ought to be considered a very strong highlight particularly in the 70s to the late 80s when John Dunn was on in the evenings and Brian Matthew was present the excellent Round Midnight in the late evenings, and JY, irksome as he was doing his bit for popular current affairs. Plus there were the great exponents of American popular music in the shape of Alan Dell and Benny, host also of the always amusing jazz score.

You could time it almost as from the point at which they ditched Waggoner's Walk to when Frances Line became controller.

[Gordon]

Not being able to resist pedantry, remember also that the "BBC" was not the one we know and love!! It was a commercial Company with diverse owners including American interests in the form of Western Electric [Bell telephone manufacturing arm].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Broadcasting_Company

Incidentally that same WE company had at this time also sold rights and equipment to HMV and Columbia to make electric sound recordings to supersede acoustic ones using horns etc. These discs started to be issued in 1925.

RCA was formed in a similar fashion in the US around 1919 including partners Westinghouse and ATT among others. RCA formed its NBC broadcasting arm in 1926 - there must have been something in the air around then because......

....It took until 1926 for the debate about the value of this new BBC to settle and the very first Charter was issued; ultimately its value to the public outweighed its commercial value. Very different from the US model that is still in place. It took until 1954 and a World War for that to change with ITV. Funny how the same arguments about purpose and funding [read Asa Briggs] surface every Charter time [see DCMS thread]!!